A relative clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adjective; that is, it modifies a noun or pronoun. Relative clauses can be defining or non-defining.
Study the examples:
I spoke to the woman who owns the hotel.
Did you see the letter which came this morning.
Who owns the hotel and which came this morning are ‘defining relative clauses’. These clauses tell us which person or thing the speaker means.
We use who for people and that for things, they replace the pronouns. Compare:
I spoke to the woman. She owns the hotel. I spoke to the woman who owns the hotel.
The man was very nice. He interviewed us. The man who interviewed us was very nice.
Did you see the letter? It came this morning. Did you see the letter that came this morning?
We can use which instead of that ( to talk about things) in a defining relative clause.
The keys which were on the table have disappeared.
In an informal style it is also possible to use that instead of who (to talk about people).
I spoke to the woman that owns the hotel
Comprehension questions:
1) What is the function of a relative clause in the sentence?
2) Can a defining relative clause be omitted?
3) How is a defining relative clause combined with the main clause?
Practice 4
Join each pair of sentences using who for people and that for things.
1. He’s the man. He painted my house.
2. What is the name of the boy? He telephoned you.
3. What’s happened to the money? It was on my desk.
4. They’re the people. They offered Sue a job.
5. The car has now been found. It was stolen.
6. She’s the person. She gives me a lift to work every day.
7. The lock has now been repaired. It was broken.
a) Leaving out who, that,which in defining relative clauses.
1. Who, that, which can be the subject or the object of a defining relative clause.
Ann is the girl who invited us to the party.
who is the subject
Ann is the girl who we met last night.
who is the object
2. We often leave out who, that, which when they are the objects in defining relative clauses.
Ann is the girl we met last night. (We met her last night)
Have you seen the book I put on this table? (I put it on this table)
But we cannot leave out who, that, which when they are the subjects in these clauses.
Ann is the girl who invited us to the party. ( Not: Ann is the girl invited us…)
3. We can use whom instead of who (for people) when it is the object of the verb in a relative clause but it is quite formal and not very common in everyday speech.
I met a woman whom I know.
Comprehension question:
Why is it necessary to understand the syntactic function of the relative pronoun
in a defining relative clause?
Practice 5
Complete the sentences using who or that; ifit is possible to leave out who or that, write (who) or (that) in brackets.
1. John Murray is the man______ owns the Grand Hotel.
2. The man ______ we spoke to wasn’t very nice.
3. This is the sweater _______ I bought yesterday.
4. What is the name of the company ________ you work for?
5. A bilingual person is someone _________ can speak two languages equally well.
6. Who’s that boy ______ Sally is dancing with?
7. Have you found the money _______ you lost?
B) Defining relative clauses with whose, where, why/that
1. We use whose in relative clauses (in place of his, her, their, etc.) to talk about possession.
I’ve got a friend. His brother is an actor. I’ve got a friend whose brother is an actor. They’re the people. Their house caught fire. They’re the people whose house caught fire.
2. We can use where (for places) and when (for times) in relative clauses.
The factory where I work is going to close down.
Is there a time when we can meet?
3. After the word reason we can use why or that in relative clauses.
Is there a reason why/that you want to leave now?
4. We can leave out when, why, that and where (if we use a preposition).
Is there a time we can meet?
Is there a reason you want to leave now?
The hotel we stayed at was very small.
Comprehension questions:
1) Are there any other relative pronouns besides who, that and which?
2) Can where be ever omitted?
Practice 6
Complete the sentences using where, when, whose, why/that.
1. That is the church _______ Ken and Kate were married.
2. Mrs. Barnes is the woman _________ husband teaches at Ann’s school.
3. Did they tell you the reason ________ they wanted you to do that?
4. Jim Owen is the young man ________ flat was broken into.
5. What’s the name of the restaurant ________ you had lunch.
6. I can remember the time _________ there was no television.
7. The Browns are the people _______ credit cards were stolen.
8. I don’t understand the reason _______ he was late.