RELATIVE CLAUSES
QUESTIONS
Who or what is an inventor?
Who is Dean Kamen?
What is a pencil?
RELATIVE CLAUSES
1. Amy Joy and Spencer are my teachers.
2. Amy Joy and Spencer attend Teachers College.
How can we say this differently?
RELATIVE CLAUSES
What are they?
Relative clauses are dependent clauses which define or explain a noun.
Why do we use them?
To be concise
To overcome communication barriers
WE NEED RELATIVE PRONOUNS TO MAKE A
RELATIVE CLAUSE
A relative pronoun refers to the noun it describes
Some relative pronouns include:
Which
Who
That
Whose
How do we choose the right relative pronoun?
We choose the relative pronoun based on the noun it describes.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT RELATIVE PRONOUN
Which
Things
Who
People
That
things
Whose
People/things
AS A CLASS…
Combine these sentences:
1. Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb.
2. Thomas Edison was very smart.
3. Thomas Edison, who was very smart, invented the lightbulb.
*note: this is a non-restrictive/non-identifying clause because we know who Thomas
Edison is, and the RC supplies ADDITIONAL information
WITH YOUR PARTNER…
Combine these sentences:
1. We have discussed many monumental inventions this week./ The inventions have
had great impacts on the world.
2. For example, George Washington Carver’s discoveries helped farmers./ George
Washington Carver came up with hundreds of uses for the peanut.
3. Likewise, Dean Kamen invented Fred./ Fred is a wheelchair./Fred can climb stairs.
ANSWERS
1. We have discussed many monumental inventions this week./ The inventions have
had great impacts on the world.
We have discussed many monumental inventions this week that have had
great impacts on the world.
ANSWERS
2. For example, George Washington Carver’s discoveries helped farmers./ George
Washington Carver came up with hundreds of uses for the peanut.
For example, George Washington Carver, whose discoveries helped farmers, came
up with hundreds of uses for the peanut.
For example, George Washington Carver, who came up with hundreds of uses for
the peanut, helped farmers.
ANSWERS
3. Likewise, Dean Kamen invented Fred./ Fred is a wheelchair./Fred can climb stairs.
Likewise, Dean Kamen invented Fred, which is a wheelchair that can climb stairs.
TIPS FOR RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH WHOSE
Whose signifies possession
Use whose when you see possessive pronouns: His, Her, their, its
Use whose when you see possessive ‘s
Not always present, but it is a clue!
Combine the following:
My Father is a professor at Columbia. His degree is in mathematics.
My friend wants to attend medical school, so she can find the cure for cancer. My friend’s mother is a
doctor.
WITH YOUR PARTNER
Describe the four inventions using relative clauses
1. Super caramel pudding
2. Super popcorn
3. Super gummy bears
4. Super ravioli
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
1.
The pencil that is on the desk is mine.
 One pencil, but there are many pencils in the room (maybe on the floor)
 RC is used to define or identify exactly which one
 No commas
2.
The pencil, which is on the desk, is mine.

One pencil and the speaker supplies additional information about it

Uses commas

If removed, the sentence still makes sense
THAT VS. WHICH
That  The pencil that is on the desk is mine
used in restrictive clauses (identifying clauses)
No commas
Defines or identifies the person or thing
Necessary for meaning
Which The pencil, which is on the desk, is mine.
in non- restrictive clauses (non-identifying clauses)
Needs commas
supplies additional information
Can be removed; unnecessary for meaning
** you will hear both in spoken English. We don’t always follow the rules.
Activity 6 page 36 wb
WHICH AND WHO
Can also be used to add commentary (What does this mean?)
My latest invention is a set of onion chopping goggles, which should save hundreds of cooks’ eyes from
onion fumes.
I was inspired by my wife, who makes wonderful onion soup.
The Backstreet Boys are no longer together, which makes me very sad. 
Jennifer Aniston and Brat Pitt got divorced, which makes me even more sad.
This is common in spoken English, since it serves as an afterthought and it spontaneous
Activity 3 page 58
REDUCING RELATIVE CLAUSES
1. The Segway that was invented by Kamen is commonly used in tourism.
2. The Segway invented by Kamen is commonly used in tourism.
3. The people who are finding the cure for cancer are impressive.
4. The people finding the cure for cancer are impressive.
REDUCING RELATIVE CLAUSES
Who, Which, and That are the subjects of relative clauses, but can be OMMITTED
(deleted)
When? In a clause that uses the passive voice or progressive
Examples of these?
Activity 4,5,6 page 59
Activity 7 page 37 WB
PRACTICE WITH RELATIVE CLAUSES
Workbook page 36: Activities 5, 6
Textbook page 59: Activity 5
Find your partner matching game