Page 83 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

Relative clauses (1) 11

Defining and non-defining relative clauses

The old photograph that you can see ahead of you shows Marconi at Signal WI. (defining relative clause)
The story of radio probably begins with Heinrich Hertz, who was the first to produce radio waves in a
laboratory. (non-defining relative clause)
Relative clauses give more information about someone or something referred to in the main clause.
Defining relative clauses specify which (or which type of) person or thing we mean.
Non-defining relative clauses simply add extra information about a noun.

We put a relative clause as close as possible to the noun it refers to:
There are just a few of the 'wireless telegraphs' that the factory produced left in the world, rather than There are
just a few of the Wireless telegraphs' left in the world that the factory produced.
Some relative clauses refer back to the whole idea in the previous clause, not just the previous noun. Most of
these begin with which:
The owner of the old radio claims that it is in excellent condition — which is obviously not the case.

En Relative pronouns
Adding information about people
defining relative clause (subject pronoun - the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause):
subject
pronoun
There were many people 11. doubted that Marconi would ever succeed.
(Or informally: There were many people that doubted Marconi would ever succeed.)
defining relative clause (object pronoun - the relative pronoun is the object of the relative clause):
object
pronoun subject
Augusta Righi was an Italian physicists Marconi studied with in the 1890s.
(Or informally: an Italian physicist (that) Marconi studied with.)
We can leave out the relative pronoun if it is the object of a defining relative clause.
non-defining relative clause (subject pronoun):
subject
pronoun
The story of radio probably begins with Heinrich Hertz Eallwas the first to produce radio waves
in a laboratory.
non-defining relative clause (object pronoun):
object
pronoun sub)ect
Augusto Righi, who Marconi respected greatly, guided his research. (Very formally: Augusto Righi, whom
Marconi respected greatly, guided his research.)
Note that whom is now used only in very formal styles, mostly in writing.

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