Relative clauses

Who, Which and That in Defining Relative Clauses

Relative pronouns "who," "which," and "that" play a crucial role in defining relative clauses by connecting additional information to the main clause. These pronouns can serve both as subjects and objects within these clauses.

The kitten which is in the box is cute.

Did you see the girl who was running in the forest?

They live in a house which is very old.

I don't know the people who are swimming in the lake.

Relative Pronouns as Subjects

1. **Who** - Refers specifically to people.

   - **As a Subject**: Describes the person performing the action in the clause.

     - Example: "The person who ordered the pizza hasn't arrived yet."

     - In this sentence, "who" acts as the subject carrying out the action of ordering the pizza.

2. **Which** - Refers to animals or things.

   - **As a Subject**: Describes the animal or thing performing the action in the clause.

     - Example: "The book which contains the quotes is on the shelf."

     - "Which" is the subject that is performing the action of containing the quotes.

3. **That** - Can refer to people, animals, or things.

   - **As a Subject**: Performs the action in the clause and is more versatile as it can substitute for both "who" and "which" in informal styles or to provide clarity.

     - Example: "The student that won the award is from my class."

     - "That" acts as the subject performer of winning the award.

Relative Pronouns as Objects

When used as objects, these pronouns receive the action within the relative clause. In many cases, especially in informal speech or writing, the relative pronoun used as an object can be omitted.

1. **Who**

   - **As an Object**: The person receiving the action.

     - Example: "The man who you saw yesterday is my uncle."

     - You can also say, "The man you saw yesterday is my uncle," where "who" is implied and thus omitted.

2. **Which**

   - **As an Object**: The thing or animal receiving the action.

     - Example: "She returned the necklace which she found outside."

     - This can be informally written as "She returned the necklace she found outside," omitting "which."

3. **That**

   - **As an Object**: Can replace "who" and "which" when the pronoun is the object.

     - Example: "I don't know the people that you invited to the party."

     - Like the others, you could also say, "I don't know the people you invited to the party," omitting "that."

Key Points

- As subjects, these relative pronouns hold the role of performing the action in the relative clause.

- As objects, these pronouns receive the action, and can often be omitted in informal communication.

- Understanding how to use these pronouns correctly enhances clarity and precision in writing and speech.

Exercise: Combining Sentences Using Relative Pronouns

For this exercise, join the pairs of sentences provided below by changing the second sentence into a relative clause. Use the relative pronouns "who" for people and "which" for objects. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper.

#### Example:

**Sentence 1:** The woman is jogging in the park.  

**Sentence 2:** She is my cousin.  

**Answer:** The woman who is jogging in the park is my cousin.

#### Sentences to Combine:

1. **Sentence 1:** The dog is barking loudly.  

   **Sentence 2:** The dog is from the house next door.

2. **Sentence 1:** The teacher will give a lecture today.  

   **Sentence 2:** She has won several awards for her research.

3. **Sentence 1:** That car has a lot of mileage.  

   **Sentence 2:** It still runs very well.

4. **Sentence 1:** The book was very interesting.  

   **Sentence 2:** The book was published in 2001.

5. **Sentence 1:** The actor is famous worldwide.  

   **Sentence 2:** He won an Oscar last year.

6. **Sentence 1:** The trees are over a hundred years old.  

   **Sentence 2:** They are part of the city’s heritage park.

7. **Sentence 1:** The smartphone received excellent reviews.  

   **Sentence 2:** It was released last month.

8. **Sentence 1:** The artist is very talented.  

   **Sentence 2:** She paints with watercolors.

### "Whose" in Relative Clauses

In English grammar, the relative pronoun "whose" is used to indicate possession or belonging within a relative clause. It helps to provide essential information about the noun it modifies. Here are some examples to illustrate the use of "whose" in relative clauses:

### Examples:

1. **Possessive Form with People:**

   - Basic Sentence: *The man* is standing over there. *His daughter* is a violinist.

   - Relative Clause: *The man, whose daughter is a violinist, is standing over there.*

   

   In this example, "whose daughter is a violinist" describes the man, indicating that the daughter belongs to him.

2. **Possessive Form with Things:**

   - Basic Sentence: *The house* has a beautiful garden. *Its gate* is broken.

   - Relative Clause: *The house, whose gate is broken, has a beautiful garden.*

   

   Here, "whose gate is broken" specifies the house with the broken gate, highlighting ownership or relation.

3. **Possession with Animals:**

   - Basic Sentence: *The cat* was hungry. *Its owner* fed it.

   - Relative Clause: *The cat, whose owner fed it, was hungry.*

   

   Using "whose" in this context shows the relationship between the cat and its owner.

### Understanding the Use of "Where" in Relative Clauses

In English grammar, the relative adverb "where" is used to refer to a place or a location in relative clauses. It helps provide additional information about the noun it modifies by specifying the place where the action or situation occurs. Here are a few examples to demonstrate the use of "where" in relative clauses:

### Examples:

1. **Place Description:**

   - Basic Sentence: *The park* is peaceful. *They had their first date* there.

   - Relative Clause: *The park, where they had their first date, is peaceful.*

   

   In this example, "where they had their first date" specifies the place (the park) and the activity that took place there.

2. **Location Clarification:**

   - Basic Sentence: *The city* is known for its vibrant culture. *I grew up* there.

   - Relative Clause: *The city, where I grew up, is known for its vibrant culture.*

   

   Here, "where I grew up" provides a geographical reference that adds personal context about the city.

3. **Contextualizing a Setting:**

   - Basic Sentence: *The café* is cozy. *We often meet our friends* there.

   - Relative Clause: *The café, where we often meet our friends, is cozy.*

   

   Using "where" situates the action of meeting friends in the setting of the café, creating a detailed image.