Relative clauses

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Relative clauses
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• Relative clauses usually begin with who, which or
  that.
• There are two types of relative clauses
• defining relative clauses
• non-defining relative clauses

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Defining relative clauses
We use defining relative clauses to say exactly
which people or things we are talking about. If
we leave out a defining relative clause, people
will not know who or what we are talking about.
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Defining relative clauses
We use who / that for people and which / that for
things.
The man who / that is standing over there is a
fashion model. What do we call the type of skirt
which / that is very short?
Note
We never add commas to a defining relative clause.
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Non-defining relative clauses
We use non-defining relative clauses to give more
information about the people or things that we
are talking about. If we leave out a
non-defining relative clause, people will still
know who or what we are talking about.
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Non-defining relative clauses
We use who for people and which for things. We
never use that in this type of relative clause.
Vivienne Tam, who was raised in Hong Kong, is a
world-famous fashion designer. In 2000, Vivienne
Tam published her first book, which is called
China Chic.
A non-defining relative clause is separated from
the rest of the sentence by two commas when it is
in the middle of the sentence
Note
or one comma when it is at the end.
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Relative pronouns
When used in relatives clauses, who, which and
that are called relative pronouns. The relative
pronoun can be either the subject or the object
of the clause.
V
Kathy, who lives next door, is a model.
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Relative pronouns
When it is the object, it must be followed
directly by a subject and then a verb.
I love the dress which / that you chose.
V
Subj
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Practice
Complete the description using relative clauses.
Use the words in brackets to help you.
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My sister Sandra
(is six years older than me)
recently started studying to become a fashion
designer. The university she goes to
(is in New York City) is one of the best places
in the world to study fashion.
, who is six years older than me,
, which is in New
York City,
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Sandra loves the colourful clothes
(people used to wear in the
seventies). Black (is popular at the
moment) is boring, says Sandra. She prefers to
make clothes (are colourful and
creative). Asian designers are the ones
(inspire Sandra the most). Their
designs (use many colours)
look wonderful and lively, she explains. Sandra
has already designed and made lots of great
clothes. In fact, there are even some celebrities
(have worn Sandras
designs)!
that / which people used to
wear in the seventies
, which is popular at the moment,
that / which are colourful and creative
that / who inspire
Sandra the most
, which use many colours,
that / who have worn
Sandras designs
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The end