RELATIVE CLAUSES NOTES | Apuntes de Inglés

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RELATIVE CLAUSES (r. c.)

Relative clauses are exactly as adjectives. The relative clause has just the same function -it

gives information about a noun-, but the difference is that the relative clause is a clause - so

it contains a subject a verb and a complement- and the adjective is only a single word.

The tall girl is my friend.

The girl who is sitting next to the window is my friend.

As we can see in the two sentences above the only difference is the use of an adjective

about the girl in the first sentence; and in the second sentence we have a whole relative

clause, but with the same function.

The information given in the relative clause can be essential or redundant. If the

information given in the relative clause is relevant, it means that we cannot omit the relative

clause to understand who or what we are talking about.

The girl who is sitting next to the window is my friend

For this sentence the context is that in the place where I am there is just one girl sitting next

to the window, although there are other girls too in the same place. This is a defining r. c.

If the information given in the relative clause is non-relevant or redundant or extra

information we can omit the relative clause.

The girl, who is sitting next to the window, is my friend. This is a non-defining r.c.

For this sentence the context is that there is only one girl in the place I am, so there is no

possible misunderstanding. In this case the relative clause can be omitted and the sentence

is perfectly meaningful, that is to say, The girl is my friend should be enough information,

as it is obvious there is no other girl around.

Note that a defining relative clause is not used after a noun which is already completely

identified or defined by other words.

My house which I bought last year has got a lovely garden. This is not possible.

The correct form should be The house which I bought last year has a lovely

garden. Or another possibility could be My house, which I bought last year, has a lovely

garden.

DEFINING RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Relative pronouns have two functions. As pronouns they replace a noun mentioned before,

but at the same time they work as conjunctions joining the relative clause and the noun the

relative clause goes with.

As pronouns we have to bear in mind two aspects. First the kind of word they are replacing,

that is to say, if the word mentioned before was about a person or about things. And

secondly the function of the relative pronoun in the relative clause. The functions of the

relative pronouns in the relative clause can be subject, object and possessive.

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RELATIVE CLAUSES (r. c.) Relative clauses are exactly as adjectives. The relative clause has just the same function -it gives information about a noun-, but the difference is that the relative clause is a clause - so it contains a subject a verb and a complement- and the adjective is only a single word. The tall girl is my friend. The girl who is sitting next to the window is my friend. As we can see in the two sentences above the only difference is the use of an adjective about the girl in the first sentence; and in the second sentence we have a whole relative clause, but with the same function. The information given in the relative clause can be essential or redundant. If the information given in the relative clause is relevant, it means that we cannot omit the relative clause to understand who or what we are talking about. The girl who is sitting next to the window is my friend For this sentence the context is that in the place where I am there is just one girl sitting next to the window, although there are other girls too in the same place. This is a defining r. c. If the information given in the relative clause is non-relevant or redundant or extra information we can omit the relative clause. The girl, who is sitting next to the window , is my friend. This is a non-defining r.c. For this sentence the context is that there is only one girl in the place I am, so there is no possible misunderstanding. In this case the relative clause can be omitted and the sentence is perfectly meaningful, that is to say, The girl is my friend should be enough information, as it is obvious there is no other girl around. Note that a defining relative clause is not used after a noun which is already completely identified or defined by other words. My house which I bought last year has got a lovely garden. This is not possible. The correct form should be The house which I bought last year has a lovely garden. Or another possibility could be My house, which I bought last year, has a lovely garden. DEFINING RELATIVE PRONOUNS Relative pronouns have two functions. As pronouns they replace a noun mentioned before, but at the same time they work as conjunctions joining the relative clause and the noun the relative clause goes with. As pronouns we have to bear in mind two aspects. First the kind of word they are replacing, that is to say, if the word mentioned before was about a person or about things. And secondly the function of the relative pronoun in the relative clause. The functions of the relative pronouns in the relative clause can be subject, object and possessive.

Subject Object Possessive nothing For persons that that whose who who whom nothing For things that that whose which which of which Examples The pronouns are ordered from a more colloquial to a more formal style. Subject for persons When the relative pronoun is substituting a person we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is subject we use that in a conversational style; and in a formal style we use who. The man that robbed you has been arrested. The man who robbed you has been arrested. Subject for things When the relative pronoun is substituting something we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is subject we use that in a conversational style; and in a formal style se use which. This is the picture that caused such a sensation. This is the picture which caused such a sensation. Object for persons When the relative pronoun is substituting a person we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is object we usually omit it -which is the most frequent way in a conversational style; we can also use that ; we can also use who - which is more formal; and very rarely we use whom. The man I saw told me to come back today. (relative pronoun omitted) The man that I saw told me to come back today. The man who I saw told me to come back today. The man whom I saw told me to back today. When the function of the relative pronoun is object and goes with a preposition we put the preposition at the end and we usually omit the relative pronoun; we can also use the relative pronouns that, who or whom - graded from more conversational to more formal style. It is also possible to place the preposition in initial position, but that is far more formal. Normally in a colloquial English we place the preposition in a final position. The order of the sentences below is from more informal or colloquial to more formal.

The year she was born in all flowers bloom .( relative pronoun omitted .) The year that she was born in all flowers bloom. The year which she was born in all flowers bloom. The year which she was born in all flowers bloom. The year in which she was born all flowers bloom. The year when she was born all flowers bloom. Possessive for persons When the relative pronoun is substituting a possessive adjective referring to a person the only possible form is whose. People whose rents have been raised can appeal. The film is about a spy whose wife betrays him. NON-DEFINING RELATIVE PRONOUNS Subject Object Possessive For persons who who whose whom For things which which whose of which Subject for persons When the relative pronoun is substituting a person we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is subject we just can use who. My neighbour, who is very pessimistic, says there will be no apples this year. Subject for things When the relative pronoun is substituting something we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is subject we just can use which. That tower block, which cost 5 million € to build, has been empty for five years. Object for persons When the relative pronoun is substituting a person we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is object we can use either who or whom although the last one is much more formal. The pronoun cannot be omitted. Peter, who everyone suspected, turned out to be innocent. She wanted Tom, whom she liked, as a partner; but she got Jack, whom she didn't like. With preposition When the relative pronoun is substituting a person we have mentioned before, the function is object and it is object of a preposition, the preposition is placed at the end of the clause in a conversational style; and the preposition is placed before the pronoun in a formal style. And again the pronoun cannot be omitted. Mr Jones, who I was working for , was very generous about overtime payments. Mr Jones, whom I was working for , was very generous about overtime payments. Mr Jones, for whom I was working, was very generous about overtime payments. The only possible pronoun after the preposition is whom.

Object for things When the relative pronoun is substituting something we have mentioned before and the function in the relative clause is object we can just use which. The pronoun cannot be omitted. She gave this jumper, which she had knitted herself. With prepositions When the relative pronoun is substituting something we have mentioned before, the function is object and it is object of a preposition, the preposition is placed at the end of the clause in a conversational style; and the preposition is placed before the pronoun in a formal style. And again the pronoun cannot be omitted. Ashdom Forest, which we'll be driving through , isn't a forest any longer. Ashdom Forest, through which we'll be driving, isn't a forest any longer. Possessive for persons When the relative pronoun is substituting a possessive adjective referring to a person the only possible form is whose. I congratulated Mrs Jones, whose son had won the high jump. Possessive for things When the relative pronoun is substituting a possessive adjective referring to a person the possible forms are either whose or of which. Of which is possible but unusual except in very formal English. His house, whose windows were all broken, was depressing sight. The relative pronoun what can be substituted by the thing that or the things that The things that we saw astonished us. What we saw astonished us.

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