When antecedent is object in the subordinate

clause, relative pronouns can be omitted

When antecedent is subject/object/predicate in When antecedent is adverbial in the

the subordinate clause subordinate clause

Relative pronouns Relative adverbs

Who When antecedents are: When =on which

Whom 1. Ordinal numerals (first, second…)/modified Where = in which
That by the superlative (the most+adj.) Why =for which
Whose 2. Modified by indefinite pronouns (something,
Which anything…)
3. Modified by ‘the very’, ‘the only’
4. Involved with both persons and objects
5. Question words
 Relative pronouns used as the subject

In (a): I thanked the woman = a main clause

(a) I thanked the woman who helped me.
(b) I thanked the woman that helped me.
who helped me = a relative clause
A relative clause modifies a noun.
In (a): the relative clause modifies woman.
In (a): who is the subject of the relative
clause.

An adjective clause closely follows the noun it

modifies.
CORRECT: Who: used for people
That: used for both people and things
The book that is on the table is mine. Which: used for things
INCORRECT:
The book is mine that is on the table.
 Relative pronouns used as the object

The movie that we saw last night wasn't very good.

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

Who/whom: used for people

The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones. That: used for both people and things
Which: used for things
The man that I saw was Mr. Jones. They can be omitted
The man / I saw was Mr. Jones.

INCORRECT:
The man who(m) I saw him was Mr. Jones.
It is unnecessary because who(m), that, or / functions as the object of the verb saw.
 Relative pronouns used as the object of a preposition

The music to which we listened last night was good.

The music that we listened to last night was good.
The music / we listened to last night was good.
The music which we listened to last night was good.

INCORRECT:
The music to that we listened last night was
good.
*only whom or which can be used after the preposition which is never followed by that or who
about who / to that /about that …
to whom to which about which …
 Using whose as relative pronoun

Whose is used to show possession. It carries the same meaning as

other possessive pronouns used as adjectives: his, her, its, and their.
his bike —> whose bike
the houses’s window —> whose window

Using where to modify a place

Using when to modify a time
Using why to modify a reason : the reason why*

why
That was the reason ___________________Mac refused to speak at the meeting.
which/that/
That was the reason ___________________Mac refused to speak for at the
meeting.
 Using ‘as’ as relative pronouns

Common phrases:
the same…as…
as…as…
such…as…
‘as’ is used as subject, object or predicate in the subordinate
clause

Examples:
The air quality in the city, as is shown in the report, has improved.
He is not such a fool as he looks.
As is known to all, … Can only be used at the beginning of the whole
sentence, ‘as’ represents the following sentence.
 Non-defining relative clause

TWO functions:
1. Used to provide additional information
Example: Professor Wilson, who teaches chemistry, is an excellent lecturer.
2. Used to modify the whole sentence in front of it
Example: Tom was late, which surprised me.
It cannot begin with pronoun “that”.
 Non-finite
verbs
present participle past participle
Active Passive
voice
sb/sth voicebe
sb/sth
do/does done
 Change relative clauses into non-finite verbs

1. Ecosystems are biological communities which contain living and non-living things that are found in
one particular environment.

Ecosystems are biological communities containing living and non-living things found in one
particular environment.

2. The ecosystems which is being studied in our class include a tropical rain forest and Antarctic islands.

The ecosystems being studied in our class include a tropical rain forest and Antarctic islands.

3. An optional trip to the Montreal Insectarium, which is considered North America's leading museum of
insects, is also being offered.

An optional trip to the Montreal Insectarium, considered North America's leading museum of insects, is
also being offered.

4. Students who don’t want to see insects can spend more time at the
Biodome.
Students not wanting to see insects can spend more time at the
Biodome.