Relative Clauses
Relative Clauses
Relative Clauses
I. Defining clauses
Defining clauses specify/define which person/thing/animal is meant. Remember that the defining clause
is not separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma/comma.
people
I have a friend who spent a year at a British university. (formal)
I have a friend that spent a year at a British university. (informal) Steve Jobs was a
visionary whom many people admired. (very formal) Steve Jobs was a visionary who
many people admired. (less formal) There´s the student that I met at yesterday´s
workshop. (informal) There´s the student I met at yesterday´s workshop. (informal)
Things/Animals
The computer is an invention which has revolutionized the business world. (formal) The computer is
an invention that has revolutionized the business world. (informal) The device which you can see in
this picture is the prototype developed by our team. (formal)
The device that you can see in this picture is the prototype developed by our team.(informal)
The device you can see in this picture is the prototype developed by our team.(informal)
People
We invited Dr Smith, who is an outstanding specialist in electrical machines, to speak to our
students. Dr Smith, whom you haven´t met yet, is an outstanding specialist in electrical
machines. (very formal) Dr Smith, who you haven´t met yet, is an outstanding specialist in
electrical machines.
Things/Animals
The IEEE Sensors Journal, which is published monthly, is one of the leading journals in the
field. I´d like to borrow the April 2010 issue of the IEEE Sensors Journal, which you showed
me yesterday.
III.Relative clauses introduced by “wh-words”
“Wh-words” are often used instead of a preposition + the relative pronoun structure.