Handout 9a – Relative clauses - KEY

 

Fill in the gaps with relative pronouns, giving as many alternatives for each sentence as you can:

 

defining relative clauses:

The boy who / that is playing the piano.

The table which / that stands in the corner.

The boy   - / who / whom / that we met.

The table  - / which / that we admire.

The boy  - / who / whom / that the dog barked at. OR The boy at whom the dog barked.

The table  - / which / that the boy crawled under. OR The table under which the boy crawled.

 

non-defining relative clauses:

Then he met Lucy, who invited him to a party.

He got lost on Snowdon, which was enveloped in fog.

Here is Arthur Smith, who / whom I mentioned the other day.

He got lost on Snowdon, which he was exploring.

This is my friend Lucy, who / whom the dog barked at. OR … at whom the dog barked.

 

 

What is the difference between the two following sentences?

They have two children who are still at school.

= they have other children besides the two at school – the information is essential in this case

= defining relative clause

 

They have two children, who are still at school.

= they have only two children, both of school age – the information here is just additional, it is not important

= non-defining relative clause