w16 relative clauses

what is a relative clause

• relative clause

  • clause: always has a subject and a conjugated verb in it

    • no conjugated verb -> reduced relative clause

      • relative: described sth else (modifies)

relative clause types

• relative clause types:

  • defining / restrictive (no commas): People who have dogs are nice

  • non-defining / non-restrictive (with commas): People, who have dogs, are nice

    • everyone has dogs and everyone is nice

introductory words

• introductory words

  • relative pronouns: that, …

  • relative adverbs: who, where, …

what dictates which relative pronoun you can use

• relative pronoun choice (who(m), that, which, whose, zero pronoun):

  • animate vs. inanimate

  • pronoun function (S/O/G)

  • defining vs non-defining

  • formal vs informal

if a preposition is fronted/in initial position for a relative clause functioning as object, describing an animate….

whom!

when can you use ‘that’ for animates

• antecedent has an explicit superlative or a superlative-like construction

He’s the only person that I know …
She’s the nicest girl that I have seen

• who(m)/who(m)ever: 

• whom/whomever: object of relative clause or object of main clause

• Tell this to whomever you see first. => whomever is the object

• Tell this to whoever calls you first. => whoever is subject

when can u use a zero pronoun

• zero pronoun: relative pronoun can be omitted when it functions is the object of the relative clause

  • I saw the film … you made at college -> you made the film

reduced relative clause

• reduced relative clause: 

  • platforms hosting such content, especially those based in the US, … -> “especially those (who are) based in the US

when must you use which as a relative pronoun?

inanimates

non-defining functioning as subject or object

The cars, which were parked outside, were towed.

explain: The cars that were parked outside were towed.

• functioning as subject

• defining, inanimate

• => that or which (which is BrE)

expl: The cars, which were parked outside, were towed.

non- defining, inanimate, subject → which!

when must you use ‘who’ as rel pr

non-defining animate as subject

My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting next week.

The author whose book won the prize will give a talk tonight explain

defining, animate, function as genetive → whose (of which)

explain: Posts shared during major events – some of which are
verified by fact-checkers – often shape public perception.

• genetive, defining, inanimate → of which (whose) → prep is fronted

what rel pronouns can u use, categorize by animate/inanimate, function and type