1) Relative clauses
2) Other Wh-words
3) Participle clauses
4) Online practice
1) Relative clauses
A relative clauses gives information about a noun. It immediately follows the noun it describes and often begins with a relative pronoun like who, which, when, that, whom, whose, where, why, and what.
A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun it refers to. Without it, the noun can not be identified.
A non-defining relative clause gives additional information about something that is alreaady clearly identified. It is separated by commas from the rest of the sentence and it can be left out without affecting the meaning.
NOTES:
1. Who, whom, which, when, and that may be omitted from a defining relative clause when they refer to the object of the verb in the relative clasue. (This is more common in spoken English).
The child (that / which) she saw in the park wasn't with his sister.
The bike (that / which) the boy borrowed wasn't mine.
The year (that / when) I studied for my degree was hard.
The woman (whom) you said hello to is my aunt.
2. In non-defining relative clauses, relative pronouns cannot be omitted or replaced with that.
Sarah, who is in the meeting, will arrive when she can.
(not: Sarah, is / that s in a meeting, will arrive when she can X).
3. When combining sentences, there is no need to repeat the word that is being replaced by the relative pronoun.
My friend gave me a hug. It was comforting. -> The hug which / that (it) my friend gave me was comforting.
4. Relative clauses with prepositions can be formal or informal. Prepositions can come at the end of a relative clause or beofre the relative pronoun. The relative pronouns that and who cannot follow the preposition.
That's the maze which / that he got lost in. (informal)
That's the maze in which he got lost. (formal)
5. In non-defining relative clauses, expressions of quantity and superlatives can be added to of whom, of which, and of whose.
Several robbers were arrested, many / all of whom had been in jail before.
6. In reduced relative clauses, the relative pronoun and the verb to be can be omitted.
Finally, historians (who were) questioning the value of the relics were refuted.
That town, (which is) famous for its beaches, is empty in winter.
2) Other Wh-words
3) Participle clauses
4) Online practice
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