How and when relative clauses can be omitted?
How and when relative clauses can be omitted?
The relative pronoun can only be omitted when it is the object of the clause. When the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, it cannot be omitted. You can usually tell when a relative pronoun is the object of the clause because it is followed by another subject + verb.
How do you create a non-defining relative clause?
We always use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a non-defining relative clause: who, which, whose, when or where (but not that). We also use commas to separate the clause from the rest of the sentence.
How do you reduce relative clauses?
Reduced relative clauses modify the subject and not the object of a sentence. Much like adjectives, relative clauses, also known as adjective clauses, modify nouns….Reduce to a Past Participle Phrase
- Remove the relative pronoun.
- Remove the verb “be.”
- Place the past participle phrase after the modified noun.
What is a relative clause sentence example?
Relative Clause Example: The person to whom Candice owes the greatest gratitude is her mother. ( Whose lead singer is a friend of ours is a relative clause. It contains the relative pronoun whose, the subject singer, and the verb is. The clause modifies the noun band.)
What is the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses?
A defining relative clause identifies who or what we are speaking about, whereas a non-defining relative clause just gives us more information about who or what we are speaking about. A non-defining relative clause is separated from the main part of the sentence by commas.
What are the types of relative clauses?
Generally, there are two types of relative clauses: restrictive (defining) clause and non-restrictive (non-defining) clause. In both types of clauses, the relative pronoun can function as a subject, an object, or a possessive pronoun (“whose”).
Can we reduce non defining relative clauses?
Non-restrictive (non-defining) relative clauses can be reduced in one way; subject pronouns with “be” verbs can be deleted.
What is a non defining relative clause?
Non-defining relative clauses are composed of a relative pronoun, a verb, and optional other elements such as the subject or object of the verb. Commas or parentheses are always used to separate non-defining relative clauses from the rest of the sentence.
How do you use relative clauses?
“That” cannot be used as a relative pronoun in a non-restrictive relative clause. Commas are always used at the beginning and end of this type of relative clause. A non-restrictive relative clause can modify a single noun, a noun phrase, or an entire proposition.
Why do we need relative clauses?
Relative clauses are clauses starting with the relative pronouns who*, that, which, whose, where, when. They are most often used to define or identify the noun that precedes them.
What is the difference between which and that in relative clauses?
The grammatical explanation is that “which” introduces a non-essential clause, meaning that it doesn’t define the noun it’s describing, while “that” introduces an essential clause, meaning that it clarifies exactly which noun the sentence is about.
What is a defining clause?
Defining clauses, also called restrictive clauses, serve an important function. A subject, verb, and a relative pronoun (who, whose, where, when, which, or that) distinguish relative clauses from other types of clauses, though not all three are needed.
How do you identify defining and non-defining relative clauses?
The information in a defining relative clause is essential, so we can’t leave out the relative clause. The information in a non-defining relative clause is extra information which isn’t essential, so we can leave out the relative clause.
Can which and that be used interchangeably?
Although “which” and “that” are both pronouns, they are not interchangeable. “Which” is used for non-restrictive phrases, and “that” is used for restrictive phrases.