Material Unit 2
1. Grammar
1.2. Defining and non-defining relative clauses
There are two types of relatives clauses:
1. Defining relative clauses
2. Non-defining relative clauses
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
The defining relative clauses give detailed necessary information. They are not put between commas.
Example: I know the man who is standing there
Defining relative pronouns
| SUBJECT | OBJECT | POSSESSIVE | |
| For people |
Who The man who robbed you has been arrested That Everyone that knew him liked him. |
Whom/Who The man whom/ who I saw told me to come back today. That The man that I saw told me to come back today |
Whose The film is about a spy whose wife betrays him. |
| For things |
Which This is the picture which caused such a sensation. That The stairs that lead to the cellar are rather slippery. |
Which The car which I hired broke down That All the apples that fall are eaten by the pigs. |
Whose a house whose walls were made of glass Of which |
NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES
The non-defining relative clauses give interesting additional information which is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. These clauses are put between commas.
Example: Jim, who we met yesterday, is very nice.
Non-defining relative pronouns
| SUBJECT | OBJECT | POSSESSIVE | |
| For people |
Who My neighbor, who is very pessimistic, says there will be no apples this year.
|
Whom/Who Mr Jones, who I was working for,was very generous about overtime payments. |
Whose Ann, whose children are at school all day, is trying to get a job. |
| For things |
Which The 8.15 train, which is usually very punctual, was late today. |
Which These books, which you can get at any bookshop, will give you all the information you need. |
Whose His house, whose windows are all broken, was a depressing sight. Of which |