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Lesson Plan July 28 2023

Topic: Relative Clauses 04 (Necessary & Extra Information)

In this lesson we will look at two types of relative clauses and how we form their sentences.

There are two types of relative clauses, study the sections below.

Section A - Necessary Information (Type 1)

Type 1 relative clauses give necessary information. Without this information, we do not know which person or thing somebody is talking about.

• Do you know the woman who is standing over there? (“… who is standing over there” tells us which woman the speakers is talking about. Without this clause, it is not clear who the speaker is referring to.

• The online dictionary that I use is very useful.

• The hotel where we stayed was very expensive.

• The boy whose arm was broken during the school trip is feeling much better now.

• The train which I take every day was cancelled.

Section B - Extra Information (Type 2)

Type 2 relative clauses give extra information. Without this information, we still know which person or thing somebody is talking about.

• I often use Facebook to keep in touch with old friends from school, who are always online. (“… who are always online” is extra information about “my friends”. Without this clause, it is still clear who the speaker is talking about.

Type 2 relative clauses must be separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma. In conversation we use a slight pause, alter intonation or even change the rhythm of the extra information.

• Abbey Road, which was recorded by The Beatles, is my favourite album.

• This summer I’m going to spend a few weeks in Rome, where I used to live.

• Patrick, whose phone was stolen the other day, is in a much better mood now.

We cannot use that in Type 2 relative clauses, especially in written sentences.

• This coffee, which Joanne bought for me yesterday, tastes really good. (NOT This coffee, that Joanne bought …)

We cannot leave out who / which / where in Type 2 relative clauses

• This coffee, which Joanne bought for me yesterday, tastes really good. (NOT This coffee, Joanne bought …)

Section C - More Examples

Type 1

• The woman who lives next door is a doctor.

• Grace works for a company that makes furniture.

• We stayed at the hotel (that) you recommended.

• Do you know anyone (who / that) speaks French and Italian?

• We met some people whose car had broken down.

• What’s the name of the place where you went on holiday?

Type 2

• My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect.

• Anna told me about her new job, which she's enjoying a lot. (NOT … that she’s …)

• We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended.

• John, who speaks French and Italian, works as a tour guide. (NOT … that speaks …)

• Lisa, whose car had broken down, was in a very bad mood.

• Kate has just been to Sweden, where her daughter lives.

Lesson Notes

• The sun has been (strong / intense / scorching) the past few days.

• Strong = above average heat, not uncomfortable or unbearable

• Intense = higher level of heat, noticeable and probably uncomfortable

• Scorching = extreme heat, uncomfortable and unbearable

Fluent & Fluently

• We usually say

• speak fluent + language

• They speak fluently Japanese.

• She speaks fluent English.

• speak + language + fluently

• They speak Japanese fluently.

• She speaks English fluently.

What is “Extra Information”

• What is the purpose of Type 2 relative clauses?

• Type 2 relative clauses help us learn “extra information” about a person or thing mentioned in the main part of the sentence. However, even if we remove this “extra information”, we can still figure out who or what is being talked about.

• Example:

• Let's look at this example: "My friends, who are always online, are coming to my party.”

• In this sentence, the Type 2 relative clause is "who are always online.”

• It provides extra information about "my friends," telling us something more about them.

• Importance of the main part of the sentence:

• Even if we remove the Type 2 relative clause, the main part of the sentence (my friends) still makes sense and lets us know who the speaker is talking about.

• Without the relative clause: "My friends are coming to my party.”

• We still understand that "my friends" are the ones coming to the party.