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RELATIVE CLAUSE

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to combine clauses without repeating information

USAGE

The couple posted a Christmas present to their daughter, who lives in South Africa.

The couple posted a Christmas present to their daughter.

Their daughter lives in South Africa.

🡪 Using a relative clause means that there is no need to repeat ‘their daughter’.

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USAGE

This is the book which we’re reading at the moment.

We’re reading this book at the moment.

She’s the woman who I was talking about.

I was talking about the woman.

to give focus to something or someone

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TYPES

Relative clauses referring to a noun or noun phrase

He’s going to show you the rooms which are available

Dodingson, 22, who boxed in two Olympics, will be managed by his close friend Colin McFarllan.

Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence

She bought a new car which is expensive

She bought a new car, which made her relatives really surprised

He’s going to show you the rooms, which will take only 2 minutes. 

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TYPES

Relative clauses referring to a noun or noun phrase

He’s going to show you the rooms which are available

Dodingson, 22, who boxed in two Olympics, will be managed by his close friend Colin McFarllan.

She bought a new car which is expensive

Defining relative clause

Non-defining relative clause

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PRONOUNS/ADVERBS

WHO

WHOM

WHICH

WHEN

WHERE

WHY

WHOSE

THAT

People

Things

Time

Places

Reasons

People/ things

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

We like the teacher. She teaches English.

⇒ We like the teacher who teaches English.

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Noun(people) + WHO + Verb

The man is a doctor. He lives next door.

⇒ The man who lives next door is a doctor.

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

She gave birth to a boy in 2018. She named him Bob

⇒ She gave birth to a boy in 2018 whom she named Bob

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Noun(people) + WHOM + Subject + Verb

Over 200 people attended the festival. I interviewed them.

⇒ Over 200 people whom I interviewed attended the festival.

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Lan works for a company. It makes furniture.

⇒ Lan works for a company which makes furniture.

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Noun (things/ animals) + WHICH + (Subject) + Verb

This is the dog. I have raised this dog for five years.

⇒ This is the dog which I have raised for five years.

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Private vehicles release a great amount of exhaust fumes. This leads to serious air pollution.

⇒ Private vehicles release a great amount of exhaust fumes, which leads to serious air pollution.

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Clause, WHICH + Verb

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

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Noun (people/ things) + WHOSE + Noun + (Subject) + Verb

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

The boy is Tom. You borrowed his bicycle yesterday.

⇒ The boy whose bicycle you borrowed yesterday is Tom.

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Noun (people/ things) + WHOSE + Noun + (Subject) + Verb

John found a cat. Its leg was broken.

⇒ John found a cat whose leg was broken.

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Relative clauses referring to a noun or noun phrase

Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence

THAT replaces WHO/ WHICH

Defining relative clause

Non-defining relative clause

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RELATIVE PRONOUNS

We like the teacher who teaches English.

THAT replaces WHO/ WHICH

Lan works for a company which makes furniture.

He’s going to show you the rooms which are available

Dodingson, 22, who boxed in two Olympics, will be managed by his close friend Colin McFarllan.

She bought a new car which is expensive

Private vehicles release a great amount of exhaust fumes, which leads to serious air pollution.

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Some certain cases we have to use “THAT”:

He was the most interesting person that I have ever met.

It was the first time that I heard of it.

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After the SUPERLATIVE (the most + adj)

After ORDINAL NUMBERS (the first, the second, … the only)

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

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PRONOUNS/ADVERBS

WHO

WHOM

WHICH

WHEN

WHERE

WHY

WHOSE

THAT

People

Things

Time

Places

Reasons

People/ things

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I still remember the day. We first met on that day.

⇒ I still remember the day when we first met.

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RELATIVE ADVERBS

Noun (time) + WHEN + Subject + Verb

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The hotel was not very clean. We stayed at that hotel.

The hotel where we stayed was not very clean.

Noun (place) + WHERE + Subject + Verb

RELATIVE ADVERBS

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I do not know the reason. You did not go to school for that reason.

⇒ I do not know why you did not go to school.

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Noun (reasons) + WHY + Subject + Verb

RELATIVE ADVERBS

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I do not know the reason. You did not go to school for that reason.

⇒ I do not know why you did not go to school.

I still remember the day. We first met on that day.

⇒ I still remember the day when we first met.

RELATIVE ADVERBS

WHEN / WHERE = in/ on/ at WHICH

WHY = for WHICH

The hotel was not very clean. We stayed at that hotel.

The hotel where we stayed was not very clean.

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REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSE

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REDUCED

Noun + Relative Pronouns + Verb (active voice)

Noun + V-ing

RELATIVE

CLAUSE

Noun + Relative Pronouns + Verb (passive voice)

Noun + V(in past participle)

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REDUCED

We like the teacher who teaches English.

RELATIVE

CLAUSE

The bottles which are thrown away are brought to a collection point.

Dodingson, 22, who boxed in two Olympics, will be managed by his close friend Colin McFarllan.

Private vehicles release a great amount of exhaust fumes, which leads to serious air pollution.

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REDUCED

RELATIVE

CLAUSE

Noun + Relative Pronouns + Subject + Verb

Noun + Subject + Verb

Over 200 people attended the festival. I interviewed them.

⇒ Over 200 people whom I interviewed attended the festival.

This is the dog. I have raised this dog for five years.

⇒ This is the dog which I have raised for five years.

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REDUCED

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RELATIVE

CLAUSE

Noun + Relative Pronouns + Be + Adj

Adj + Noun / Noun + Adj

Noun + Relative Pronouns + Be + Preposition

Noun + Preposition

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REDUCED

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RELATIVE

CLAUSE

The houses which were on the left of the main road disappeared

The boy who is next to me in class is very good at English

He’s going to show you the rooms which are available. 

She bought a new car which is expensive

The boy who is very good at English lives next door

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APPLICATIONS IN IELTS

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APPLICATION

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The graph shows changes in spending habits of people in UK in 2001

The percentage of money for cars was highest in 2001

Expenditures on furniture and petrol were equal,

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APPLICATION

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Houses were demolished

The playground stayed intact over 30 years. The playground was in the south of the school.

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APPLICATION

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I’m going to say about jogging

I usually go jogging around a park

Jogging is a very simple activity