RELATIVE

CLAUSES
 We use relative clauses to
provide more information to the
main clause without starting
another sentence.
This information can either:
Define something: defining
relative clause
Provide extra information: non-
defining relative clause
 These relative pronouns and
adverbs are used to introduce
relative clauses (sb.p.48)
People Thing Place Time Reason

Subject
Who Which
(que) (o qual/ a
qual)
Object
Who/ Which Where When Why
(que) (onde) (quando) (porque/ pela
Whom qual)
(que)

Possessive
Whose Whose
(cujo/
cuja)
relative pronouns

WHO
WHICH
WHOSE
WHOM
THAT
 WHO
subject or object pronoun for people

Example:
I told you about the
woman who lives
next door.
 WHICH
subject or object pronoun for animals
and things

Example:
Do you see the cat
which is lying on
the roof?
 WHOSE
possession for people animals and
things

Example:
Do you know the girl
whose mother is a nurse?
 WHOM
object pronoun for people, especially
in non-defining relative clauses
(in defining relative clauses we
colloquially prefer who)
Example:
I was invited by the
professor whom
I met at the conference.
 THAT
subject or object pronoun for people,
animals and things in defining relative
clauses (who or which are also
possible)
 THAT
Example:
I dont like the table that stands in the
kitchen.

Ex. 1, sb. P.49

 Relative adverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a
relative pronoun plus preposition. This
often makes the sentence easier to
understand.
This is the shop in which I bought my bike.
This is the shop where I bought my
bike.
Relative adverbs
WHEN

WHERE

WHY
 WHEN
Meaning: in/on which
Use: refers to a time expression

Example:
the day when we met him
 WHERE
Meaning: in/at which
Use: refers to place

Example:
the place where we met him
 WHY
Meaning: for which
Use: refers to a reason

Example:
the reason why we met him
1. Defining Relative Clauses
They define, give us essential
information about a general term
or expression. Defining Relative
Clauses are not put in commas:
- I talked to the man who gave you
the news.
- I read the letter which came this
morning.
(Which man ? The one who gave you
the news.)
(Which letter? the one that arrived
this morning.)
 Contact Clauses
The boy is the object of the sentence

Thats the boy. I invited him to my

birthday party.
SO: who/that replace the object of the sentence

Thats the boy who/that I invited to my

birthday party.
AND:
The relative pronoun can be omitted when
it is the object of the clause:
Thats the boy I invited to my birthday
party.
 Remember:
Use WHO to refer to people and
WHICH to refer to animals, things,
THAT can replace WHO and WHICH
in Defining Relative Clauses :
Did you know the girl WHO/THAT came
to the party yesterday?
The book WHICH/THAT Im reading is
very interesting.
 2. Non-Defining Relative
Clauses
They give us more (extra) information
about a person, animal, thing,
already identified ( by a name, a
possessive, ). They go between
commas.
- Your brother, who gave me the
news, saw the accident himself .
- I read Martins letter, which was full
of gossip.
In Non-Defining Relative Clauses we cant use THAT and we cant omit
the Relatives:

-I liked Toy Story, which Ive seen recently. (not that, no

Omission)

-Shakespeare, whom you just mentioned, is the most famous

British playwright. (not that, no Omission)

-Ive found my keys, which I had been looking for. (not that, no
Omission)
 Defining or Non-Defining?
Remember:

Defining Relative Clauses:

- Dont take commas.
- That can replace Who, Which and When.
- You can omit Who, Which, When and That when they are not
the Subject of the Relative Clause.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses:

- Go between commas.
- You cant use That.
- You cant omit the Relatives.
 Compare:
-The neighbours who live next door
are very friendly.
-My neighbours, who live next door,
are
- I enjoyed the film (which/that) you
recommended.
- I enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine,
which you recommended.