TOEIC

preparation

Relative
clause

Arifah Tenny Romdhati, S.Pd., M.Li

 RELATIVE CLAUSE

A relative clause is a multi-word that contains a subject and a verb.

It is a dependent clause because it doesn’t form a complete

sentence.

It is used like an adjective to describe, identify, or give more

information about nouns and indefinite pronouns.

Relative clause adjective clause

RELATIVE CLAUSE

1. A special gift which is given by my ex

● Must be joined to the main clause.
● Describe nouns/ pronouns.
● begins with relative pronoun.
● Placed in a sentence right after the
noun we describe.
makes my boyfriend jealous.
2. Mike’s car, which is he bought three
months ago, is the most expensive
car in the park.
3. The boy who is talking with John is
one of my students.
 RELATIVE PRONOUN

WHO
People

WHOM WHERE Place

WHOSE Possession WHEN Time

THAT People/ things

WHICH Things
 DEFINING NON-DEFINING
No commas Between commas

NECESSARY INFORMATION. Essential to EXTRA INFORMATION. Not necessary to

distinguish which thing or person we are distinguish which thing or person we are
talking to. talking to.

I called my brother who lives in Solo. My brother, who lives in Solo, is older than me.

(*I have more than one brother and I called (*I have only one brother and I’m just
the one that lives in Solo) mentioning that he lives in Solo)

We can use THAT We CAN NOT use THAT

We CAN use THAT instead of WHO/ WHICH We CAN NOT use THAT instead of WHO/ WHICH

That’s mug WHICH/ THAT I bought in Paris. These bikes, WHICH cost a fortune, are made in
I didn’t know the man WHO/THAT was there. Japan. (NOT that cost a fortune)
RELATIVE CLAUSE
RELATIVE CLAUSE
RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHO
It is used in the subject position of a clause.

Subject predicate comp

1. Defining relative clause

The boy who is talking with John is one of my students.

The boy who is talking with John

¨ a general noun (not clear which one we are talking about)

¨ an important piece of information to identify the noun we describe.
¨ No comma(s) to separate it from the main clause
RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHO
It is used in the subject position of a clause.

Subject predicate comp

2. Non-defining relative clause

My second son, who is very lovely, is only 10 months old.

My second son, who is very lovely,

¨ a specific noun (very clear which one we are talking about

¨ give extra information about the noun
¨ must be separated from the rest of the sentence
by comma(s).
RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHO
It is used in the subject position of a clause.

I thanked my mother. She helped me clean my bedroom.

I thanked my mother, who helped me clean my bedroom.

main clause Relative clause

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHO
It is used in the subject position of a clause.

My brother is often punished by the teacher.

He is lazy and naughty.
?
Subject predicate agent

My brother, who is lazy and naughty, is often punished by the teacher.

My brother, who is lazy and naughty,

 Is it a defining/ non defining adjective clause?

(a) I thanked the woman who/ that helped me. defining

(b) I thanked my mother, who helped me clean my bedroom. Non- defining

Can’t change into THAT

(c)The girl who/that has three brothers is her parents’ favorite. defining

(d) May, who has three brothers, is her parents’ favorite. Non- defining
Can’t change into THAT
Is it a defining/ non defining adjective clause?

(e) My BMW, which I bought last year, needs a tune-up.

(f) Hawaii, which consists of eight islands, is a favorite vacation spot.
(g) The box which/that I gave to Maria contains an expensive gift.
RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHOM
It is used in the object position of a clause.

The man was friendly. I met him yesterday.

The man whom I met yesterday was friendly.

The man whom I met him yesterday was friendly

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHOM
It is used in the object position of a clause.

The boy is my brother. You beat him yesterday.

The boy whom you beat yesterday is my brother.

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHOSE
It is used to refer to the person or thing that possesses something.

WHOSE is the possessive form of the pronoun WHO (person).

I know the man. His bicycle was stolen.

I know the man whose bicycle was stolen.

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHOSE
It is used to refer to the person or thing that possesses something.

Fiona is a flight attendant. Her spoken English is excellent.

Fiona, whose spoken English is excellent, is a flight attendant.

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHICH
It is used to refer to things.

The book "Alien" is mine. It is on the table.

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHICH
It is used to refer to things.

The dictionary is useful. I bought it from England.

The dictionary which I bought from England is useful.

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHICH
It is used to refer to things.

The movie wasn’t very good. We saw it last night.

The movie which we saw last night wasn’t very good.

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHERE
It is used to refer for location or the name of a location.
Use WHERE or IN WHICH for place.

The school where I met my girlfriend is now closed.

Is this building where you two work?

Is this building in which you two work?

RELATIVE CLAUSE: WHEN
It is used to refer for a day/ month/ year/time.

That was the year when we moved to Solo.

I remember the day when me met.

 RELATIVE CLAUSE: RELATIVE CLAUSE:
HOW WHY
It is used to replace THE WAY. It is used to tell a reason.

This is the way he did it. This is the reason why he got upset.

This is how he did it.

Let’s practice

1. The taxi driver was friendly. He took me to the airport.

2. I liked the composition. You wrote it.
3. The Lee family is very nice. We visited them last summer.
4. The man is standing over there. I mentioned him to you.
5. My father called the police. His wallet was stolen.
6. A man _____ job is to read the news on TV is called a news presenter.
7. Irene Tang, _____ I have known for ten years, is going to get married soon.
8. Do you know the woman ?My father gave her some money yesterday.
9. Monday is the day. I was born on that day.
10. The man is my friend. He works in the bank.