GMAT Grammar Book: Relative Clauses

Question

Relative Clauses   yellow/96239 
This post is a part of  GMAT GRAMMAR BOOK ]

created by:   bb 
 edited by:   dzyubam

A relative clause is used to combine two separate sentences into one complete sentence. Any sentence that utilizes a relative clause can be separated into two complete sentences as the relative pronoun combines the two ideas together by replacing a duplicate noun phrase.

The ancient stone contains strange  symbols .  The symbols  are from a forgotten language.
The ancient stone contains strange symbols  that  are from a forgotten language.

Relative Pronouns 
Relative pronouns that are used in relative clauses to replace duplicate noun phrases are listed below.

PRONOUN    USE IN ENGLISH     that
which
who
whom
whose  things
things
people
people
usually people

NOTE : In conversational and informal written English,  that , as well as  who , can be used for people. However,  that  is not used for people in formal written English.

Dr. Won is the teacher. Dr. Won will accompany us.

ACCEPTABLE INFORMAL: Dr. Won is the teacher   that   (or   who  ) will accompany us.
ACCEPTABLE FORMAL: Dr. Won is the teacher   who   will accompany us.

NOTE : The relative pronoun  which  is NEVER used with people in formal or informal English.

UNACCEPTABLE: Dr. Won is the teacher   which   will accompany us.

A regular pronoun CANNOT be used with a relative pronoun.

INCORRECT: This is the dress   that   I will wear  it  at the dance.
CORRECT: This is the dress   that   I will wear at the dance.

Who / Whom / Whose 
When the subject noun phrase of a sentence is being replaced, use relative pronoun  who . This pronoun will be followed by a verb. When the complement noun phrase of a sentence is being replaced, use the relative pronoun  whom . This pronoun will be followed by a noun.

NOTE :  Whom  is rarely used in speech or informal writing. However, it should be used in formal written English where appropriate.

Study the following sentences:

Who   replaces the subject noun/phrase and is followed by a verb. (Note: The subject that  who  is replacing is the same.)

The students  are going to Europe.  The students  have good grades.
 The students   who   have  (verb) good grades are going to Europe.

The girls  are intelligent.  The girls  like computer class.
 The girls   who   like  (verb) computer class are intelligent.

Whom   replaces the object noun/phrase and is followed by a noun/phrase. (Note: There is a subject AND an object being linked when  whom  is used.)

The girl  is pretty. Jerry likes  the girl .
 The girl   whom   Jerry  (noun) likes is pretty.

Robin Williams  is funny. The world adores  Robin Williams .
 Robin Williams ,  whom   the world  (noun) adores, is funny.

The form  whom  can also be used with a preposition.  Whom  will always follow the preposition when used in this way.

Ben Franklin  was an interesting man. The book was written  about Ben Franklin .
 Ben Franklin ,  about  (prep.)  whom  the book was written, was an interesting man.

The football players  are handsome. Charlene is talking  to   the football players .
 The football players   to  (prep.)  whom  Charlene is talking are handsome.
 
  Whose   is a relative pronoun that indicates possession. Study the following examples of how to use  whose .

John doesn’t like publicity.  John’s wife  is famous.
John,   whose   wife  is famous, doesn’t like publicity.

I have a new pet dog.  The dog’s eyes  are albino red.
I have a new pet dog   whose  eyes  are albino red.

Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses 
A relative clause is considered to be either restrictive or nonrestrictive. A restrictive clause cannot be omitted from the sentence without disrupting the meaning. A nonrestrictive clause is one that contains additional information and can be removed without disrupting the original meaning of the sentence.

A nonrestrictive clause is separated from the original sentence by commas and a restrictive clause is not. (See more information about the use of commas on  page ____.)  The relative pronouns  who, whom, whose  and  which  can be used in either restrictive or nonrestrictive clauses. However,  that  can ONLY be used in restrictive clauses.

Restrictive Clause:

The man who lives in the old, spooky house  is always walking around at night.

If the relative clause “who lives in the old, spooky house” is removed, it would change the meaning of the sentence because we are only talking about the man who lives in that particular house, not just any man.

The tomatoes that are ripe  should be harvested today before they spoil.

The relative clause “that are ripe” cannot be removed because we are talking about particular tomatoes which need to be harvested, those that are ripe.

Examples of restrictive clauses:

The mechanic  who is on duty  will attend to your vehicle.
Spiders  that are poisonous  are being studied in class today.
The woman  to whom I spoke  was very rude.

Nonrestrictive Clause:

Dr. Thompson,  who has received a prestigious science award , is my science teacher.

