Relative Clauses - GE 9 Unit 4

RELATIVE CLAUSES

1. Defining Relative Clauses

- Give essential information so we know the thing the writer/speaker is talking about. Ex: who, which, that, whose, when.

- Do not use comma.

What

- Cannot be used in defining relative clauses.

- Can be used to mean “the thing/things that”.

  Can you tell me what he said?

Leaving Out 

- We can leave out who, that, which when these words aren’t the subject of the defining relative clauses.

- We never leave out whose.

- We can usually leave out where if we add a preposition at the end of the relative clause.

   That is the house where I was born. = That is the house I was born in.

- We can only leave out when if the time reference is clear.

  That is the day (when) the baby’s due.

 

Example	Leave out or not
These stories were the beginning of a writing career that has made him the successful author in history.	Must use that because it is the subject of the relative clause.
This is a wedding scenario  (that) she might have written for one of her novels.	We can leave out that cause it is the object of the relative clause.

2. Non-defining Relative Clauses

- Add extra non-essential information.

Steve, who came from a very poor family, began selling stories to friends at school when he just 12.

- We don’t use that.

- We cannot leave out: who, which, whose, etc.

- We must use comma.

- Are more common in written than spoken, particularly in stories and more formal types of writing.

Reduce Relative Clauses

• When contains a continuous or passive verb form, we can often leave out: who, that, or which, and the auxiliary.

• Very common in spoken English.

Example	Leave Out
In the end the students (who are bullying) X get what they deserve. (are bullying = present continuous).	In the end the students bullying X get what they deserve.
The second novel (that was) written by A is called “Rainbow.” (was written = past simple passive)	The second novel written by A is called “Rainbow.”

Example:

A wild sheep is the extraordinary novel that brought its author, Hussy, to public attention.

The book, which is set in Japan, begins simple enough.

A young man who works for an advertising agency gets a post cards from a friend.

He decided to use the postcard, which shows a photo of country scene, for an advertisement - his company is making.

However,  he doesn’t notice that in the photo there is a sheep which has a star on its back.

This photo attracts the attention of a strange man in black, who offers him a choice – find the sheep or lose everything.

The search for the sheep takes the main character, whose name is never revealed, from Tokyo to the mountains of northern Japan, where has to face a number of dangers.

Huss, whose other books are available in English, is now one of Japan’s best-known writers.

 

Connecting Words: Reason & Contrast - GE 9 Unit 4

REASON & CONTRAST

Giving Reason	Expressing Contrast
Because Because of Since Due to As	However Apart from = except for Instead of Despite = in spite of Even though = although Where as Nevertheless

Connecting words

Connecting Words	Followed by
Reason: Because Since As Contrast: However Whereas Even though Nevertheless	+ a clause (S+V+ … ) … because we often play practical jokes on each other.
Because of Due to Apart from Instead of Despite	+ a noun ; or + (a verb + ing) = gerund … apart from one thing. … instead of coming out the left.
Because of Due to	More common followed by a noun than verb+ ing … due to a technical break through.

However & nevertheless

To contras two sentences.

Usually put at the beginning of the second sentence.

The others can put at the beginning or in the middle of sentence:

Even though I was tired, I enjoyed myself.

I enjoyed myself, even though I was tired.

Examples:

I have always wanted to go back to Aussie.

I cannot possible afford it. - However

I have always wanted to go back to Aussie. However, I cannot afford it.

I felt tired.

I went jogging in the park. - In spite of

In spite of feeling tired, I went jogging in the park.

I am fascinated by politics.

I could never be a politician. - Even though

I am fascinated by politics even though I could never be a politician.

I love watching motor racing.

My friend prefers watching badminton. - Whereas

I love watching motor racing whereas my friend prefers watching badminton.

I rarely stay up late.

I have to get up at 7 a.m. everyday.  As

As I have to get up at 7 a.m. everyday, I rarely stay up late.

It took absolutely ages to get home last night.

The traffic was bad. - Due to

It took absolutely ages to get home last night due to the bad traffic.

I some times just have a sandwich for supper.

I don’t always cook. - Instead of

I sometimes just have a sandwich for supper instead of cooking.

I didn’t go for a walk because of the rain.

I decided to go on the trip even though it was terrible expensive.

He ate everything apart from the vegetables.

I decided to stay at home instead of going abroad this summer.

The concert in the park was cancelled as the singer was ill.

I loves jazz, where as my girlfriend only likes classical music.

The style of the novel is simple. However, the idea in it are quite complex.

They managed to climb the top of the mountain despite the thick snow.

Many trains were cancelled due to problems on the railway.

__

To contrast two clauses in the same sentence.

Although (even though) I am rich, I am lonely and unhappy.

I became a teacher in spite of  (despite) having no teaching qualifications at all.

I was arrested once in Miami, but was released afterwards. However, this lucky escape made me realised I need a change.

In spite of  (despite) being so young, people believed I was a pilot.

In spite of  (despite) my age, people believed I was a pilot.

I moved to Atlanta and got a job as doctor, although (even though) I didn’t have any medical training.

Story: 

One day a young girl went to visit her grandmother.

Even though her mother had warned her never to speak so strangers, she stopped to chat to someone who she met along the way.

Although he was a wolf, she wasn’t frightened of him.

And in spite of his long teeth, he had a very nice smile.

They talked about where she was going and then the girl said goodbye.

When she got to her grandmother’s house she though the old lady looked a little different.

However, she gave her a kiss because she didn’t want to seem rude.


=

I had a great time despite the rain.

Although I am very well-qualified, I can’t find a good job.

I enjoyed the concert in spite of my bad headache.

I have a great flat in London. However, I want to move to Oxford.

I decided to leave my job despite needing to earn some money.

I went to an all-night party even though I had a test the next day.

I was offered a job as a specialist in spite of being unqualified.

5.

Although I was exhausted, I went to the party.

She doesn’t speak very good English even though she has lived in the UK for  a year.

Despite being very tired, I couldn’t sleep.

In spite of snowing, I go out for a week.

I really enjoyed the party even though there were not many people there.

I have just been told by my doctor that I need an operation.