38. Relative clauses – clauses with who / that / which

Relative clauses are used to say which person or thing we are talking about.

In a relative clause when we are talking about people we normally use who.

E.g.I know a man. He knows Arabic and Japanese.

I know a man who knows Arabic and Japanese.

Whom is possible (but not as common) instead ofwho(for people) when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause.

E.g.The woman whom I wanted to see was absent.

We use that andwhichto refer tothings.

E.g.He sent me a present.Itwas very nice.

He sent me a present that / which was very nice.

We normally use that, notwhich, after:all, everything, something, anything, nothing, the only, superlatives.

E.g.The only thing that he mentioned was his meeting with Joan.

It is the worst mistake that I have ever made.

When whoorthat(orwhich) is the object of a relative clause it can be left out.

E.g.Did you find the book (that)youwerelookingfor?

Who was the woman (who) youweretalkingto?

We can’t leave out who / thatif it’s the subject of the clause.

E.g.This is Joneswhoworks in an advertising agency.

This is the vase whichcosts 3 hundred pounds.

If there are prepositions in relative clauses they typically come after the verb at the end of the clause.

E.g.Would you say a few words about the plan which they succeededin?

I don’t think she is a person you can rely on.

In a more formal written style prepositions can come before pronouns.

E.g.There was a riverinwhich we could swim.

I didn’t know the boy towhom she was talking.

Relative clauses can also be introduced by – whose / where / when / why:

When – after words for time,

Where– after words for place,

Whymeans the reason why,

Whoseis used instead of his, her, their.

E.g.Tell me when you are planning to come back (= … the day on which …)

The place where they stayed was excellent (= … at which…)

This is a story of a group of boys whose plane crashed on an uninhabited island. (=This is a story of a group of boys. Their plane crashed on an uninhabited island.)

I haven’t got the slightest idea why they are crying. (= of the reason why …)

Whichcan refer to the whole of the sentence before.

E.g.She was late,whichsurprised everybody.

- What surprised everybody?

-The fact that she was late.

He lost, whichwas impossible.

-What was impossible?

-The fact that he lost the game.

Whatis used in relative clauses to mean “the thing that”.

E.g.Do you knowwhatis worrying her?

= Do you know the thing thatis worrying her?

I didn’t hear whatthey were talking about.

= I didn’t hear the thing thatthey were talking about.

Ex. 1. Insert who / which (that)

1. What is the name of the man … climbed this mountain?

2. The matter was reported to the Police chief … ordered us all to be arrested.

3. We lit a fire … soon dried out our clothes.

4. I have a friend … hates answering the phone and very often just lets it ring.

5. He introduced me to his mother … was a very good-looking woman.

6. John asked me why the report … should have been on his desk at 5 o’clock still hadn’t arrived.

7. I went to London … I had always wanted to visit.

8. I have some letters … I must answer.

9. We are all going to watch the cricket match … starts at nine.

10. They were talking about Margaret … knew everything about the matter.

Ex. 2. Join the sentences with who or which and translate into Russian.

Beginnings

1. I met a man.

2. I have some telegrams.

3. Here are some accounts.

4. I met Jim.

5. He paid me for cleaning ten windows.

6. I was waiting for a man.

7. I found an old coin in the garden yesterday.

8. I am looking after some children.

9. We walked 50 miles to see the minister

Ends

a. I must send them.

b. Most of them hadn’t been cleaned for at least a year.

c. He can speak 8 foreign languages.

d. You must check them.

e. They are terribly spoilt.

f. He asked me to give it to you.

g. He was very polite and promised to do what he could.

h. He didn’t turn up.

i. I am going to take it to the museum this afternoon.

Ex. 3.Join the beginnings and ends.

Beginnings	Ends
1. We had to eat standing up because we didn’t have anything…	a. hat you could read while you are waiting?
2. Shall I bring you something…	b. that we could do now.
3. There is something…	c. that you wish.
4. I doubt that there is anything…	d. that you need are here.
5. The baby refuses to eat anything…	e. that we could sit on.
6. You can have everything…	f. that seems strange.
7. All the books…	g. that we should take with us?
8. That is the funniest story…	h. that doesn’t contain sugar.
9. This is the only thing …	i. that I have ever heard.
10.Is there anything …	j. that I have forgotten.

Ex. 4.Insert who/ that/ which where necessary.

1. She does everything … her husband wants her to do.

2. I can’t help you. All … I have got is 20 dollars.

3. This is Mrs. White … runs this department store.

4. Why do you always agree with everything … I tell you?

5. Where is the purse … was on the table?

6. That is the oldest building … I have seen in my native town.

7. I have a friend … is hopeless at Mathematics.

8. I don’t like people … are always pessimistic.

9. I will never forget the first play … I saw in the theatre.

10. She always asks me questions … are difficult to answer.

Ex. 5. Rewrite the sentences in which the relative pronoun is the object without – who/ which/ that where possible.

