adjectiveclauses,relativepronouns,andrelativeadverbs

Relative Pronouns

Adjectives such as tall, new, and great are often used to describe or modify the following noun. For instance: a tall girl, a new watch, a great job. Similarly, clauses can also function as adjectives, serving to modify nouns. These are referred to as "adjective clauses." Given that adjective clauses tend to be quite long, they are typically placed after the noun they modify. Here are a few examples:

She needs a job.
A job can afford her rent.

We can rewrite these two sentences into one sentence using the adjective clause:

She needs a job which can afford her rent.

Antecedent: job
Relative pronoun: which

Adjective clause: which can afford her rent

In the above sentence, which is the "relative pronoun", and the noun before the relative pronoun is called "antecedent". The leading clause is called the "adjective clause" or "relative clause".
In our example, the adjective clause is which can afford her rent, which is used to describe the antecedent “job,
The relative pronoun “which” is used to refer to “job,” and is the subject in this adjective clause.

It is important to note that a "relative pronoun" can be either a "subject" or an "object" in an adjective clause. Let's look at an example of a "relative pronoun" acting as an "object" in an adjective clause:

That is the mountain.
We are going to climb that mountain.

We can use the adjective clause to combine these two sentences into one sentence:

That is the mountain which we are going to climb.

In this example, “which” is a relative pronoun, referring to the antecedent “mountain”, and the adjective clause is used as the object of the entire sentence to describe the nature of the antecedent “mountain”, indicating that this mountain is the one we are going to climb.
Next, we will show you the five relative pronouns in English: who, whom, whose, which, that.

▶️ The relative pronouns “who” and “whom” are used to refer to people

If the "person" to be replaced is the "subject" in the relative clause, we use “who”. For example:

People who abide by traffic rules don’t run the red light.
I like to work with someone who is responsible and hard-working.

If the "person" to be replaced is the "object" in the relative clause, we use “whom”. For example:

I don’t know the actor whom Elaine is talking about.
Michael is the guy whom I often hang out with.
He is the man whom I spoke to yesterday.

▶️ The relative pronoun “which” is used to refer to "animals or things"

Here are example sentences where “which” acts as the subject in relative clauses:

I didn’t see the report which was handed out this morning.
Did you sign the package which arrived this morning?
Many cities which have hosted the Olympics in the past have ended up running up huge debts.

Here are example sentences where “which” acts as the object in relative clauses:

The latest Marvel movie which I have been waiting for will be in theaters next week.
Did you get the email which Owen sent to us yesterday?
The restaurant which we often go to is across the street.
Did you watch the TV series which I recommended?

▶️ The relative pronoun “that” is used to refer to "people, animals, or things"

He is the kind of person that doesn't like to follow traffic rules.
I don’t know the actor that Elaine is talking about.
I didn’t see the report that was handed out this morning.
The restaurant that we often go to is across the street.
Did you watch the TV series that I recommended?

▶️ The possessive relative pronoun “whose” is used to replace possessives such as “his”, “her”, “its”, "their", "my", "our", "their", "these", or "those"

I am going to have an interview with a company whose logo has a kangaroo.
The man whose father is super rich was arrested for drunk driving yesterday night.
He is marrying a girl whose family doesn’t seem to like him.
I have a friend whose birthday is next Tuesday.

TOEIC Example: It is necessary for job candidates ______ are currently employed to write down their date of availability on the application form.

(A) who
(B) what
(C) whose
(D) which

TOEIC Example: Many students from medical schools want to be a doctor ______ annual income is higher than that of a nurse.

(A) who
(B) which
(C) that
(D) whose

Non-defining Relative Pronouns

Here are two situations where you need to use non-defining relative clauses:

▶️ (1) The antecedent is usually a "proper noun", "specific object", or "unique person or thing"

London, which is the capital city of the United Kingdom, attracts tens of thousands of tourists each month.
The supervisor implemented a dress code policy, which many workers find unnecessary.
Daniel, who was late again today, sits next to me in the English class.
My blue tennis shoes, which used to be my mom's, are under the bed now.
Cohen, whose short film won awards, was chosen to direct the movie.
Kate, whose sister I used to share a house with, has gone to work in Australia.

▶️ (2) “Which” is used to refer to "all the information mentioned in the previous sentence"

In a non-defining relative clause, the “which” can also refer to "all the information mentioned in the previous sentence". Let's look at some example sentences:

Alex did really well on his exams, which is quite a surprise.
Cancer is a common disease in modern society, which kills millions of people each year.
Many drivers use their mobile phones while driving, which causes increasing numbers of road accidents.

TOEIC Example: Coach Oneal Tajayako, _______ cricket team has won six gold medals, declared his retirement this morning, _______ surprised all the team members and the other playing teams.

