Defining Relative Clauses
Defining relative clauses, also known as zdania przydawkowe definiujące angielski, are crucial in English grammar for providing essential information about the main clause. These clauses use specific relative pronouns to connect and describe different elements in a sentence.
Definition: A defining relative clause specifies or identifies the noun in the main clause, providing information that is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
The text outlines the use of various relative pronouns in forming these clauses:
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Who: Used for people
Example: The woman who runs the grocery grows her own vegetables.
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Which: Used for things and animals
Example: I couldn't find a shop which sold the kind of clothes I like to buy.
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That: Used for people, animals, and things
Example: The artist that made this camp lives in Portugal.
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When: Used to refer to time
Example: The year when we started our business was very special for us.
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Where: Used to refer to place
Example: The venue where they performed the concert was really crowded.
Highlight: The choice of relative pronoun depends on whether we're referring to people, animals, things, time, or place.
The text also explains two important rules regarding the use of relative pronouns:
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When the relative pronoun is the subject of the following clause, it cannot be omitted.
Example: The man who is singing is my cousin.
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When the relative pronoun is the object of the following clause, it can be omitted.
Example: These are the new jeans (that) I told you about.
Vocabulary:
- Relative clauses: Clauses that provide additional information about a noun in the main clause.
- Relative pronouns: Words like who, which, that, where, when, why, and whose used to introduce relative clauses.
This comprehensive overview of defining relative clauses provides students with a solid foundation for understanding and using these important grammatical structures in English. Practicing with relative clauses ćwiczenia and zdania z who, which where whose can help reinforce these concepts and improve overall language proficiency.