Page 517 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford
P. 517

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agreement of person
Most relative clauses have third-person reference; I who . .. ,you who .. . and we who . .. are unusual, though they sometimes occur in a very formal style.
You who pass by, tell them ofus and say For their tomorrow we gave our today.
(Allied war memorial at Kohima)
A different kind of first- and second-person reference is common in the relative clauses of cleft sentences (see 131). However, the verb is usually
third-person, especially in an informal style.
It's me that's responsible for the organisation. (More formal: It is I who am responsible ... )
You're the one that knows where to go. (NOT ••• the 61'tt! fflflt 1ett6W ...) relative + infinitive: a garden in which to play
When a noun or pronoun is the object of a following infinitive, a relative pronoun is not normally used.
I can't think ofanybody to invite. (NOT .•• f.tnyb6dy wh6l1t t6 ilwite.) However, relative pronouns are possible with preposition structures.
We moved to the country so that the children would have a garden in which to play.
He was miserable unless he had neighbours with whom to quarreL
This structure is rather formal, and it is more common to use infinitive + preposition without a relative pronoun.
. . . so that the children would have a garden to play in. (NOT ••• which t6 play in.)
... unless he had neighbours to quarrel with. (NOT ••• wh6111 (6 tff:tttFFel fIfflIr)
relative clauses after indefinite noun phrases
The distinction between identifying and non-identifying clauses (see 495) is most clear when they modify definite noun phrases like the car, this house, my
father, Mrs Lewis. After indefinite noun phrases like a car, some nurses or friends, the distinction is less clear, and both kinds of clause are often possible
with slight differences of emphasis.
He's got a new car that goes like a bomb.
(OR He's got a new car, which goes like a bomb.)
We became friendly with some nurses that John had met in Paris.
(OR We becamefriendly with some nurses, whom John had met in Paris.) In general, identifying clauses are used when the information they give is felt
to be centrally important to the overall message. When this is not so, non- identifying clauses are preferred.
somebody I know you'll like
It is often possible to combine relative clauses with indirect statements and similar structures, e.g. I knowlsaidifeeUhopelwish (that) ..., especially in an informal style. Expressions like I know, I said etc come after the position of the relative pronoun.
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We're going to meet somebody (who/that) I know (that) you'll like. It's a house (which/that) we feel (that) we might want to buy. That's the man (who/that) I wish (that) I'd married.
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relatives (5): advanced points 498
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