2TTO - Unit 9 - Relative Clauses

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2TTO

Unit 9
Relative Clauses

Look at these two sentences. What is the difference?

I called my brother who lives in Sydney.

&

My brother, who lives in Sydney, is older.

Look at these two sentences. What is the difference?

(defining relative clause)
I called my brother who lives in Sydney.

&

My brother, who lives in Sydney, is older.

(non-defining relative clause)

Defining clause	Non-defining clause
To give essential information about the person, thing, place, time or reason in the other half of the sentence. William Gilbert was the first person who/that investigated electricity scientifically.	To give extra, non-essential information about the person, thing, place or time in the first half of the sentence. The commas show that the information is not vital to the sentence. William Gilbert, who was born in 1544, investigated electricity scientifically.

❓Exercise 1

Decide: Is it a defining clause or a non-defining clause?

Is this a defining clause or a non-defining clause:

"My sister, who lives in Weesp, is older."

1. defining clause
2. non-defining clause

Is this a defining clause or a non-defining clause:

"I called my brother who lives in Amsterdam."

1. defining clause
2. non-defining clause

Is this a defining clause or a non-defining clause:

"These bikes, which cost a fortune, are made in England."

1. defining clause
2. non-defining clause

What pronouns can I use with a defining clause?

Defining clause	Example
We use who and that for people.	She was the first woman that/who walked on the moon.
We use which and that for things.	That's the device which/that he invented.
We use whose for possessions.	I just remembered whose brother that is.
We use where for places.	That red house is where I lived.
We use when for times.	I was a fan of Pokemon when I was young.
We use why for reasons.	The heat in Spain is why I returned home.

What pronouns can I use with a non-defining clause?

Defining clause	Example
We use who (NOT that) for people.	She, who was called Aileen, walked on the moon.
We use which (NOT that) for things.	That device, which was invented in 2020, is really popular now.
We use whose for possessions.	That guy, whose sister lived abroad, is a well-known soccer player.
We use where for places.	Near that red house, where you can see a yellow mailbox, is my house.
We use when for times.	At eleven years old, when I was living in Amsterdam, I was a Pokemon fan.

❓ Exercise 2

Grab a piece of paper. Then, take these two steps.

Step 1: Write down if it is a defining or non-defining clause.

Step 2: Write down the correct relative pronoun

The sentences:

1. I’ll never forget the day _______ we met.
2. I have two brothers, both of ________ younger than me.
3. Do you remember the girl _______ brother sat next to you in eighth grade?
4. This is the house __________ I grew up in.
5. Is that lady, _________ lives in the red house, having a panic attack?

ANSWERS

1. I’ll never forget the day _______ we met.
   1. defining clause 2. when/that
2. I have two brothers, both of ________ younger than me.
   1. non-defining clause 2. which/whom
3. Do you remember the girl _______ brother sat next to you in eighth grade?
   1. defining clause 2. whose (possession)
4. This is the house __________ I grew up in.
   1. defining clause 2. where/which/ that
5. Is that lady, _________ lives in the red house, having a panic attack?
   1. non-defining clause 2. who

I understand defining and non-defining relative clauses now!

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