Real Grammar - Susan Conrad, Douglas Biber 2009

Adjective Clauses and Relative Pronoun Choice
Unit 41 A question which is often asked

What have you learned from your grammar textbook?

Adjective clauses (also called “relative clauses”) are used to modify a noun. An adjective clause usually begins with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, etc.).

There are several options for relative pronoun choice in an adjective clause: (1) who is used for people; (2) which is used for things; and (3) that is used for both people and things.

1. the man who I saw

2. the cup which is on the table    

3. the book that I read

The relative pronoun can be the subject (S) or the object (O) of the verb in the adjective clause.

When the relative pronoun is the object of the verb, it is often omitted.

• the guy I saw last week

What does the corpus show?

A

Different relative pronouns are preferred for different uses depending on the meaning, grammatical context, and register (conversation or writing).

B

Relative pronouns that refer to a person who is the subject of the verb in the adjective clause:

C

Relative pronouns that refer to a person who is the object of the verb in the adjective clause:

Be careful! Many textbooks say who is a common informal replacement for whom. It is occasionally used in conversation, but that is more common, and no relative pronoun is by far the most common choice.

D

Relative pronouns that describe a thing:

Activities

1 Notice in context: Read the conversation and the paragraph from an academic text. Circle the relative pronouns and underline the adjective clauses.

1. Conversation: About applying to a teacher’s college.

Clerk: You need to go in there and fill out the application for teacher’s education. Then they’ll give you a packet that has all your financial information.

Student: Where do I find information about, um, class times?

Clerk: Uh, the man who makes the schedule is out. Can you come by tomorrow?

2. Academic writing: About the history of women in society.

Wealthy women also had special economic concerns that affected their marriage choices. Their social and economic status depended first on their fathers and later on their husbands. The economic status of even those educated women who worked was low in relation to that of educated men.

2 Analyze discourse: The following sentences were found in separate conversations, and they all contain adjective clauses with no relative pronouns. Underline the adjective clauses and write the most common choice for a relative pronoun that could begin the relative clause. If the most common choice is no pronoun, write —.

— 1. I need to write her, but there are so many people I haven’t written. I’ve just been so busy.

2. I found out today that the doctor doesn’t accept patients after seven thirty. So I was the last one he saw.

3. Isn’t that the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen? [After a fireworks display.]

4. Hospital staff try very hard to give patients food they like and can digest comfortably.

5. I saw that guy from Boston last night, the nicest guy I have ever met.

6. Our house isn’t really in a good location anymore. It seems like every place I have to go is on the other side of town.

3 Practice writing: complete this writing sample by an English learner, write an appropriate relative pronoun (or write — for no pronoun) in each blank. Use each of the following options at least once: that, which, who, —.

Culture Shock

When I moved to America three years ago, I felt excited, scared, and happy. It took me a long time to get used to American food. Right now, the thing ... I like best is chicken McNuggets. The other difference ... I noticed is that in Taiwan people live in tall buildings ... are built close together, but in LA people live in houses ... have yards with flowers and trees. Now I’m living in San Marino. Although America is not my native country, I like living here, because of the contact with people ... have different cultures. I have many friends here ... I like a lot.

4 Practice conversation: work with a partner. Describe a person or an object in the room so that your partner can guess who or what it is. Find at least three people or objects to describe and take turns with your partner describing and guessing. Use adjective clauses and the most common relative pronoun choices.

Examples

I see a man who is wearing brown socks and green shoes.

I see something that is round and has many colored shapes on it.

I see a person I’ve known for seven years.