(A) who; which
(B) whose; which
(C) whom; that
(D) whom; x

Relative Adverbs

Prepositions often appear before a relative pronoun to convey a specific meaning. Consider this sentence:

This afternoon, I will go to the coffee shop at which we used to hang out.

👉Why do we use "at" before "which"? It's to express the idea of gathering at a coffee shop. The original form of the sentence was:

This afternoon, I will go to the coffee shop which we used to hang out at.

👉 In this case, the preposition "at" comes after the verb. However, a preferred arrangement places "at" before the relative pronoun "which", creating the sentence:

This afternoon, I will go to the coffee shop at which we used to hang out.

We can further rewrite the above sentence as:

I will go to the coffee shop where we used to hang out.

👉Here, “at which” is changed to “where”, and “where” is a relative adverb.

There are three main types of relative adverbs:

• where = preposition of place + which
• when = preposition of time + which
• why = for which

▶️ where = place preposition + which

This gourmet restaurant is the place which I met your father at.
This gourmet restaurant is the place at which I met your father.
This gourmet restaurant is the place where I met your father.
Can you name the basketball team which Michael Jordan won 6 NBA titles with?
Can you name the basketball team with which Michael Jordan won 6 NBA titles?
Can you name the basketball team where Michael Jordan won 6 NBA titles?
The tree which they had their picnic under was the largest and oldest in the park.
The tree under which they had their picnic was the largest and oldest in the park.
The tree where they had their picnic was the largest and oldest in the park.
I’ve never felt close to the community which I grew up in.
I’ve never felt close to the community in which I grew up.
I’ve never felt close to the community where I grew up.

▶️ when = preposition of time + which

I still remember the date which we met each other on.
I still remember the date on which we met each other.
I still remember the date when we met each other.

During the training, runners set intervals during which they run fast for a brief period, and then recover. = During the training, runners set intervals when they run fast for a brief period, and then recover.

Researchers in Germany, have analyzed data to see if the month in which people are born affects how long people will live. = Researchers in Germany, have analyzed data to see if the month when people are born affects how long people will live.

▶️ why = for which

We don't know the reason for which they broke up with each other.
We don't know the reason why they broke up with each other.
The reason for which Jason is not getting promoted to the supervisor is that he often slacks off at work. = The reason why Jason is not getting promoted to the supervisor is that he often slacks off at work.

TOEIC Example: For each seminar, students have to register and pay before the registration date ______ the seminar begins.

(A) which
(B) on when
(C) on which
(D) in which

TOEIC Example: The computer systems ______ are affordable for a Fortune 500 company will not be affordable for a small company.

(A) in which
(B) in that
(C) what
(D) that

Relative Pronoun Omission Rules

▶️ When a relative pronoun serves as an object in a relative clause without a preceding comma or preposition, it can be left out.

This is the form (which) you must fill out to become a member.
This is the form you must fill out to become a member.

The restaurant (which) we often go to is across the street.
The restaurant we often go to is across the street.

▶️ If a relative pronoun serves as the subject within the relative clause and is followed by an active verb, you should transform the verb into a gerund after omitting the pronoun.

The successful candidate will be someone who has at least six years of managerial experience.
The successful candidate will be someone having at least six years of managerial experience.
Did you sign the package which arrived this morning?
Did you sign the package arriving this morning?
Many cities which have hosted the Olympics in the past have ended up running up huge debts.
Many cities having hosted the Olympics in the past have ended up running up huge debts.
Passengers who stand in line need to have their travel documents ready.
Passengers standing in line need to have their travel documents ready.

▶️ In cases where the relative pronoun acts as the subject in the relative clause and is followed by a 'be' verb, both the relative pronoun and 'be' verb can be omitted.

I need to speak with the person (who is) in charge of reservations.
I need to speak with the person in charge of reservations.

The train (which is) now arriving at platform 2 is the 3: 20 from Kaohsiung.
The train now arriving at platform 2 is the 3: 20 from Kaohsiung.

The boy (who was) driving the BMW was underage, unlicensed and over the limit.
The boy driving the BMW was underage, unlicensed and over the limit.

▶️ If the relative pronoun is the subject in the relative clause and is followed by a passive verb, both the relative pronoun and the verb 'be' should be omitted.

The novel (that was) written by J. K. Rowling was the best-selling book last month.
The novel written by J. K. Rowling was the best-selling book last month.
Food (which is) sold in this supermarket is of the highest quality.
Food sold in this supermarket is of the highest quality.
Many entry-level workers are dissatisfied with the wage (which is) offered at Samsung.
Many entry-level workers are dissatisfied with the wage offered at Samsung.

TOEIC Example: Job applicants ______ skills useful for the applied position will have a better chance of being hired.

(A) possessed
(B) possessing
(C) possess
(D) possesses