Unit 6: How much? Grammar!

Today we are starting unit 6 in our books, and it is related to money and commerce. The grammar of this unit is very simple; we will be seeing the relative pronouns and the defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. The most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, that. The relative pronoun we use depends on what we are referring to and the type of relative clause.

who/that	people and sometimes pet animals	defining and non-defining
which/that	animals and things	defining and non-defining; clause referring to a whole sentence
where	places	defining and non-defining
whose	possessive meaning; for people and animals usually; sometimes for things in formal situations	defining and non-defining
whom	people in formal styles or in writing; often with a preposition; rarely in conversation; used instead of who if who is the object	defining and non-defining
when	time	defining and non-defining

(In the examples, the relative pronoun is in brackets to show where it is not essential; the person or thing being referred to is underlined.)

We don’t know the person who donated this money.
We drove past my old school, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
He went to the school (that) my father went to.
The Kingfisher group, whose name was changed from Woolworths earlier this year, includes about 720 high street shops. Superdrug, which last week announced that it is buying Medicare, is also part of the group.
The parents (whom/who/that) we interviewed were all involved in education in some way.

Defining relative clauses

We use defining relative clauses to give essential information about someone or something – information that we need in order to understand what or who is being referred to. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes.

We usually use a relative pronoun (e.g. who, that, which, whose and whom) to introduce a defining relative clause (In the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing being referred to is underlined.):

They’re the people who want to buy our house.
Here are some cells which have been affected.
They should give the money to somebody who they think needs the treatment most.

Non-defining relative clauses

We use non-defining relative clauses to give extra information about the person or thing. It is not necessary information. We don’t need it to understand who or what is being referred to.

We always use a relative pronoun (who, which, whose or whom) to introduce a non-defining relative clause (In the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing being referred to is underlined.)

Clare, who I work with, is doing the London marathon this year.
Doctors use the testing kit for regular screening for lung and stomach cancers, which account for 70% of cancers treated in the western world.
Alice, who has worked in Brussels and London ever since leaving Edinburgh, will be starting a teaching course in the autumn.

After reading carefully the explanation, go to liveworksheets.com and do the homework you have been assigned. You have until Monday at 10:10 to do it.

Have a nice weekend!