Academic Writing Academic Writing (Week 3): (Week 3):

Relative Clause Relative Clause

※※Definition:Definition:

R Clause functions as an R Clause functions as an

adjective and modifies a adjective and modifies a

noun or a pronoun. noun or a pronoun. Also called Also called adjective adjective

clausesclauses. .

※※A relative clause begins A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun with a relative pronoun

or adverb: or adverb:

※※Position of Relative Position of Relative Clauses:Clauses:

Place a relative clause after its Place a relative clause after its antecedent and as close to it as antecedent and as close to it as possible possible to avoid confusionto avoid confusion..

Ex. He left the gift in his friend’s Ex. He left the gift in his friend’s car that he had car that he had

just bought.just bought. (Occasionally, a prepositional phrase (Occasionally, a prepositional phrase comes between the antecedent and the comes between the antecedent and the RC)RC)

Ex. Try writing a sentence Ex. Try writing a sentence of your of your ownown that that

contains a relative clause. contains a relative clause.

※※Punctuation of Relative Punctuation of Relative Clauses: (restrictive and Clauses: (restrictive and

nonrestrictive)nonrestrictive) (Whether or not the added clause (Whether or not the added clause affectsaffects the meaning of the entire the meaning of the entire sentence.)sentence.)

R:R: necessary because it identifies necessary because it identifies its antecedent for the reader.its antecedent for the reader.

The professor The professor who teaches my biology who teaches my biology classclass won a Nobel Prize two years won a Nobel Prize two years ago.ago.

N-R:N-R: not necessary to identify its not necessary to identify its antecedent; merely offers antecedent; merely offers additionaladditional information.information.

Professor Jones, Professor Jones, who teaches my who teaches my biology classbiology class, won a Nobel Prize two , won a Nobel Prize two years ago. years ago.

※※Relative Pronouns as Relative Pronouns as subjects: Subject Pattern subjects: Subject Pattern

Relative Clauses Relative Clauses ((which/that/who should not be which/that/who should not be

left outleft out))

※※More Examples: More Examples:

※※Test Yourselves: (determine Test Yourselves: (determine the importance of the given the importance of the given

information)information) 1. John Fish explained the complex structure of DNA. He is a research 1. John Fish explained the complex structure of DNA. He is a research chemist.chemist.

2. While he lectured, he showed us a slide. The slide diagrammed the 2. While he lectured, he showed us a slide. The slide diagrammed the double helix structure of DNA.double helix structure of DNA.

3. Words in English are often difficult for foreigners to pronounce. 3. Words in English are often difficult for foreigners to pronounce. They They

begin with the consonants begin with the consonants thth..

4. Foreigners also have difficulty with English spelling. English spe4. Foreigners also have difficulty with English spelling. English spelling is lling is

not always consistent with its pronunciation.not always consistent with its pronunciation.

5. Anyone must have a logical mind. He or she wants to be a computer 5. Anyone must have a logical mind. He or she wants to be a computer programmer.programmer.

6. Fans quickly lose interest in a sports team. The team loses game a6. Fans quickly lose interest in a sports team. The team loses game after fter

game. game.

※※Relative Pronouns as Relative Pronouns as Objects: Objects:

※※More Examples More Examples

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. Albert Einstein was a high school dropout. The world 1. Albert Einstein was a high school dropout. The world recognizes him as a genius.recognizes him as a genius.

2. As a young boy, Einstein had trouble in elementary 2. As a young boy, Einstein had trouble in elementary and high and high

school. He attended these schools in Germany.school. He attended these schools in Germany.

3. He did poorly in subjects. He disliked them.3. He did poorly in subjects. He disliked them.

4. The only subjects were mathematics and physics. He 4. The only subjects were mathematics and physics. He loved loved

them.them.

5. He developed theories. We use theories to help us 5. He developed theories. We use theories to help us understand understand

the nature of the universe.the nature of the universe.

6. Einstein is best known for his General Theory of 6. Einstein is best known for his General Theory of Relativity. He Relativity. He

began to develop this theory while living in began to develop this theory while living in Switzerland. Switzerland.

※※Possessive Relative Possessive Relative Clauses: Clauses:

※※More Examples: More Examples:

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves:

1. First National Bank tries to attract 1. First National Bank tries to attract female female

customers. The bank’s president is a customers. The bank’s president is a woman.woman.

2. Companies conduct market research to 2. Companies conduct market research to discover trends among consumers. discover trends among consumers. Consumers’ tastes change rapidly.Consumers’ tastes change rapidly.

3. A manufacturer can offer lower prices. 3. A manufacturer can offer lower prices. Its Its

costs are lower because of mass costs are lower because of mass production. production.

