Relative clauses

Relative clauses begin with a question word (who, which, where, …) and are used to modify a noun that appears in the main clause. They can: a) tell us which person or thing is meant: Do you know the people who live next door? There’s a TV series tonight that I want to see. b) give more information about the person or thing: This is my brother, who wants to meet you. My new computer, which I bought online, is really fast. There are several grammatical and stylistic differences between the two kinds of relative clauses.

DEFINING

---- where which (why) where (when) why which (when) which

I told you about. you were interested in we walked under for which the insurance company over which the committee to whom the bank

NON-DEFINING

You can’t smoke in restaurants any more, which I’m pleased about. Humaniqueness is the first book that G.O., who is Brazilian, has written. Harlitt’s chocolate factory, which used to employ over 1,000 people, has closed down. You can’t smoke in restaurants any more, which I’m pleased about. They’ve closed down our local library, which is really annoying. The course, which lasts ten weeks, starts on Monday 12th January. The new company president will be Sandra Jackson, whose period as creative director was very successful.

which who which

a b b a

b a defining non-defining defining non-defining defining non-defining defining non-defining

a b b a b a b a b a b a

whose name I can never remember. (which/that ) I couldn’t reach. whose name I can never remember. , which are the largest mammals in the world, (who/that)I told you about.

Bibliography: My Grammar Lab Intermediate, units 72-73 - Heinemann Grammar Activities 2, units 58-59