RELATIVE PRONOUNS

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
When we want to give extra information about the
subject or the object of a sentence we need to add
extra clauses. These clauses are often added on, or
put inside a sentence and are introduced by relative
pronouns. These relative pronouns help to make
clear exactly what, where or who the extra
information is referring to.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
match
Who (that)
Which (that)
When
Where
Whose
Why


Possession
Place
Time
Things & Ideas
People
Reason
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
key
Who
Which (that)
When
Where
Whose
Why


People
Things & Ideas
Time
Place
Possession
reason
Join sentences using a relative
pronoun:

Thats the product. I told you about it.
..
We visited the city. I was born there.
..
I dont like that man. He works in the marketing
department.
..

Join sentences using a relative pronoun:
KEY

Thats the product which I told you about it.

We visited the city where I was born there.

I dont like that man who works in the marketing
department.


Complete with a relative pronoun
The man..is waiting outside says he has an
appointment.
The womenjob you took has left her new job and
wants to come back here.
The file ..I left on your desk has disappeared
The reason .. I cant come is because Im working
that day.

key
The man who is waiting outside says he has an
appointment.
The women whose job you took over has left her
other job and wants to come back here. (=of who)
The file which I left on your desk has disappeared.
The reason why I cant come is because Im working
that day.

Defining relative clauses
non defining relative clauses

The extra information which
is introduced by the relative
pronoun is necessary to the
meaning of the sentence .

The extra information is not
necessary and can simply
give extra, non essential
information.

Defining




Non-defining
Defining relative clauses
The defining relative clause identifies and defines the
thing/place/person/reason or time talked about.
It is necessary for the meaning:
- Example: Hes the man (who that) I met on the plane.
Commas are not used
Other examples: Defining
The summer is the time when we sell more of our
products
The weather is (the reason) why I decided to come
home early.
This is the street where I was born.
Thats the boy whose father plays for Real Madrid.
Its a book which tells you how to do marketing
NON-defining relative clauses
The relative pronoun cant be omitted
In these sentences you cant use that instead of
who/which
The clause is written inside commas:
Example: The regional sales manager, who is a close
friend of mine, has just been given a salary rise of
20%.
The information inside commas can be removed
without the sentence losing its meaning. (the
sentence makes sense without it)
Examples of
non-defining relative clauses:
Susies husband, who/whom I met for the first time
last night, works for IBM.
The report for Mr. Sosa, which I left on your desk,
needs to be rewritten.
The upper room of the factory, where we make
components for conveyor belts, is the oldest part of
the plant.
Last week, I visited my Aunt Mary, whos nearly 90
years old.