Concetti Chiave
- Defining relative clauses provide essential information using pronouns like WHO, WHICH, THAT, WHOSE, and WHERE.
- Connecting phrases with clauses involves linking two phrases with a common element, allowing for a smoother sentence flow.
- Non-defining relative clauses add non-essential information using pronouns such as WHO, WHICH, and WHOSE, always enclosed by commas.
- Non-defining relative clauses cannot omit the object relative pronoun and never use 'that'.
- "Which" can refer to an entire preceding clause, with necessary commas and specific preposition placement in formal language.
Defining relative clauses
-Defining relative clauses are used to add essential information to a phrase.
-The relative pronouns and adverbs which introduce defining relative clauses are:
WHO for people; the woman who was waiting at the bus stop was nervous.
WHICH for things; the bag which contained the money was red
THAT for people and things; the film that we saw was horrible
WHOSE for possession; the gentleman whose mobile was ringing didn't answer.
WHERE for places; the town where you live is beautiful.
Connecting phrases with clauses
-When two successive phrases have an element in common, we use these clauses to connect the phrases.
Melbourne is a city. My sister lives in Melbourne.
Melbourne is the city where my sister lives.
REMEMBER!
We can omit the relative pronoun when it refers to the object of the relative clause.
That is the bus stop (that/which) I told you about.
Non-defining relative clauses
-Non defining relative clauses give additional, non-essential information. They must have a relative pronoun, and are preceded and followed by a comma.
We use:
-WHO for people;
-WHICH for things; the maths lesson, which was difficult, lasted two hours.
-WHOSE for possession; Amber, whose mother is a teacher, lives here.
-Non defining relative clauses CAN'T omit the object relative pronoun:
My new tablet, which I bought last year, is user-friendly.
Remember!
-Non defining relative clauses never use that!
Using 'which' for entire clauses
-we can use "which" to refer tothe entire preceding clause. In this case, they are always preceded by a comma; the comma cannot be omitted.
They missed the lecture on technology, which was a pity.
-If the verb in the relative clause needs a preposition, we put it at the end of the clause and we can omit the relative pronoun in informal speech
The woman, (who/whom) Angela was speaking to, is
-If the verb in the relative clause needs a preposition, we cannot omit the relative pronoun in formal language.
The woman, to whom Angela was speaking, is Canadian.
Domande da interrogazione
- What are defining relative clauses and how are they used?
- How do non-defining relative clauses differ from defining relative clauses?
- How is "which" used in relation to entire clauses?
Defining relative clauses are used to add essential information to a phrase. They are introduced by relative pronouns and adverbs such as WHO, WHICH, THAT, WHOSE, and WHERE, depending on whether the clause refers to people, things, possession, or places.
Non-defining relative clauses provide additional, non-essential information and must include a relative pronoun, surrounded by commas. Unlike defining clauses, they cannot omit the object relative pronoun and never use "that."
"Which" can refer to the entire preceding clause and is always preceded by a comma. This usage highlights the entire clause as the subject of the relative clause, and the comma cannot be omitted.
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