Relative clauses

   

   1.     Identifying:

   

     o the information provided is necessary and cannot be omitted
     o it is never separated with commas

   The woman who lives next door is a doctor.

   We met some people whose car had broken down.

   

     o the used relative pronoun can be – among others – that

   Rick sold the house that his grandfather built.

   

     o if the relative clause has its own subject, the relative pronoun can be left out:

   We stayed at the hotel (that/which) Ann recommended to us.

   Your brother is the person (who) I met yesterday.

   

     o the preposition in the relative clause can be put either after the verb,

   I brought you the book (that/which) I told you about.

               or before the relative pronoun (BUT it can never be that!)

                           I brought you the book about which I told you.

                           I brought you the book about that I told you.

   

   

   2.     Non-identifying:

   

     o the information provided is supplementary and can be omitted
     o it is separated with commas

   My brother Jim, who is a doctor, lives in London.

   Colin told me about his new job, which he’s enjoying very much.

   

     o that cannot be used as a relative pronoun here

   We stayed at the Grand Hotel, which Ann recommended to us.

   We stayed at the Grand Hotel, that Ann recommended to us.

   

     o the preposition in the relative clause can be put either after the verb,

   Mr Gray, who you spoke to yesterday, is our Personnel Manager.

               or before the relative pronoun

   Mr Gray, to who(m) you spoke yesterday, is our Personnel Manager.