Unit
16
Grammar
Relative Clause
A relative
clause is a type of dependent clause that gives more information about a
noun in the main sentence. It usually starts with relative pronouns such
as who, which, that, whose, whom, or where.
Types of Relative Clauses
1. Defining Relative Clause
A defining
relative clause provides essential information about the noun. Without it,
the sentence would be incomplete or lose its meaning. No commas are
used.
Examples:
1.
The
book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting. (The clause "that I borrowed
from the library" defines which book.)
2.
People
who exercise regularly tend to stay healthier. (The clause "who exercise
regularly" tells which people.)
2. Non-defining Relative Clause
A non-defining
relative clause provides extra, non-essential information about the
noun. The sentence would still be clear without it. Commas are used to
separate the clause.
Examples:
1.
My
brother, who lives in Canada, is coming to visit next week. (The clause "who lives in
Canada" gives extra information, but we already know who "my
brother" is.)
2.
The
Eiffel Tower, which is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, attracts
millions of tourists.
(The clause "which is one of the most famous landmarks in the
world" is additional information.)
Key Differences
|
Feature |
Defining Relative Clause |
Non-defining Relative Clause |
|
Essential Info? |
Yes |
No |
|
Use of Commas? |
No |
Yes |
|
Relative
Pronouns |
who, which,
that |
who, which (not
"that") |
A. Study the
following sentences and underline the relative clauses.
a. I snatched a minute when things had slackened a minute.
b. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her
desk was, she lingered slightly irresolute in the outer office.
c. She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly stenographic.
B. Fill in the
blanks with suitable relative pronouns: who, which, that, whom, whose, where,
why, how, what or when.
a. There is a lady …………. wallet has been stolen.
b. Do you know the man …………….. sold these glasses?
c. The knife ……………. you cut the bread with is very sharp.
d. Why do you blame him for everything …………… goes wrong?
e. A cemetery is a place ……………..dead bodies are buried.
f. This school is for those children …………. mother tongue is
not Nepali.
g. I don’t know the name of the person ……………..I spoke over the
telephone.
h. I came to Kathmandu on the day …………… the devastating
earthquake took place.
i. In the application form she wrote……………… she needed a good payment.
j. The pilot explained …………….. he made force landing on the
road.
C. Join the
following pairs of sentences using who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when
or what.
a. The building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
The building which was destroyed in the fire, has now been
rebuilt.
b. A new cricket stadium is being made in Chitwan. It can accommodate one
hundred thousand people.
A new cricket stadium which is being made in Chitwan, can
accommodate one hundred thousand people.
c. Shanghai is the most populated city in the world. I stayed there for five
years.
Shanghai, where I stayed there for five years, is the most
populated city in the world.
d. This is the man. I gave some money to him this morning.
This is the man whom I gave some money this morning.
e. Do know the man? His son was awarded in the school yesterday.
Do you know the man whose son was awarded in the school
yesterday?
f. His step-mother was not very kind to him. He had been staying with her.
His step-mother, with whom he had been staying, was not
very kind to him.
g. He can never forget Nakkhu Jail. He had spent 14 years there.
He can never forget Nakkhu Jail where he had spent 14
years.
h. He showed me his new tab. He had paid a hundred thousand rupees for it.
He showed me his new tab for which he had paid a hundred
thousand rupees.
i. Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s. He was a student then.
Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s when he was a student.
j. She forgot to buy the things. Her mother had told to buy them.
She forgot to buy
the things which her mother had told her to buy.
Practice Questions
1-5: People (who/whom/whose)
1.
The
teacher ____ taught us mathematics is very kind. (who / which)
2.
The
girl ____ won the competition is my best friend. (who / which)
3.
He
is the scientist ____ discovery changed the world. (whose / whom)
4.
The
woman ____ you met yesterday is my aunt. (who / whom)
5.
Do
you know the man ____ car is parked outside? (whose / which)
6-10: Things & Animals (which/that)
6.
The
phone ____ I bought last week is not working properly. (which / who)
7.
She
adopted a dog ____ was abandoned by its owner. (who / which)
8.
The
movie ____ we watched last night was amazing. (that / whose)
9.
The
laptop ____ he uses for work is very expensive. (who / which)
10. This is the house ____ was built in
the 18th century. (that / whose)
11-15: Places & Possession (where/whose)
11. This is the park ____ we used to play
as kids. (which / where)
12. The hotel ____ we stayed had a
beautiful view. (which / where)
13. The author ____ books are bestsellers
is coming to town. (who / whose)
14. That is the restaurant ____ they serve
the best pizza. (where / which)
15. The child ____ parents are doctors
wants to be a scientist. (who / whose)
16-20: Formal & Object Pronouns
(whom/which/that)
16. The person ____ you were talking to is
my uncle. (who / whom)
17. She is the actress ____ performance
won an award. (whose / which)
18. The doctor ____ treated me was very
professional. (who / which)
19. The package ____ arrived today is from
my cousin. (which / whom)
20. The person to ____ I spoke was very
polite. (who / whom)
21-25: Mixed Use
21. The song ____ she sang was beautiful.
(which / who)
22. The company ____ products are
eco-friendly is very popular. (whose / which)
23. The school ____ he studied is one of
the best in the country. (where / which)
24. The woman ____ son is a pilot is my
neighbor. (who / whose)
25. The bicycle ____ is in the garage
belongs to my brother. (which / who)
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