100 23 GRAMMAR Relative clauses 1 Relative clauses Relative clauses are short phrases beginn (called ‘r types: ning with words like who, that and which tlative pronouns) that define or describe people and things. There are twp lauses identify exactly which person or thing we mean. The ive cl 1 the sentence to make sense. © Defining rela information is necessary fr The doctor who treated me told me not fo worry. In this example there is more than one doctor and we only know which one by the relative clause. Non-defining relative clauses give extra information. The information is not necessary for the sentence to make sense. To show this in writing we use commas. Pablo Picasso, who died in 1973, was a painter and sculptor. Relative pronouns © Which, that Which refers to things and that refers to people and things. That is more common, especially in speech, The bus which goes to Cairo leaves from here. The woman that we spoke to gave us directions. The road that we took led to an ancient temple. In non-defining clauses, we use which, not that. The bus, which broke down twice, arrived four hours late. © Who, that and whom Who and that refer to people. The people who live next door make a lot of noise. The people that live next door make a lot of noise. In formal speech and writing we can use whom instead of who where who is the object of the sentence (see below). However, this is becoming less common and in modern English speakers rarely use whom ~ instead they use who or that. J was the same boy whom I met yesterday. (is the subject, whom is the object) It was the same boy that/who I met yesterday, We use whom after a preposition in formal speech or writing, No one knows by whom the victim was shot, (after the preposition ‘by, but very rare in modern English) ‘No one knows who the victim was shot by. (normal usage in speech and writing)GRAMMAR 23 RELATIVE CLAUSES 1 fe Whose Whose shows that something belongs to someone. The girl whose case had been stolen went to the police station. Leaving out the relative pronoun ‘e The relative pronoun can sometimes be left out, but this depends on whether the relative clause refers to the subject or object ofthe sentence. A relative clause that refers to the subject of the sentence: The doctor who treated me told me not to worry. ‘The doctor (subject) treated me (object. {A relative clause that refers to the object of the sentence: ‘The doctor that/who/whom I spoke fo told me not to worry. L (subject) spoke to the doctor (object). ‘We can leave out the relative pronoun in a defining relative clause that refers to the object. ‘The doctor I spoke to told me not to worry. ‘© Wecan also leave out the relative pronoun after a superlative. That was the best meal (that) ve ever eaten! © We cannot leave out the relative pronoun ina defining relative clause that refers to the subject. ‘The doctor who treated me told me not to worry. ‘© Ina non-defining relative clause we must keep the relative pronoun. Pablo Picasso, who died in 1973, was a painter and sculptor.INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 1. Underline the correct word in each sentence. a suitcase, knocked at the door. An old man, who/which was carrying The winner, which/whose bike was an unusual design, won a medal, The girl who/which spoke to me turned out to be in my class. The muscum, wiich/whose was in a beautiful building, was closed, policewoman that/which we asked told us how to get there. The boy whose/whom house I was staying at was an old friend. The last person which/whose pen I borrowed didnt get it back 2 Complete each sentence with who, whose or that. 1 The friend ...Wi@Sé..... house I stayed in is coming to stay with us. 2 The guidebook ‘we bought explained everything. 3. Thecouple house I bought both worked in my office. 4. Tike you to tell Me wessnssnuom YOu Were talking to, 5 Thegirl uler [ had borrowed wanted it back. 6 Icanit remember ent my bike to. 7 Doyou know . Catherine works for? 3 Decide whether the clause in italics is defining or non-defining. Write D or N next to each sentence. 1. The girl who was waiting was becoming impatient. 2. The room, which was enormous, was filled with lines of chairs. 3. Thestudents, who were late, waited in the playground. 4 The food which was left was eaten the following day. 5 Atall girl, who was wearing a hat, came into the room, 6 7 ‘The dog, which was Iying on the sofa, had long pointed ears. ‘The train which leaves at 8.00 doesnt stop at Bath. 4 Underline any relative pronouns that can be left out in these sentences. 1. The book that John was reading was abit frightening, 2. The travel agency which sold me the ticket was near my office, 3. Inthe end, our holiday was the best that we had ever had. 4. The dentist who I goto isnt very expensive. 5 The film which we saw last week was much better than this one. 6 The people who were leaving couldn't find their coats, 7 ‘The garden, which wasnit very large, was full of flowers.GRAMMAR 23 RELATIVE CLAUSES 1 Rewrite each formal sentence as an informal one, ending with the word given. 