Relative Pronouns
PROVIDE ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS:
That's the hotel _____ we spent our honeymoon.
where
This was the hotel that we stayed in for two weeks.
Can be omitted.
THAT + WE = RELATIVE PRONOUN + PRONOUN
IS THIS DEFINING OR NON-DEFINING?:
My grandfather, who is 87, goes swimming every day.
Non-defining.
DEFINING:
The man told me you were out. He answered the phone.
The man …………………………………………………………………………
The man who/that answered the phone told me you were out.
DEFINING:
The police are still trying to identify the body. It was found last week.
The police ………………………………………………………………………
The police are still trying to identify the body which/that was found last week.
PROVIDE ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS:
There isn’t a day _______ I am not late.
when
The smartphone that costs £200 is very good.
Can't be omitted.
THAT + COSTS = RELATIVE PRONOUN + VERB
IS THIS DEFINING OR NON-DEFINING?:
The woman who lives next door works in a bank.
Defining.
NON-DEFINING:
We often go to visit our friends in Bristol. It is only 30 miles away.
We often go to visit our friends in Bristol, which is only 30 miles away.
NON-DEFINING:
The new stadium will be opened next month. It holds 90,000 people.
The new stadium, which holds 90,000 people, will be opened next month.
PROVIDE ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS:
My mom is the only person ______ remembers my birthday.
who
She showed me the emeralds which she had brought back from South Africa.
Can be omitted.
WHICH + SHE = RELATIVE PRONOUN + PRONOUN
IS THIS CORRECT?:
Look out! There’s the dog that bit my brother.
Yes, it is correct.
NON-DEFINING:
That man over there is an artist. I don't remember his name.
That man over there, whose name I don't remember, is an artist.
NON-DEFINING:
Next weekend I'm going to Glasgow. My sister lives there.
Next weekend I'm going to Glasgow, where my sister lives.
PROVIDE ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS:
I need a cellphone ______ has a good camera.
that / which
That's the woman whose house has been broken into.
Can't be omitted.
WE CAN ONLY OMIT WHO, WHICH AND THAT.
IS THIS CORRECT?:
This is the city that we got married.
No, 'that' cannot replace 'where'.
Ms Fortune was a writer. Her body was found in the cellar.
Ms Fortune, .......................................................
Ms Fortune, whose body was found in the cellar, was a writer.
We had fish for dinner. It was really delicious.
The fish...........................................................
The fish (which/that) we had for dinner was delicious.
PROVIDE ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS:
Do you know the woman _____ husband won the lottery?
whose
My new motorbike, which I paid a few thousand euros for, is not running well.
The relative pronoun cannot be omitted in non-defining relative clauses (with commas)!
IS THIS CORRECT:
The film, that stars Tom Carter, is released on Friday.
No, 'that' can't be used in non-defining relative clauses.
Here is a photograph of the hotel. We stayed there for a long weekend.
Here is a photograph of the hotel where we stayed for a long weekend.
The old house on the hill has finally been sold. It was said to be haunted.
The old house on the hill, which was said to be haunted, has finally been sold.