RELATIVE CLAUSES

A relative clause is a part of a sentence beginning with a relative pronoun (although this pronoun can be omitted in certain cases). For example:

The high school where I studied is called Ies Josep Maria Quadrado

The girl who went into the supermarket is my brother’s girlfriend.

My sister, who lives near you, is coming to the party.

The relative pronoun you use depends on the thing you're talking about.

The most common ones are these:

(That can only be used in defining relative clauses)

EXERCISES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

WHICH

This can be used to refer to the whole part of the sentence that went before.

Usually a pronoun refers to a noun, but this refers to more. For example:

I've passed all my exams, which means I have studied a lot.

He designed a beautiful house, which I think is very impressive.

WHOM

This is little used in spoken English, and not often in written English. It sounds very formal.

If you're going to use it at all, then only use it after prepositions. Even so, there's usually another less formal way to say the same thing. For example:

The girl to whom he was talking is his girlfriend.

The girl that he was talking to is his girlfriend.

WHOSE

It shows possession. It means basically 'of who(m)'. It can be used or people and animals, but also for things. For example:

Aina, whose homework is always done, will pass her exams.

The homework belongs to Aina, it's hers --- possessive.

That student, whose book you took, is going to get angry at you.

It is - or was - the student's book.

WHAT

It means 'the thing that' or 'that which'. For example:

I'm going to do what I want.

Why didn't you do what your mother told you?

You are what you read.

NON-DEFINING x DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

They give you extra information. They are always written between commas; so, if you leave out the commas it still makes sense. For example:

IES Josep Maria Quadrado, which is the oldest high school in Ciutadella, is on Menorca.

My friends, who attend the same course I do, are coming tonight.

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

They also give you extra information, but you need it to understand the sentence. There are no commas. If you leave the relative sentence out, the sentences doesn't make any sense. For example:

The students who have passed the exams will have a wonderful summer. Which students?

That is the man who lent me the umbrella. What man?

I've got a friend who is a teacher at IES Josep Maria Quadrado. .....

Object & subject relative pronouns

When the pronoun is the object, the relative pronoun can be left out. For example:

This is the picture which I like best of all.

This is the picture ----- I like best of all.

Joan is the boy who Anna wanted to meet.

Joan is the boy -------- Anna wanted to meet.