CHA PTER 2:

REL ATIV E
CL A US E
YS
A. Introduction
B. Relative Clause as a Subject
C. Relative Clause as an Object
D. Relative Clause as an Object of a CHAPTER
Preposition
E. Place and Time in Relative Clause
OVERVIEW
F. Using WHOSE in Relative Clause
G. Relative Pronoun after Indefinite
Pronoun
RELATIVE PRONOUNS FUNCTIONS:
-Who= used for people -as a subject
-Whom= used for people -as an object of a verb
-Which= used for things -as an object of a preposition.
-That= used both people or things

(noun: people) Who

(noun: people)Whom
(noun: things)Which
(noun: both)That
STEPS: 1. I thanked the woman. (who)
1. Decide the Independent Clause and 2. She (the woman) helped me.
Dependent Clause (DC=RC) sentence 1= explained = IC
IC=explained sentence 2= explain =DC  RC
DC=explain I thanked the woman who helped me.
2. Find a connection between 2 sentences.
3. Decide the function. Check the DC 1. The man was Mr. Jones.
4. Decide the Relative Pronoun. Check the 2. I saw him.
NOUN The man who I saw was Mr. Jones.
A. INTRODUCTION
Clause : A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.
Example: I saw the man who closed the door.

Independent Clause: An independent clause is a complete sentence. It

contains the main subject and verb of a sentence.
Example: I saw the man who closed the door.

Dependent Clause: A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It

must be connected to an independent clause.
Example: I saw the man who closed the door.
A. INTRODUCTION (2)
Relative Clause: A relative clause is a dependent clause that
modifies a noun. It describes, identifies, or gives
further information about a noun. (Adjective Clause)

Relative Pronouns: A relative clause uses pronouns to connect the

dependent clause to the independent clause. Those
pronouns are called relative pronouns (who, whom,
which, that, whose, etc.)
B. RELATIVE CLAUSE AS A SUBJECT
I thanked the woman. In (a): I thanked the woman an
1
She helped me. independent clause; who helped me
 a relative clause. The relative
clause modifies the noun woman.
a. I thanked the woman who helped me.
b. I thanked the woman that helped me.
In (a): who is the subject of the
The book is mine. relative clause.
It is on the table. In (b): that is the subject of the
relative clause.
Who: used for people
c. The book which is on the table is mine. Which: used for things
d. The book that is on the table is mine. That: used for both people or things
e. INCORRECT: The book is mine that is on RC closely follows the noun it
the table. modifies
C. RELATIVE CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF A VERB
The man was Mr. Jones. Notice that the Relative Clause
I saw him. pronouns are placed at the beginning
a. The man who(whom) I saw was Mr. Jones. of the clause.
b. The man that I saw was Mr. Jones. In (a): who is usually preferred instead
c. The man ϴ I saw was Mr. Jones of whom especially in speaking.
Whom is normally used only in very
formal English.
The movie wasn’t so good. In (c) and (f): An object pronoun is
We saw it last night. often omitted (A subject pronoun may
not be omitted.
Who(m): used for people
d. The movie which we saw last night wasn’t so good. Which: used for things
e. The movie that we saw last night wasn’t so good. That: used for both people or things
f. The movie ϴ we saw last night wasn’t so good.
g. INCORRECT: In (g): The pronoun him must be
The man who (whom) I saw him was Mr. Jones. removed. It is just unnecessary because
The man that I saw him was Mr. Jones. who(m), that, or ϴ function as the
The man I saw him was Mr. Jones. object of the verb saw.
D. RELATIVE CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF A PREP.
She is the woman. In very formal English, the preposition
I told you about her. comes at the beginning of the relative
a. She is the woman about whom I told you. clause, as in (a) and (e). However,
b. She is the woman who(m) I told you about. usually in everyday usage, the
c. She is the woman that I told you about. preposition comes after the subject
d. She is the woman ϴ I told you about. and verb of the relative clause, as in
the other examples.

The music was good. Note:

We listened to it last night. If the preposition comes at the
beginning of the adjective clause, only
e. The music to which we listened last night was good. whom or which may be used. A
f. The music which we listened to last night was good preposition is never immediately
g. The music that we listened to last night was good. followed by that or who.
h. The music ϴ we listened to last night was good.
i. INCORRECT:
She is the woman about who I told you.
The music to what we listened last night was good
EXERCISES
Combine the two sentences. Use the second sentence as
the Relative Clause.
1. We are studying sentences. They contain Relative
Clause.
2. Algebra problems contain letters. They stand for
unknown numbers.
3. The taxi driver was friendly. He took me to the
airport.
4. I liked the woman. I met her at the party last night.
5. The man is standing over there. Ann brought him to
the party.
6. The book was good. I read it.
7. The candidate didn’t win the election. I voted for her.
8. The topic was interesting. Omar talked about it.
9. The picture was beautiful. She was looking at it.
10. Olga wore on a topic. She knew nothing about it.
E. USING WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW IN RC
The building is very old. Where is used in an adjective clause to
He lives there (in the building). modify a place (city, country, room,
a. The building where he lives is very old. house, etc)
When is used in an adjective clause to
I’ll never forget the day. modify a noun of time (year, day, time,
I met you then (on that day). century, etc)
b. I’ll never forget the day when I met you.
Both where and when can be omitted.
He left the house.
I do not know the reason. Why is used in adjective clause to
modify a reason.
c. I do not know why he left the house.
How is used in adjective clause to
modify a way.
I make a kite.
I know the way. Both why and how cannot be omitted.
d. I know how to make a kite.
F. USING WHOSE IN RELATIVE CLAUSE
I know the man. Whose is used to show possession.
His bicycle was stolen It carries the same meaning as other
a. I know the man whose bicycle was stolen. possessive pronouns used as
adjectives: his, hers, its, theirs, etc.
Ms. Catt has a painting.
Like possessive pronouns, whose is
Its value is inestimable.
connected to a noun as well:
b. Ms. Catt has a painting whose value is inestimable.
his bicycle  whose bicycle
its value  whose value

Whose cannot be omitted. And, it

can modify both people and things.
THANK
YOU 