Defining and non- defining relative clauses 7.4
When do we use defining and non- defining relative clauses ? That’s the girl who goes to my judo club. We had another meal at the restaurant where we ate last month. My birthday present from my aunt was a black Nike T-shirt, which I really love. We use defining and non- defining relative clauses to be specific about people, things and places. Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3
There are five relative clauses. Look ! How many relative clauses can you find in the text ? Which words introduce the relative clauses about : a) people, b) things, c) places ? There are a lot of people who celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but there aren’t as many people who celebrate Siblings Day. In countries where there’s a Siblings Day, people send cards to their brothers and sisters on the day. They may also give presents which they think their siblings will enjoy. The tradition, which Claudia Evart started in 1997, is slowly becoming more popular. Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3 a) who b) which a) who a) who b) which c) where
Which man? Which book? Which café? How do we make relative clauses ? Defining relative clauses Non- defining relative clauses I’ve just seen a man. I’ve just seen a man lives on my street. That’s the book. That’s the book my friend gave me. Let’s go to the café. Let’s go to the café where Max’s dad works. I’ve just seen Frank Jones. I’ve just seen Frank Jones, who lives on my street. That’s the book Dracula. That’s the book Dracula, which my friend gave me. Let’s go to the Boxtree Café. Let’s go to the Boxtree Café, where Max’s dad works. which I’ve just seen a man that lives on my street. That’s the book that my friend gave me. Relative clauses who We use relative clauses to give information about people, things and places. We use who to refer to people, which to refer to things and where to refer to places. We use non-defining relative clauses to give additional information. The information isn’t essential to identify who or what we are talking about. In non-defining relative clauses. we use commas. We can’t use that. Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3 We use defining relative clauses to give essential information about people, things and places. In defining relative clauses, we can replace who and which with that.
During my brother’s wedding, I met an elderly lady. She used to know my great-grandmother. During my brother’s wedding, I met an elderly lady who / that used to know my great-grandmother. She told me a lot of things. I had no idea about them. My great-grandmother lived in a village near Edinburgh. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. The lady told me about a house. My great-grandmother lived there. She had Shetland ponies. She often rode them. The lady showed me a photo of my great-grandmother. She looked exactly like my mum. Combine the sentences using relative clauses with who, which or where. Add commas where necessary. In which sentences could you use that ? She told me a lot of things which / that I had no idea about. My great-grandmother lived in a village near Edinbrugh, which is the capital of Scotland. The lady told me about a house where my great-grandmother lived. She had Shetland ponies, which she often rode. The lady showed me a photo of my great-grandmother, who looked exactly like my mum. Practice Time Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3
