RELATIVE SENTENCES

Carmen Torres

What’s a relative clause?

A subordinate clause depending on a main clause THE ANTECEDENT is a word that belongs to the

main clause. It is the person, object, place, etc. the relative clause refers to.

THE RELATIVE CLAUSE always follows its antecedent.

A RELATIVE PRONOUN joins the antecedent to the relative clause.

Types of Relative clauses

Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining Relative clauses

Defining Relative Clauses

They specify the person, object, time or place we are talking about.

These sentences are introduced by relative pronouns:

– WHO or THAT, if the relative sentence refers to people

– WHICH or THAT, if the relative sentence refers to things

– WHOSE for possession

– WHEN for days, months, years...

– WHERE for places.

Defining Relative Clause

COMMON FEATURES Who, which, that (and sometimes when and where) can be

omitted (to make a contact clause) if they do not act as subjects of the relative sentence.

They are necessary to understand the antecedent They are never placed between commas When the relative pronoun goes with a preposition we

normally omit it and place the preposition at the end of the relative clause.– If the relative is that, even it is not omitted, the preposition goes

to the end.

Non-Defining Relative Clause

They add information about the antecedent. These sentences are introduced by relative

pronouns:– WHO, if the relative sentence refers to people

– WHICH, if the relative sentence refers to things

– WHOSE for possession

– WHEN for days, months, years...

– WHERE for places.

Non-Defining Relative Clause

COMMON FEATURES The relative pronoun can never be omitted. They are not necessary to understand the

antecedent. They are always placed between commas.

Remember

Defining Relative No commas Omit the relative pronoun

except when SUBJECT

Non-Defining Relative Between commas No omission

Relative Pronouns

WHO: refers to peopleWHICH: refers to thingsWHOSE: for possessionWHEN: for timeWHERE : for places.WHAT: (lo que)

Examples

The lessons which she liked better were those ...............she learned from others

That was the subject ............. I was talking about I could not understand ......... they wanted to know. This is exactly ............ I wanted to find out. My brother was the man ............ was here a

moment ago. My brother,……… was here a moment ago, has

written you a letter.

More examples

The Constitution ……… Spain voted in 1978 was not real until 1981, after the 23rd February

Arrau, the well-known pianist, ......... everybody admires, will play here soon.

I personally know that author ......... books give us so much pleasure.

This is the bed .......... Queen Elizabeth slept in. John is the boy ....... was rude to this lady. This is the lady ......... John was rude to.