RELATIVE CLAUSES
We use relative clauses to highlight an aspect of the antecedent or to join sentences.
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
Provide essential information of the antecedent.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Who/That
(PERSON)
Which/That
(ANIMAL OR OBJECT)
When/That
(TIME)
Where
(PLACE)
Whose
(POSSESSION)
NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
Provide additional information of the antecedent.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Who
(PERSON)
Which
(ANIMAL OR OBJECT)
When
(TIME)
Where
(PLACE)
Whose
(POSSESSION)
Plato is my best friend. He loves philosophy.
Plato is my best friend who loves philosophy.
The cyclist who won the race trained hard.
The university which she likes is famous.
The summer when I graduated from university was long and hot.
I live in the city where I study.
The house whose roof is old belongs to me.
WITHOUT (,)
WITH (,)
Yesterday I met my new boss, who was very nice.
The house, which is very big, is also very cold!
December, when Christmas is celebrated, is my favourite month.
Portaventura, where we used to go, has been closed down.
My sister, whose dog I'm looking after, is visiting a friend in Spain.
FORMAL AND INFORMAL STRUCTURE
When the antecedent is followed by a preposition
Formal
PREP+WHOM+SENTENCE
(PERSON)
PREP+WHICH+SENTENE
(OBJECT)
Informal
WHO/THAT+VERB+PREP
(PERSON)
WHICH/THAT+VERB+PREP
(OBJECT)