Relative pronouns
Which relative pronoun do we use for people?
who
The day when we met was the happiest day of my life.
defining or non-defining?
defining
She saw an old man which had an umbrella
Incorrect (Who was...)
The girl who is singing next to the train station is surrounded by people.
The girl is surrounded by people. (She is singing next to the train station)
That's our new teacher. She started work today.
That's our new teacher, who started work today.
Which relative pronoun do we use for things or for "ideas"?
which
Lots of people have lost their jobs, which is terrible.
defining or non-defining?
non-defining
My brother, that lives in Cascajos, is coming to visit.
incorrect (My brother, who lives...)
Jeans, which many teenagers wear, were originally designed for workers.
Jeans were originally designed for workers. (Many teenagers wear them.)
I like Will Smith's latest film. He plays an alien in it.
I like Will Smith's latest film, in which he plays an alien.
Which relative pronoun do we use for a place?
where
Can we use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses?
no
The students in 3ESO D who passed English in March automatically pass "last year's English."
correct
Anyone who uses their mobile phone in class can have a penalty.
Not possible jus dividing the sentences, because this is a defining relative clause!
Something like this is possible: People use their mobiles in class. They can have a penalty. we have to repeat something.
My sister always borrows my things without permission. It's really annoying.
My sister always borrows my things without permission, which is really annoying.
Which relative pronoun do we use for a possessive?
whose
What's the most VISIBLE difference between a defining and non-defining relative clause?
comma(s) (defining=no comma, non-defining=comma(s))
That's the hotel where we stayed in last summer.
incorrect (That's the hotel where we stayed last summer. OR That's the hotel which we stayed in last summer.)
This radio show that I am listening to is the most popular in Logroño.
This radio show is the most popular in Logroño. (I am listening to this radio show.)
I bought a new car. The car is really fast.
I bought a new car that/which is really fast.
Which relative pronoun do we use for people when it refers to the object of the sentence?
whom
Can the relative pronoun be omitted in defining relative clauses?
yes (who/which/that when it refers to the object, eg That's the boy I saw yesterday.)
The students who pay attention this term may pass English in June
correct
Nicholas, whose mother is a teacher, has the best performance in English class.
Nicholas has the best performance in English class. (His mother is a teacher.)
We were cycling. Then we saw a dog. The owner had abandoned it.
We were cycling when we saw a dog whose owner had abandoned it.