2.8 Relative clauses

2.8 Links GB/ France/ Grammar

Relative clauses

A)  Different clauses

“The man who became king came from France.”

→ Where is the relative clause? What is its antecedent?

→ Compare with:

“The man, who became king, came from France”.

Which difference(s) do you notice?

B)  Different pronouns

1)   Subject or object ?

1.   He is the man who believed the throne was his _ _ _

2.   The man whom they killed was Harold._ _ _ _ _

3.   The language ⃠  they spoke was difficult._ _ _ _ _

4.   The article which I read was on the blog._ _ _ _ _

2)   which antecedent ?

→ Complete with : who, whom, which, that ,  ⃠

a)    If the pronouns are subjects :

human antecedent	Ex: the man ____________ crossed the Channel was called William. EX2: the king,___________ spoke French, had many castles built.
non-human antecedent	EX: Many words ___________sound French were probably invented at that time EX2: The article,  _____________ is on the blog, deals with the two languages.

b)   if the pronouns are objects :

human antecedent	The student  ________________ you heard before is Jules.
non-human antecedent	The text _____________________  you read earlier deals with William…

Going further

1)  whose

Observe: Camille, whose drawing is amazing, should be congratulated....
We could also write: Camille should be congratulated :
 _______ drawing is amazing.

→ What can you infer about “whose”?

2)  , which

We can go out, which is great news.

→ What does  “,which” refer to?

3)  What

They said what the teacher expected.
→ Rephrase “what”?

 They said ________________ the teacher expected.

NB: How would you translate “tout ce que”? _ _ _ _ _