Relative clauses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Relative clauses = betrekkelijke bijzinnen

If you like to give extra information on something or someone you use a relative clause.

This clause usually starts with an interrogative pronoun (who/which) or a demonstrative pronoun (that).

In Dutch we use 'die' of 'dat'.

who

which

that

That has the same meaning as who or which but is more informal.

people

animals and things

people, animals and things

If you can leave out the clause without changing the meaning of the sentence, you use who or which. This clause is always between commas.

Cedric, who is my best friend, is older than I am.

This safe, which is new, is impossible to crack.

Sometimes the clause is necessary to understand what or who the sentence is about. You can often leave out who, which or that.

This is the suspect (who) the police arrested yesterday.

The horse (which) the jockey used to ride was sold.

You can use who and which together with prepositions. The preposition can often be found at the end of the sentence.

The house (which/that) I lived in was torn down.

The officer, who Lee told his story to, was shocked.

The preposition can also be at the beginning of the clause. That's more formal. Who in combination with a preposition sometimes changes into whom.

The house in which I lived was torn down.

The officer, to whom Lee told his story, was shocked.

Whose indicates possession. In Dutch we say 'wie', 'wiens' of 'waarvan'.

The woman whose picture was on the news is the suspect.

Bertie, whose house burnt down, stayed with his sister.

Use of -

If the relative clause provides you with information on the subject you can't leave it out.

If it says something about the direct (lv) or indirect object (mw) you can leave it out. So you can use - .

relative clause between commas

If a relative clause is between commas you have to use who for people and which for things and animals.

That can't be used in a relative clause between commas.

Choose the correct alternative in each sentence.

The '-' indicates that no word is needed to make a correct sentence.

The film ... I saw was quite interesting.

1. who
2. which
3. that
4. which, that, -

I talked to the man ... lives across the street.

1. who
2. which, that
3. who, that
4. who, that, -

His smartphone, ... is new, looks quite expensive.

1. who
2. which
3. which, that
4. which, that, -

The celebrity ... house burned down was on the news.

1. who
2. whose
3. which
4. which, -

The car ... I drove in was stolen last year.

1. whose
2. which
3. whom
4. which, -

This is the song ... I can play on my guitar.

1. who
2. which
3. that
4. which, that, -

Mr Portland, ... is my favourite teacher, is ill today.

1. who
2. which
3. that
4. who, that

The man to ... the letter was sent never replied.

1. who
2. whom
3. which
4. -

Homework

Stepping Stones Online:

Grammar E: Ex. 12

Slim stampen - Grammar 7

Watching F: Ex. 13 & 14 

Study:

Grammar 7 Relative Clauses TB p. 43