Relative Clauses

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• Leerjaar 2

Relative Clauses

You understand what relative clauses are and can explain them in your own words. You can do an exercise about relative clauses correctly.

defining (restrictive) clauses

My house that has a blue door needs painting.

the blue door is describing a characteristic, it helps to distinguish my house from other houses.

defining clauses or phrases are not seperated by commas. A restrictive clause or phrase is essential to the meaning of sentence. Eliminating a restrictive element from a sentence changes its meaning entirely

non-defining (non-restrictive) clauses

 My house, which has a blue door, needs painting.

The real point is that the house needs painting, the blue door is incidental and could be deleted.

commas are used to set of non-defining elements, which contribute to, but not determine the meaning of the sentence. If you would take away the non-defining clause, the meaning of the sentence would stay the same.

That's the car ... crashed into the trees next to the track.

1. that
2. where
3. who
4. which

That's the teacher ... never gives us a lot of homework!

1. who
2. which
3. who/that
4. which/that

My pet dog ... is a husky is adorable.

1. that
2. whose
3. who
4. which

Relative clauses

1. Relative clauses are sentences that give extra information. 

2. You can also connect two sentences together with a relative pronoun. 

Relative pronouns; 

who              =              for people

that               =             for things and people

which            =             for things

where           =             for places

F.e. The film that we saw last night was really funny. 

       I know the guy who you are talking about! 

That's the girl ... loves reading.

1. who
2. which
3. who/that
4. which/that

The smartphone ... he bought yesterday is six months old.

1. which
2. where
3. which/that
4. who

That's the place ... my father bought an expensive car.

1. who/that
2. who
3. where
4. which/that

The team ... was unbeaten in the last 10 games made it to the playoffs.

1. which/that
2. where
3. who
4. which

Mrs. Groen is a teacher .... teaches English at the Heemgaard.

1. who/that
2. who
3. which/that
4. which

I will never forget the ice cream truck .... I always got my ice popsicle.

1. which
2. which/that
3. where
4. who

Her caretaker ... is responsible for her is heartbroken.

1. that
2. who
3. which
4. where

The writer ... lives in London accepted the award.

1. which
2. that
3. who
4. whose

The girl ... you saw yesterday is my best friend.

1. who/that
2. who
3. which/that
4. who/that/X

Now do ex. 2, 3, 4 on p. 82 SB