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An Introduction to Relative ClausesHow to construct relative clausesTo construct a relative clause, replace a noun, usually the subject, of a main clause with a relative pronoun and then re-insert the noun in a new main clause.Relative Pronouns: who, whom, whose which, that, (somethimes where)Sample Transformations Mary never misses classes.In the following examples, the subjects of the main clauses (Dogs and the book) are replaced with the relative pronoun "which" and then the original subject is put back in as the subject of a new main clause. Dogs are mammals. Distinguishing between bound and free relative clausesRelative clauses may be either bound or free. If they are essential to the meaning of the sentence, they are bound and are NOT set off with commas. If they can be removed without interfering with the meaning of the sentence, they are free, and are set off with commas.Another way of distinguishing bound from free relative clauses is to ask yourself if the clause contains information that is used to identify the preceding noun, or if it contains information that simply expands the idea. If the information identifies a noun, the clause is bound and does not receive commas. If the information only expands the information, the clause is free and should be set off with commas. Most free relative clauses referring to non persons are signaled with the pronoun "which." Most bound relative clauses referring to non persons are signaled with the pronoun "that." The annual report, which was written in only one day, caused a disturbance in administration. Distinguishing between subject, object, and possessive forms of relative pronounsAll of the examples given so far have been relative clauses in which the subject of the original main clause was replaced with a relative pronoun. But it is possible to replace the object of a sentence or of a prepositional phrase, or to replace a possessive noun, with a relative pronouon. When that happens, the personal relative pronoun changes form and is moved to the front of the relative clause, as in the following examples:Relative clause with pronoun in objective form Assignment: Compose five sentences with relative clauses in them. In the first three, the relative pronoun is to be in the subject form. In the fourth, the relative pronoun is to be a objective form. In the fifth, the relative pronoun is to be in the possessive form. |