3.2 HOME FROM HOME: RELATIVE CLAUSES

Most people who work at home need peace and quiet, but I need noise and chaos. Salih Moustafa, inventor.

who work at home (defining)

My first home was by the sea. It was dreary and poky and chilly in the winter, none of which mattered because the location was perfect, and location is everything. Pablo Anaya, nurse.

none of which mattered (non-defining).

A home for me is anywhere I can put my feet up and let my hair down. Hannah Obi, maintenance worker

anywhere I can put my feet up and let my hair down. (defining)

You have to separate home from work. I started a company in my garage. A year later, six colleagues were pretty much living there 24/7, at which point I knew we needed an office. Kath Schedel, entreprenneur.

at which point I knew we needed an office. (non-defining)

A home is only a home because of your memories in it. The door on which I drew marks to show my children getting taller is just a piece of wood, but it is priceless to me. Paul Hartfeld, sanitation worker

on which I drew marks to show my children getting taller (defining)

The best homes are those whose major characteristics is brightness. Good light can compensate for almost anything. Jiao Cheung, architect

those whose major characteristic is brightness. (defining)

The door on which I drew marks to show my children getting taller

a sentence in which a preposition comes before the relative pronoun (which/who/when, etc.)

The best homes are those whose major characteristic is brightness.

the possessive whose (used only before nouns)

at which point I knew we needed an office

a fixed phrase (usually three words) with which. It usually starts with a preposition, e.g. by which time.

none of which mattered

a relative pronoun after some of, all of, none of, etc.

A home for me is anywhere I can put my feet up and let my hair down

a defining relative clause with no relative pronoun

Most people who work at home need peace and quiet

a defining relative clause in which the relative pronoun (who, which, etc.) can be replaced by that

In what kinds of clauses (defining or non-defining) can you sometimes use that instead of who, where, when, etc.?

in defining clauses

If a relative pronoun (which, who, etc.) refers to the object of the sentence, we can sometimes omit it. Which relative pronoun has been omitted from:

where/that

Which sentence is incorrect? a) I have the thing that you want. b) I have the thing what you want. c) I have what you want.

*I have the thing what you want.

In my early twenties, (1) I was a student.

In my early twenties, when I was a student.

I used to hang out in a few places, none (2) which were exactly posh.

I used to hang out in a few places, none of which were exactly posh.

There was one seedy dive called Schubert's, (3) an acquaintance of mine,

There was one seedy dive called Schubert's, where an acquaintance of mine,

(4) name I've forgotten, played the piano.

whose name I've forgotten, played the piano.

But my favourite haunt, (5) which I remember everything

But my favourite haunt, about which I remember everything

including the decor (a Matisse poster (6) edges were peeling off the wall), was Johnny Bee's Café.

including the decor (a Matisse poster whose edges were peeling off the wall), was Johnny Bee's Café.

The table (7)

The table where

I regularly sat faced a window from (8) you could see the street.

I regularly sat faced a window from which you could see the street.

I must have gone to Johnny Bee's every day until I graduated, by which (9) I was virtually living there.

I must have gone to Johnny Bee's every day until I graduated, by which time I was virtually living there.

Most of the dissertation (10) which I was working was conceived in Johnny Bee's.

Most of the dissertation on which I was working was conceived in Johnny Bee's.

I went back last year and saw the same people, none of (11) had changed except for a few grey hairs.

I went back last year and saw the same people, none of whom had changed except for a few grey hairs.

There were lots of children there and all of them sang really well. (whom) There were lots of children there, (1)

There were lots of children there, all of whom sang really well.

When the fire alarm went off, the lesson ended. (point) The fire alarm went off, (2)

The fire alarm went off, at which point the lesson ended.

We stayed in that woman's house. (house) That's the woman (3)

That's the woman whose house we stayed in.

Clare's the person I learnt the most from. (whom) The person (4)

The person from whom I learnt the most is Clare.

If you get a scholarship, you won't need to pay. (case) You may get a scholarship, in (5)

You may get a scholarship, in which case you won't need to pay.

There are two photocopiers in the office, which are both out of order. (of) There are two photocopiers in the office, both

There are two photocopiers in the office, both of which are out of order.

My aunt and uncle, (a) both b) both of whom c) who both) cook well, spend most of their time in the kitchen.

My aunt and uncle, both of whom/who both cook well, spend most of their time in the kitchen.

That's the run-down little bar (2) we first met.

That's the run-down little bar in which/where we first met.

The hill (3) overlooks a secluded hotel off the beaten track.

The hill on which the castle was built/ which the castle was built on overlooks a secluded hotel off the beaten track.

The group of friends, (4) I've known for ages, went on a yearly holiday together.

The group of friends, who/a few of whom I've known for ages, went on a yearly holiday together.

We decided to go home in 2014, (5) we had travelled to thirty-five countries.

We decided to go home in 2014, at which point/by which time we had travelled to thirty-five countries.

The food (6) they served was wonderful.

The food they served/The food that they served was wonderful.

We watched the election, (7) was never in doubt.

We watched the election, the result of which/whose result was never in doubt.

She was the person (8) for our information.

She was the person on whom we relied/who we relied on for our information.

I am taken from a mine and shut in a wooden case (?) I am never released, but almost everyone uses me. What am I?

I am taken from a mine and shut in a wooden case from which I am never released, but almost everyone uses me. What am I?

I have a little house (?). It has no doors or windows and if I want to go out, I have to break through the wall. What am I?

I have a little house in which I live alone. It has no doors or windows and if I want to go out, I have to break through the wall. What am I?

What is one question (?)?

What is one question to which you can never answer "yes"?

A barrel of water weighed ten pounds. Someone added something to it, (?) it weighed four pounds. What did they add?

A barrel of water weighed ten pounds. Someone added something to it, at which point it weighed four pounds. What did they add?

riddle

a joke or question that you try to guess the answer to for fun