The relative clause can be removed from this sentence without changing the original meaning that “Dr. Thompson is my science teacher”. That he has received a prestigious science award is extra information that has been added.

The store’s entire furniture inventory,  which consisted of rare antiques , was destroyed in the storm.

The relative clause “which consisted of rare antiques” can be removed without disrupting the main idea of the sentence which is that all the furniture was destroyed in the storm. The relative clause is added information which is not necessary to the main idea of the sentence.

Examples of nonrestrictive clauses:

Albert Einstein,  who created the theory of relativity , was considered to be a genius.
All the lions in the zoo,  which are large and ferocious , escaped into the surrounding area.
I comforted the lost boy,  who was shivering and cold , before the authorities arrived.

Exercise 24: Creating Relative Clauses 
In each sentence below, combine the two individual sentences into one sentence using a relative clause. Indicate whether the relative clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive by placing an “R” or “NR” in the blank at the end of the sentence. NOTE: Be sure to add commas before and after a nonrestrictive relative clause.

Example: John runs very fast. John won the state sprinting title.

John, who won the state sprinting title, runs very fast. _ NR _
1. The cat is in my yard again. The cat has a broken leg.
______________________________________________________ _____
2. I am going to see the doctor. The doctor delivered me when I was born.
______________________________________________________ _____
3. Jim Carey autographed my shirt. Jim Carey is the funniest man ever.
______________________________________________________ _____
4. Once, I met a man. The man’s teeth were all gold.
______________________________________________________ _____
5. The chain broke. The chain keeps the bear from escaping.
______________________________________________________ _____
6. Dragons breathe columns of fire. Dragons fly through the night sky.
______________________________________________________ _____
7.  Free Willy  was a cute move.  Free Willy  was a story about freedom.
______________________________________________________ _____
8. Chester came to my party. Chester was an amazing guitar player.
______________________________________________________ _____
9. The baby was rushed to the hospital. The baby’s arm was broken.
______________________________________________________ _____
10. Jessica met a new friend. Jessica liked her friend very much.
______________________________________________________ _____

Think something is missing? Let us know - Help Improve GMAT Club's Grammar Book Project!   
  This post is a part of  GMAT GRAMMAR BOOK ]

jakolik · Answer

I will not be surprised at all to see GMAT CLUB release complete GMAT preparation books in the market.
What I am sure of is that these prep books will enjoy a huge success and will hopefully compete with the success of Manhattan GMAT books......

Good luck guys and keep up the hard work

reservoir11 · Answer

Hey BB, 
Thanks a ton for all these exercises. I am preparing for my GMAT now and am going through this GRAMMAR Book before getting onto verbal. I would appreciate if you could please post the answers to the exercise in the section above. 
Thanks

dzyubam · Answer

A link to the answers to the exercises 24 and on will be posted later in this thread: gmat-verbal-grammar-book-96532.html

gmatbull · Answer

restrictive/non-restrictive clauses can be achieved at will depending on which of the relative pronouns we employ, right?

for example, 
"The chain   that   keeps the chair from escaping has broken".....R
"The chain,   which   keeps the chair from escaping, has broken".....NR

In that case, the above exercises have no definite answer as to whether R or NR.

Please clarify

gmatbull · Answer

(iii) George, who passed the test, was elated. .....NR
(iv) George who passed the test was elated. ......R

From the (iii) and (iv) it's clear that removing the commas
simply transforms a nonrestrictive clause to a restrictive type.
But, of course, the meanings differ.

Please is my analysis correct?

gszabousa · Answer

Exercise 24 - Q7 - should be cute movie, not move

soaringAlone · Answer

The cat that has a broken leg is in my yard again.-R, The cat, which has a broken leg, is in my yard a gain. -NR
I am going to see the doctor who delivered me when I was born. -R
Jim Carrey, who is the funniest man ever, autographed my Tshirt. -NR
Once I met a man whose teeth were all gold. -R
The chain that keeps the bear from escaping broke. -R, The chain, which keeps the bear from escaping, broke.-NR
Free Willy, which was a story about freedom, was a cute movie. -NR
Chester who was an amazing guitar player came to my party. -R
The baby whose arm was broken was rushed to the hospital.- R
Jessica met a new friend whom she liked very much. -R

deepakhyd · Answer

Please let me know the correct answer for the first question.

Whether it is a restrictive clause i.e. The cat that has a broken leg is in my yard again.-R

or a non-restrictive clause i.e. The cat, which has a broken leg, is in my yard a gain. -NR

I think that it is a restrictive clause as it is specific to the cat whose leg is broken..

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GMAT Grammar Book: Relative Clauses

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PRONOUN	USE IN ENGLISH
that which who whom whose	things things people people usually people