LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

Defining relative clauses define the noun and are necessary to understand the sentence.
We do not use commas in defining relative clauses.

E.g. The man who was rude to you yesterday is called Timothy Smith.
The woman who sold me the car seemed very nice.

Compare with non-defining clauses, which don’t define the noun but give extra
information. In non-defining clauses we use commas.
My gardener, who is very pessimistic, says there won’t be any apples this year.
My mother, who is 70 years old, is going to start having piano lessons.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Relative pronouns are used as the subjects and objects in defining clauses.
WHO - FOR PEOPLE
WHICH - FOR THINGS
THAT- FOR PEOPLE AND THINGS
We also use the following: WHOSE ( for possession), WHEN ( for time) and WHERE
(for places).
A relative pronoun in a relative clause can also be the object of a prepostion. The
preposition usually goes at the end of the clause.
E.g.: Betis is the team (that/which) my cousin plays for.
He’s the teacher (who/that) I spoke to last week.
That’s the present (that/which) I asked for.

DEFINING CLAUSES WITH PEOPLE AS THE SUBJECT

Rewrite the two sentences in one, using a defining clause.
E.g.: He’s the man. He works at my bank.
He’s the man that /who works at my bank.
They’re the people. They bought the local pub.
Angela White is the girl. She goes out with my brother.
Martin West is the teenager. He stole my father’s car.

DEFINING CLAUSES WITH THINGS AS THE SUBJECT

E.g.: That’s the bus. It goes to Chipiona.
That’s the bus that / which goes to Chipiona.
That’s the shop. It sells Japanese newspapers.
This is the hotel. It has the best chef in England.
The AVE is a train. It only takes about two hours to get to Madrid.

DEFINING CLAUSES WITH PEOPLE AS THE OBJECT (CONTACT CLAUSES)

When the relative pronoun is the object in a defining clause, we can leave it out.
E.g.: He’s the bank manager. I saw him last week.
He’s the bank manager (who/ that) I saw last week.
Jane Harrison is the girl. My brother is in love with her.
Richard Jones is the man. I met him last week.
That’s the policeman. I spoke to him this morning.
I don’t like the girls. Sarah invited them to the party.
LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

DEFINING CLAUSES WITH THINGS AS THE OBJECT (CONTACT CLAUSES)

E.g.: This is the digital camera. I bought it yesterday.
This is the digital camera (which / that) I bought yesterday.
Where are the cakes? Your cousin brought them.
Here is the DVD. You wanted to see it.
I like the dress. You were wearing it at Tom’s party.
I can’t find the CD. I bought it this morning.

DEFINING CLAUSES WITH WHERE

E.g.: Buckingham Palace is the place. Queen Elizabeth spends most of her time there.
Buckingham Palace is the place where Queen Elizabeth spends most of her time.
New York is the city. John Lennon was killed there.
That’s the house. My father was born there.
The Ritz is the hotel. My father was born there.
Paris is the city. Princess Diana died there.

DEFINING CLAUSES WITH WHOSE

You cannot leave out whose in defining clauses.
E.g.: Cherie Blair is the woman. Her husband was Prime Minister of England.
Cherie Blair is the woman whose husband was Prime Minister of England.
That’s the actor. His daughter was murdered last month.
That’s the woman. Her son has just won a million pounds in the lottery.
They are the couple. Their daughter was kidnapped in Portugal.
That’s the child. His mother owns lots of clothes shops.

EXAMPLES OF DEFINING CLAUSES WITH WHEN

Summer is the season. A lot of people go on holiday then.
Summer is the season when a lot of people go on holiday.
June is the month. Students have a lot of exams then.
June is the month when students have a lot of exams.