RELATIVE PRONOUNS/ RELATIVE CLAUSES
What are relative clauses? There are two kinds of relative clauses:
1- Defining relative clauses
Example: The school which I went to had more than 1000 pupils.
2- Non-defining relative clauses
Example: Leeds University, which was founded in 1904, has an excellent reputation.
We use Defining relative clauses when we know the person or thing we’re talking about, but in non -defining they give us extra information because we don’t know exactly what are we talking about. Actually, it’s necessary to use defining clause in sentences but non-defining clauses are just providing extra information and it’s not necessary to consider them.
Tips:
- When using defining, don’t write commas but the rule is inverse in using non-defining.
- If who, which, and that is our objects in using defining clauses you can eliminate them but you can’t do the same in non-defining clauses.
What are relative pronouns?
Who, which, whose, what, where, when, why are relative pronouns.
Who= Refers to people
Which= Refers to things
That= Refers to both people and things
What= Means the thing(s) which.
Exercise 2: IELTS candidates often make mistakes with relative clauses. Correct the mistake in each of these sentences.
1-It is not difficult for young people to spend money on which they want.
2-Internet shopping is not easy in places who do not have good delivery services.
3-People from all walks of life generally like shopping, so shopping is one activity where families can enjoy doing together.
4-The internet can also be used by people who they are traveling.
5-There has been a continuous debate on the advantage and disadvantages of what we can do on the internet, especially those who are related to buying things and using credit cards.
6- We would like to spend our money on something that makes us happy.
Exercise 3: Complete these sentences by writing who, which, what or that in each gap. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.
1-I like browsing in shops ---- sell the latest fashions.
2-Mary doesn’t enjoy shopping because she can never afford ----- she likes.
3- There’s an excellent boutique on Main Street ---- always seems to have ---- I’m looking for.
