B2 Grammar
B2 Grammar
Relative clauses
Relative clauses
Use:
Use defining relative clauses to give information about a noun in a sentence. The listener or reader NEEDS this information to understand the sentence.
A doctor is a person who cures sick people.
The girl who sits next to me at work has a bag just like yours.
Form:
Use who to give more information about a person.
An architect is a person who designs buildings.
Use which or that to give more information about a thing.
A corkscrew is a thing which you use to open bottles.
The book that you gave me for my birthday is really interesting.
Use where to give more information about a place.
That’s the place where we got married.
The town where my uncle lives is a few miles from here.
Because non-defining relative clauses give essential information, no commas (,) are needed.
If the noun which the relative clause describes (usually at the beginning of the sentence) is the OBJECT of the sentence, you can delete which, that or who.
The man who is wearing the blue suit is my brother.
The man is the subject of the sentence. You cannot delete who.
The man (who) George is talking to is my brother.
George is the subject of the sentence.
The man is the object of the sentence.
(The sentence can be rewritten: George is talking to a man. The man is my brother). So you can delete who.
The book you lent me is really good.
You is the subject of the sentence.
The book is the object of the sentence.
(The sentence can be rewritten: You lent me a book. The book is really good. Which / that is not necessary.)
The book which is on the table is really good.
The book is the subject of the sentence. (The sentence can be rewritten: The book is on the table. It’s really good. Which / that is necessary.)
Non Defining Relative Clauses
Use:
Use non-defining relative clauses to give extra information about a noun in a sentence, or part of a sentence. The listener or reader does not need this information to understand the sentence.
Relative clauses can define the subject of the sentence:
Miranda, who used to go to the same university as me, is having a baby.
Or the object of a sentence:
We went to a lovely restaurant, where we both had steak.
Or the sentence as a whole.
She gave me some money, which was very nice of her.
Form:
Always put the relative clause as close as possible to the noun that you are describing.
Use who to give information about a person, whose to introduce a possession, and which to give information about a thing. Do not use that.
Use where to give information about a place ONLY if you introduce another subject after where. Otherwise, use which.
We met at Bristol University, where we both studied Biology.
We met at Bristol University, which is in the west of England.
Who, which, where and whose cannot be omitted in defining relative clauses.
As non-defining relative clauses are not necessary to understanding the sentence, they are always placed within commas.
The man who lives next to me has five motorbikes.
In this sentence, ‘who lives to me’ is necessary. Without it, the sentence (‘The man has five motorbikes’) is meaningless because it is not clear which man is being talked about. Therefore, commas are NOT necessary.
Tom, who lives next to me, has five motorbikes.
In this sentence, ‘who lives to me’ is not necessary. Without it, the sentence (‘Tom has five motorbikes’) still has meaning. ‘Who lives next to me’ adds more information, therefore, commas ARE necessary.
Common Mistakes
Some Students do not put the non defining relative clause close to the noun it describes.
The chemicals flow into rivers, which are toxic. => The chemicals, which are toxic, flow into rivers.