1 ‘These are the boys with whom I went on holiday. “These. ave.the boys. L.wemk avchaliday, 2. Thisis the letter for which I've been waiting, with. 3. Thats the shop from which Sue bought her bike. 4 That isthe hotel at which I stayed. 5 Timis someone to whom I hardly ever write. 6 Do you know by whom this book was written? 7 Ravenna was the most interesting town in which we stayed. 8 United were the best team against which we played. 6 Add a relative pronoun to each sentence. 1 Friday was the last time I saw Jim, Friday,was.the last time. that.|.saw.Jiie.. 2. The island we visited was extremely beautiful. 3. The girl I met wasa friend of Phi 4 The meal we ate wasnit very tasty. 5 Gina was the first person I asked. 6 The book I read didn't explain the problem. 7 The teacher we usually have was away ill, 8 The friends I met last night send you their love. 103,104 24 GRAMMAR Relative clauses 2 Combining sentences fe Wecan combine these sentences using relative clauses. 1A bus goes to Cairo. It leaves from here. ‘The bus that goes to Cairo leaves from here. 2 A woman teaches us music. She also plays in an orchestra. “The woman who teaches us mnusic also plays in an orchestra 3 We took a road. It ed to an ancient temple. The road (that) we took led to an ancient temple. 4 Wespoke to a woman, She gave us directions The woman (that) we spoke to gave us directions ‘e Note that articles often change (e.g. from a/an to the) when sentences are combined. ‘A girl's case was stolen. She went to the police station. The girl whose case was stolen went to the police station. A doctor treated me, She told me not to worry. The doctor who treated me told me not to worry. 1 spoke to a doctor. She told me not to worry. The doctor I spoke to told me not to worry. Note this common error: Fhe bus that goes-te-Caive-itJeavesfrom-here: ‘When we combine sentences we do not repeat the subject by adding another pronoun (The bus... it). Relative clauses with an -ing form ‘The relative clause often has a continuous verb form: Can all the students who are leaving tomorrow give back their books? sent a card to the girl who was living across the street. In this case we can leave out both the relative pronoun and the verb be. Can all the students leaving tomorrow give back their books? I sent a card to the girl living across the street What as a relative pronoun ‘We can use the relative pronoun what to mean the thing(s) that. ug aan understand what she sai, (€ the things that she said) want now is a cup of tea (& the thing that I want)GRAMMAR 24 RELATIVE CLAUSES 2 1. Underline the correct word in each sentence. 5 The train wihich/who goes to Brighton leaves from here That/What [like best is an afternoon at the beach I didn't know who/which to ask about my timetable. The people which/whose luggage was lost had to wait a long time. Where’ the ruler whose/that I left on this desk? The shop what/that I went to didrrt have any milk, Do you know whom/whose bag this is? Everyone who/which was there will remember the day forever. ‘The second bus, which/whose was ful, didn't stop either. 10 Jim was helped by someone who/whom told him the answer. 2 Some sentences have a word which should not be there. Write the word in the space. If the sentence is correct, puta tick (7). 1 The man whose hi That was the longest film I've ever seen, WS. car had been damaged was very angry. The train which it goes to London leaves from here. ‘The policewoman who she stopped me asked me my name, ‘The Eiffel Tower, which it was finished in 1889, is made of iron. Everyone that Elena spoke to advised her to try again. The children that the} Naunen ive next door are my friends. 3. Rewrite each pair of sentences as one sentence, and include the word in bol Begin as shown, and make any necessary changes. 1 We want to visit a museum, It opens at 12.00. that The nts Staind Mt We. WAI £0. ESI PRES. AE Aree Qn. 2. A boy's bike was taken. He visited the police station. whose The .. : 3. A friend met me at the airport. He carried my suitcase. who The . 4 Tom cooked a meal. It was delicious. that Tbe ented é 5 A friend is staying with me. She comes from Paris. who ‘The -.. 105INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 6 Tfound a man's wallet. He gave me ® reward. whose The : i 7 14go to a shop im the centre It's cheaper. that The 8 Lent toa girl’ party. She phoned me whose The 9 Tkno who Titer We save a film last week. It was more wy someone. This person likes you. 10 interesting, that The 44 Putone word in each space, or tick (7) the space if the sentence is correct. ‘We sent a present to the children living next door. 1 3 2. Mike doesn't really know he wants. 3 started talking to some boys _ sitting by the side of the road. 4 asked Mary she was thinking, but she wouldn't tell me. 5 There were lots of people atthe party we went to. 6 Iori really know you're talking about. 7 We saw two rabbits s.s.senee Playing in the garden. 8. Isthis the bike your parents bought you for your birthday? 9 The police officer _ stopped me wanted to see my identity card. 10. ‘we need now isa map and a compass. ‘A map and a compass would be very useful now?