Relative Clauses(Adverb clauses)

RELATIVE CLAUSES

Introduction

In this lesson we will learn about Relative Clauses.A relative clauses is a dipendent clause that functions as an adjactive;that is,it modifies a noun or pronoun.for this reason,relative clauses are also called adjactive clauses.

Example:

1.    The first american thanksgiving feast,which took place in 1621,lasted three days.

2.     Everyone who studied for the exam passed it easly.

3.    Mr.Eko, that is our teacher, in class today.

The red mark/Dependent clauses(which took place in 1621) is a relative clause that modifies the noun phrase(The first american thanksgiving feast).This noun phrase is Antecedent of the relative clause.

Relative Pronouns And Adverbs

A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun or relative adverb

Pronouns	Who,Whom,Whose, That,Which,Whose	Refer to humans refer to nonhumans and things
Adverbs	Where,when	Refer to a time or a place

·     Position Of Relative Clauses 
    Place a relative clauses after its antecedent and close to as possible to avoid confusion.

Confusing:He left the gift in his friend’s car that he had just bought.                                 

Correted:

            He left the gift that he had just bought in his friend’s car.

Occasionally,a prepositional phrase comes btween the antecedent and the relative clause.

1.    Ilham was visited by a friend from San Juan who was touring the country.

2.    Try writing a sentence of you own that contains a relative clause.

·    Verb Agreement In Relative Clauses

The verb in a relative clause should agree in number with its antacedent.

   Compare:

       A person who works part time ususally receives no benefits.

       People who work part-time usually receive no benefits.

·     Punctuation Of Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are either restrictive(necessary)or nonrestrective(unnecessary).A resterective clause is necessary because it identifies its antecedent for the reader.

Example:

1.    The profesor who teahes my biology class won a music awards two months ago.

The clause who teaches my biology class won a music awards to identify the professor.

2.    He won the prize for research that might lead to a cure for Aids.

Need the clause that might lead to a cure for AIDS to tell us.