relative clauses review...1 english v octavio morales domÍnguez relative clauses defining give us...

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ENGLISH VOCTAVIO MORALES DOMÍNGUEZ

RELATIVE CLAUSES

DEFINING give us essential information that tells us who or what we are talking about.

NON-DEFINING

give us extra information about someone or something. It isn't essential for

understanding who or what we are talking about.

OCTAVIO MORALES DOMÍNGUEZ

Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned.

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This is the house which/that has 10 rooms.

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“WHY”“Why” is the relative word used to show reason.

That is the reason why I got late to school today.

Do you know the reason why the market is closed today?

I’d like to know the reason why you’re so late today.

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Relative Pronoun USE Example

who subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the woman who lives next door.

which subject or object pronoun for animals and things Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?

which referring to a whole sentence He couldn’t read, which surprised me.

whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the boy whose mother is a nurse?

whomobject pronoun for people, especially in non-defining relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we colloquially prefer who)

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)I don’t like the table that stands in the kitchen.

when Referring to a date or a specific time. Do you remember the day when we firt met?

where Referring to a place. Do you remember the café where we firt met?

why Referring to a reason or cause. That’s the reason why I don’t like parties.


A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun pluspreposition. 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 Adverb Meaning USE Example

when in/on which refers to a time expression The day when we met him

where in/at which refers to a place The place where we met him

why for which refers to a reason The reason why we met him

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SENTECE 1 SENTENCE 2 USING RELATIVE CLAUSE

This is my brother. He lives in Tuxtla. This is my brother who lives in Tuxtla.

There are three movies. They form the “Lord of the Rings” series.

There are three movies which form the “Lord of the Rings” series.

I’ve got a new mobile phone. It takes awesome photos.

I’ve got a new mobile phone that takes awesome photos.

I don’t like rice. I don’t like Sushi. I don’t like rice, that’s the reason why I don’t like Sushi.


If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun. Subject pronouns must always be used.

The apple which is lying on the table is mine.

If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or pronoun), the relative pronoun is an object pronoun. Object pronouns can be dropped in defining relative clauses, which are then called Contact Clauses.

The apple (which) George lay on the table is mine.

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NECESSARY RELATIVE PRONOUN/ADVERB NOT NECESSARY RELATIVE PRONOUN/ADVERB

A cook is a person who makes food. A good cook is the person (who/that) you need to open your restaurant.

That’s the woman who won the lottery last year.

That’s is the woman (who/that) I talk about my ID yesterday.

A clock is something that tells you the time. We need a clock (which/that) everybody can watch from everywhere.

I don’t know the man who is talking. I don’t know the man (who/that) my girlfriend is talking to.

Mr. Smith is the teacher who gave us a lot of homework.

Mr. Smith is the teacher (who/that) we admired.

relative clauses review...1 english v octavio morales domÍnguez relative clauses defining give us...

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