1. Broadway Autos is a subsidiary of Broadway International Inc. which manufactures and markets two types of electric machines.

2. I have lost that nice necklace which my brother gave me as a birthday present two years ago.

3. We have built up a good relationship with our suppliers who have been working with us for many years.

4. It was the first time that I ever heard him speak of John.

5. It was a pleasant feeling which I had never experienced before.

6. He had a look of a man who had dressed in a hurry.

7. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.

8. She had a face that you could remember with pleasure.

9. There is a certain person who is interesting to us very much.

10.He had a simple idea which changed our approach to business.

11.He had a desire to see Mary, the only person who was almost the same and who never changed.

12.English society is a class society which is strictly organized.

Ex. 6. Combine two sentences using who /which.

1. I have a photo. I want to show it to you.

2. He is a good-natured Greek of forty-five. He seems much younger.

3. She was a grown girl. She could take care of herself.

4. We had fish and chips for lunch. I didn’t like it.

5. This is a travel agent. He will give you information about hotels.

6. A friend of mine is expecting a baby. She is going to call it Theodora.

7. He broke his leg in a skiing accident. It is still in plaster.

8. I went to the school to talk to the headmistress. I persuaded her to let Ann give up gymnastics and take ballet lessons instead.

9. Like many women she loves tea-parties. They usually last for a long time.

10. I am fond of family hotels. They welcome parents and children.

11. When the Titanic was crossing the Atlantic she struck an iceberg. It tore a huge hob in her bow.

12. There’ll always be a conflict between the old and the young. Young people want a change, but old people want things to stay the same.

13. My aunt lived on the ground floor of an old house. She was very much afraid of burglars.

14. There was a woman there. I didn’t notice her.

15. You are making too many mistakes. I don’t want to forgive them.

Ex. 7.Join the beginnings and ends using what.

E.g. I’ll pay for what you do.

Beginnings

1. I’ll pay for…

2. He didn’t believe …

3. I want to know …

4. Show me …

5. You will be punished for…

6. Tell me …

7. I can’t agree with …

8. I saw …

Ends

a. you do

b. I said

c. he saw

d. you’ve got in your hand

e. you have done

f. you want

g. you have just said

h. you did

Ex. 10.Complete the sentences with relative clauses.

1. The windows haven’t been cleaned, …

2. He has been missing for 48 hours, …

3. I haven’t done any skiing for 3 years, …

4. He didn’t believe my words, …

5. We haven’t got the results yet, …

6. The train was very slow, …

7. He asked me the same questions, …

8. He played the guitar all the night, …

a. this made him angry.

b. this made her worried.

c. this is a pity.

d. this irritated me very much.

e. this makes it difficult to forecast.

f. this made me late for my appointment.

g. this showed that he hadn’t been listening.

h. this annoyed all his neighbours.

Ex. 11. Insert which or what.

1. This is … I am interested in.

2. I didn’t buy anything because I didn’t see … I wanted.

3. He listened to me in amazement, … showed that the information was new to him.

4. He said that … surprised him was the extreme noise outdoors.

5. I don’t know … disturbed you, but I’ll do everything to help you.

6. He didn’t know French, … made it difficult for him to get a job.

7. I didn’t see anybody in the street, … meant I had to do everything myself.

8. I am sure that … you say is true.

9. They gave me … I asked for.

10. She goes jogging every day, … keeps her healthy.

Ex. 12. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Ты знакома с мужчиной, который живет в соседней квартире?

2. Язык, на котором он говорит, называется голландским.

3. Я рассказала тебе все, что знаю об этой фирме.

4. Пожилая женщина, за которой ухаживает Маргарет - ее двоюродная сестра.

5. Единственная вещь, которая имеет для меня значение – твое будущее.

6. Кофе, который стоит на столе, сварен вчера.

7. Я хочу знать, что ты имеешь в виду.

8. Это лучший фильм, который я видел в этом году.

9. Я хочу видеть рядом с собой человека, на которого я смогу положиться.

10. Она сделала, что смогла.

11. Он не поверил моим словам, что очень меня разозлило.

12. Вчера я встретил девушку, которую ты ищешь.

13. Покажи мне текст, о котором ты говорил вчера.

14. Тебя накажут за то, что ты сделал.

15. Он задал мне один и тот же вопрос второй раз, что показалось мне странным.

16. Я не знаю ничего, что могло бы заинтересовать вас.

17. Мужчина, которым ты интересуешься, только что вошел в комнату.

18. Назови мне время, когда ты ожидаешь ее появления.

19. По вечерам он громко играл на гитаре, что раздражало всех соседей.

20. Я ничего не купил, потому что не нашел то, что мне было нужно.