※※Possessive Relative Possessive Relative Clause as the Object Clause as the Object

Pattern Pattern

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: Ex. Maya Angelou, whose poetry we have been Ex. Maya Angelou, whose poetry we have been reading in our English class, is one of reading in our English class, is one of America’s America’s

most famous female poets.most famous female poets.

1. William Shakespeare lived and wrote 400 years 1. William Shakespeare lived and wrote 400 years ago. ago. High school students struggle to High school students struggle to understand his understand his

English.English. 2. Nike is a sporting goods company. Most people 2. Nike is a sporting goods company. Most people recognize the company’s “swoosh” symbol.recognize the company’s “swoosh” symbol. 3. The actress has starred in several films. I 3. The actress has starred in several films. I can’t can’t

remember her name. remember her name.

※※Relative Pronouns as Relative Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions:Objects of Prepositions:

(Formal: prepositions come before the (Formal: prepositions come before the relative pronoun; vice versa) relative pronoun; vice versa)

※※More Examples More Examples

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves:

1. Finding reasonably priced housing in big cities is a 1. Finding reasonably priced housing in big cities is a problem. Many youngproblem. Many young

People are concerned People are concerned about the problemabout the problem..

2. Affordable apartments are scarce. Young people would like 2. Affordable apartments are scarce. Young people would like to live to live in in

them.them.

3. Of course, many young people share apartments, but they 3. Of course, many young people share apartments, but they have to have to

choose roommates carefully. They will share living choose roommates carefully. They will share living space and expenses space and expenses

with these roommateswith these roommates..

4. In many countries, young people continue to live with 4. In many countries, young people continue to live with their parents in their parents in

the same house. They grew up the same house. They grew up in that housein that house..

5. In the United States, young people don’t want to live with 5. In the United States, young people don’t want to live with their parents. their parents.

They typically declare their independence They typically declare their independence from their from their parentsparents at age at age

eighteen.eighteen.

※※Relative Pronouns in Relative Pronouns in Phrases of Quantity and Phrases of Quantity and

QualityQuality Quantity: some of which, one of whom, all Quantity: some of which, one of whom, all of whom, each of which, of whom, each of which, etc.etc.

Quality: the best of which, the most Quality: the best of which, the most important of whom, the more important of whom, the more economical of which, the economical of which, the loveliest loveliest

of which, etc.of which, etc. (They are always non-restrictive) (They are always non-restrictive)

※ ※ Main Structure: The Main Structure: The object object always follows the always follows the

preposition preposition ofof..

※※More Examples More Examples

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. There is a chain of islands in the Caribbean Sea. The 1. There is a chain of islands in the Caribbean Sea. The

most most charming of the islands is Puerto Rico, “The Land of charming of the islands is Puerto Rico, “The Land of Enchantment.”Enchantment.”

2. Puerto Rico attracts thousands of visitors. Many of them 2. Puerto Rico attracts thousands of visitors. Many of them come for come for

the sunny weather, the beautiful beaches, and the the sunny weather, the beautiful beaches, and the Spanish Spanish

atmosphere.atmosphere.

3. Puerto Rico’s economy is growing. The most important 3. Puerto Rico’s economy is growing. The most important sector of sector of

the economy is clothing manufacturing.the economy is clothing manufacturing.

4. Puerto Ricans have strong ties to the United States. All 4. Puerto Ricans have strong ties to the United States. All of them of them

are U.S. citizens.are U.S. citizens.

5. Puerto Rico has three political parties. One of them 5. Puerto Rico has three political parties. One of them favors Puerto favors Puerto

Rico’s becoming a state. Rico’s becoming a state.

※※Adverbial Relative Adverbial Relative Clauses:Clauses:

when & where; replace entire when & where; replace entire prepositional phrase, such as prepositional phrase, such as on on SundaySunday or or in the cityin the city. .

※※More Examples More Examples

※※Test Yourselves:Test Yourselves: 1. Germany had been divided into two 1. Germany had been divided into two countries countries

since 1945. It was defeated in World since 1945. It was defeated in World War II in War II in

1945.1945.

2. 1989 was the year. The Berlin Wall was 2. 1989 was the year. The Berlin Wall was torn torn

down in that year.down in that year.

3. In 1990, Germany became one country again. 3. In 1990, Germany became one country again. East and West Germany were united in East and West Germany were united in 1990.1990.

4. There was anxiety in places. People fear 4. There was anxiety in places. People fear losing their jobs in some places.losing their jobs in some places.

※※Review: Review:

※※Editing Practices: Editing Practices:

※※Assignment: Assignment: