LESSON 5A GRAMMAR
We use a present participle clause (for an action or state that happened at the same time or after an event in the story)
His system transformed their lives, enabling them to read and write. (because it enabled them)
NOTE: Participle and main clauses must have the same subject.
► present (starting) or past (started) participle is often used to replace a relative clause
► We use a present participle (to replace a relative clause with an active verb, e.g.)
• There was a wire which attached the phone to the wall. (relative clause)
• There was a wire attaching the phone to the wall. (present participle clause)
Replace the underlined parts of the relative clauses in each sentence with a present participle
1. Anyone who wanted to speak on the phone had to go into the hall.
Anyone wanting to speak on the phone had to go into the hall.
2. The only people who use non-smart mobile phones now are the elderly.
The only people using non-smart mobile phones now are the elderly.
3. I don’t want to sit next to that woman who is shouting into her phone.
I don’t want to sit next to that woman shouting into her phone.
4. People who are buying that smartphone don’t realise that a new model is about to come out.
People buying that smartphone don’t realise that a new model is about to come out.
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defining relative clauses |
Non-defining relative clauses |
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are necessary (to give essential information about exactly which person/thing is being talked about in the sentence.) |
Non-defining clauses always need commas. on either side if it’s in the middle of the sentence, or before if it's at the end. |
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Commas are never used
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In non-defining relative clauses, "that" can be used, but it’s less common. (In non-defining clauses, you use "who" or "which" instead of "that.") |
Example:
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Example:
(- The clause "who had been working that afternoon" adds extra information about the wife.)
(- The clause "which many considered ugly at first" provides additional information about the building.)
( the clause "which shows how deeply they are interested in learning about science" adds extra information about the museum. This information is not essential to the main idea; it simply provides additional context.) |
We use (who (m), which, that, whose, where, when)) in relative clauses.
We use them after nouns, or noun phrases, (to describe or give information about a person, thing, possessions. Place, and time).
Prepositions usually go at the end of the clause in conversational English. In more formal written and spoken contexts, they can go at the beginning, but must be followed by which (for things) or whom (for people)
► Example:
1. This house is more modern than the last house (which/that) they lived in.
This house is more modern than the last house in which they lived.
2. The architect knew the couple (who/that) he had designed the house for.
The architect knew the couple for whom he had designed the house.
Rewrite the pairs of sentences as one sentence using a relative clause.
1. Televisions used to have a dial. The dial was used to change the channel.
Televisions used to have a dial which was used to change the channel
2. Technology is always changing. I find this exciting.
Technology is always changing, which I find exciting.
3. Husam has lost his phone. He is very absent-minded.
The person whose phone has been lost was Husam.
4. The person who/that is very absent-minded was Hussam.
Hussam, who is very absent-minded, has lost his phone.