Relative clauses add additional information about a noun in a sentence. Most of the clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun who, which, where, whose, when and that.

• People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
• Where is the jumper which I bought you last Christmas?
• Columbariums are places where urns are kept.
• The man whose dog I look after has just died.
• Ching Ming is a festival when many people will visit their ancestors.

For more information on the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses, and on the differences between relative pronouns, click here:

http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eap/2004/u6/relativeclauses.aspx

In cases where the relative pronoun that, which or who is not the subject of the relative clause it can be omitted.

Where is the jumper (that) I bought you last Christmas?  (that is not the subject, so it can be omitted)
		Where is the jumper I bought you for Christmas?
Where is the jumper that has a Santa Clause face on it? (that refers to the jumper , so it cannot be omitted)
		Where is the jumper has a Santa Clause face on it?

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Can the relative pronouns in the sentences below be omitted or not? Click on the correct button next to each sentence.

		omit	cannot omit
1.	Students that score consistently high in Math are often left-handed.	Incorrect	Correct
	Answer: Cannot omit.  That refers to students.

2.	Undergraduates that the Dean thinks have excelled throughout the year are awarded a prize.	Correct	Incorrect
	Answer: Can omit.  That is not the subject.

3.	The Apple computer which recently sold at auction for USD 600,000  was bought by a museum.	Incorrect	Correct
	Answer: Cannot omit. That refers to the Apple computer.

4.	Shares in the company that Steve Jobs founded did not collapse immediately following his death.	Correct	Incorrect
	Answer: Can omit.  That is not the subject.

5.	Fans who follow Just Beiber religiously are called Beliebers.	Incorrect	Correct
	Answer: Cannot omit.  That refers to fans.

6.	Fans who Justin Beiber feels are somewhat intimidating are usually brought to the attention of the police.	Correct	Incorrect
	Answer: Can omit. Who is not the subject.

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Where the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, the relative pronouns and any accompanying auxiliary verb can be omitted.
The students who are protesting today will be on the news tonight	BECOMES:
The students protesting today will be on the news tonight
The damage which was caused by yesterday’s riot will have to be paid for		BECOMES:
The damage caused by yesterday’s riot will have to be paid for

Where the verb BE is a complement, it can be omitted but not where BE is the main verb
The men who are in black should stand next to the women who are in white		BECOMES:
The men in black should stand next to the women in white
The men who are tall should stand at the back	CANNOT BECOME
The men tall should stand at the back

Where the verb in the relative clause is simple, the verb changes to the –ing form
Students who sit at the back of class tend to be less eager to learn	BECOMES:
Students sitting at the back of class tend to be less eager to learn

In active structures where the verb is followed by a preposition phrase, it can also be omitted with little change in meaning
Students sitting at the back of class tend to be less eager to learn	BECOMES:
Students at the back of the class tend to be less eager to learn.

In passive structures, it usually cannot be omitted :
The damage caused by yesterday’s riot will have to be paid for	CANNOT BECOME
The damage by yesterday’s riot will have to be paid for

Omissions tend not to occur for completed past actions in active structures:
The player that bit Ivanovic’s ear was banned for three matches	CANNOT BECOME
The player biting Ivanovic;s s ear was banned for three matches

But can for completed past actions in passive structures
The player who was bitten by Suarez has demanded an apology
The player bitten by Suarez has demand an apology

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A. Matching

Match up the appropriate halves by clicking and dragging the boxes in the left next to their appropriate sentences on the left. Then complete the sentences in Task 2b below omitting relative pronouns and verbs where possible.

B. Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences based on the information in part A and omit relative pronouns where possible.

1.	I often have a dream in which there is a teacher... Check Your answer: Answer: I often have a dream in which there is a teacher scolding me with an angry face

2.	There is a story in the paper about a terrorist... Check Your answer: Answer: There is a story in the paper about a terrorist arrested for concealing explosives in his bag

3.	Students... Check Your answer: Answer: Students needing help with English are required to sign up for extra lessons

4.	Students... Check Your answer: Answer: Students in a hurry to start work after graduation should apply for jobs as soon as possible.

5.	The gentleman... Check Your answer: Answer: The gentleman who shot Arch Duke Ferdinand is known as Gavril Princip.

6.	The scientists... Check Your answer: Answer: The scientists who first produced Plutonium were American (no reduction possible single action)

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