1. Types of Relative Clauses
Defining
Non-defining

2. THE “LINKERS” Basic: ADVERBIALS: DEFINING NON-DEFINING THAT WHO WHICH
(OMISSION)
ADVERBIALS:
WHERE
WHY
WHEN
WHOSE
DEFINING
NON-DEFINING

3. Defining or Non-defining?
When the relative clause is necessary to understand the sentence completely.
When the relative clause adds some extra information but it is not essential to understand.
NON-DEFINING
DEFINING

4. Defining Clauses When the relative refers to a person:
“The man who lives next door has a dog”
“The man that lives next door has a dog”
When the relative refers to a thing or animal: t
“My mother bought the cottage which has three tall palms”
“My mother bought the cottage that has three tall palms”

5. Relative Omission We can omit if and only if:
the relative clause is Defining.
the relative is not adverbial
the relative is not subject of the clause
there is no preposition before the relative. NO
yes
I saw the car you told
me about on tv

6. Non-Defining Mr. Smith, who lives in Norwich, was once my professor.
It is always a clause referred to a person, thing or animal totally identified.
Mr. Smith, who lives in Norwich, was once my professor.
The White House, where the president of the USA lives, is in Washington.
Mickey Mouse, which is a very famous pet, has been on tv for many years.
remember: always between commas

7. Averbial Relatives TIME “when” PLACE “where” REASON “why”
I remember the times when we danced together at the disco
PLACE “where”
The city where I study is not my hometown
REASON “why”
We will never know the reason why she didn't come to the party
POSSESION “whose”
The girl whose parents you talked to were my work collegues.

8. Prepositions in relative clauses
The relative pronouns which and whom can function as
the object of a preposition, as the examples set below:
the room in which we are staying an achievement of which I am very proud the man with whom she has an affair the report to which he is referring
However this use sounds rather formal, and it is much more common to place the preposition towards the end of the clause rather than before the relative pronoun, as in e.g.:
the room which we are staying in an achievement which I am very proud of the man who she has an affair with the report which he is referring to

9. and very often the relative pronoun is left out altogether,
as in e.g.:
the room we are staying in an achievement I am very proud of the man she has an affair with the report he is referring to

10. Reduced Relative Clause
A. The man who is in the house likes to watch television all day.
B. The man in the house likes to watch television all day.
A. The man who is swimming in the lake is my father.
B. The man swimming in the lake is my father.
A. The survey which was conducted by the government did not indicate true public opinion.
B. The survey conducted by the government did not indicate true public opinion.
A. This is the house that Jack built.
B. This is the house Jack built.

11. 1. they are followed by a prepositional phrase.
A. The man who is in the house likes to watch television all day.
B. The man in the house likes to watch television all day.
A. The books that are on the desk are mine.
B. The books on the desk are mine. 

12. 2. the main verb in the relative clause is progressive.
A. The man who is swimming in the lake is my father.
B. The man swimming in the lake is my father.
A. The clothes that are lying on the floor belong to me.
B. The clothes lying on the floor belong to me. 

13. 3. the main verb in the relative clause is passive.
A. The survey which was conducted by the government did not indicate true public opinion.
B. The survey conducted by the government did not indicate true public opinion.
A. The food that was eaten by the mice was poisonous.
B. The food eaten by the mice was poisonous.

14. 4. The relative pronoun can be deleted if it isn’t the
subject of the relative clause:
A. This is the house that Jack built.
B. This is the house Jack built.
A. The person whom you see is my father.
B. The person you see is my father.
A. This is the place where I live.
B. This is the place I live in.
(where= in which, at which)