Defining relative clauses - Sabine Fransen | Library

Definining relative clauses are a common way to avoid repetition. A fluent writer will not write:
You see the man over there. The man is working in the IT department.
But: The man that you see over there is working in the IT department.

Read the following sentences, Identify the nature of the antecedent and choose the correct relative pronoun (who, whose, of which, which, that, _ (=can be left out)).

1

He is the guy ... she turned down.

1

Is this the guy ... she broke up with.

1

Play the CD lies on the table

1

Is this the CD ... you were listening to

1

The CD ... the surface is scratched is a bad one.

1

This is the girl ... boyfriend was arrested.

1

Was this the CD ... you needed?

1

She is the girl ... turned down her boyfriend.

Relative clauses (betrekkelijke bijzinnen) give information about a noun (phrase)-the so called ‘antecedent’- in the main clause. The main clause is linked to the relative clause by means of a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose, or a zero pronoun )
                                           antecedent is human                                               antecedent is non-human
Function of rel. pron.               

subject                                         who/that                                                                         that/which
                                She is the girl who turned down her boyfriend.           Play the CD that lies on the table.
                                She is the girl that turned down her boyfriend.           Play the CD which lies on the table.


object                                        who/that/zero                                                              that/which/zero
                                He is the guy (zero) she   turned down.                         Was this the CD (zero) you needed?
                                He is the guy that she turned down.                              Was this the CD that you needed?
                                He is the guy who she turned down.                              Was this the CD which you needed?



prep.object              who/that/zero +… +prep                                                              that/which/zero
                                 Is this the guy (zero) she broke up with.                  Is this the CD (zero) you were   listening to?
                                 Is this the guy that she broke up with.                     Is this the CD that you were listening to?
                                Is this the guy who she broke up with.                      Is this the CD which you were listening to?

possessive                whose                                                                                                 whose/of which
                           This is the girl whose boyfriend was arrested.      The CD of which the surface is scratched is bad.
Remarks:
1.NEVER  omit who/that/which , when the relative pronoun is subject of the relative clause!
2.NEVER use who when the antecedent is an animal or thing. (Not: The bus who had to pick up the children)
3.Note the spelling of which.

 
Directions: 
Read the passage and then answer the questions below. There are five underlined words or phrases in the passage to show which word or phrase may be incorrect.  

 Now answer the questions below. Choose the correct word or phrase for each of the following. 

1

Soccer is the kind of sport that requires lots of skill.

1

For example, people which want to play usually begin learning the sport as young children.

1

Why they first begin, they play many games which develop the skills needed to be successful later on.

1

Furthermore, practice should occur daily, that typically lasts between one and two hours.

1

When children begin playing soccer at a young age and practice for the required amount of time, they will be ready to take on any position on the field.