Instructions
We use relative clauses to describe or give extra information about something we have already mentioned. We often use relative pronouns (e.g. who, where, that, which, whose) to introduce relative clauses.
What are relative clauses and why do we use them?
A clause is a group of words containing a verb. Relative clauses are a way of giving more information about a person, thing, place, event, etc. We often use them to avoid repeating information.
The Uros people make fires. Their fires are used for cooking. = The Uros people make fires, which they use for cooking.
OK, so there the relative pronoun is 'which' and it refers back to 'the fires' and 'which they use for cooking' is the relative clause.
That’s right, which is used for things (never for people). There are a lot of other relative pronouns: who (for people), that (for a thing or a person), where (for a place), whose (for possession) and when (for a time).
What are defining relative clauses?
They are clauses that you need in the sentence for it to make sense.
The people who live here have had the same kind of lifestyle for hundreds of years.
If I said 'The people have had the same kind of lifestyle for hundreds of years', you wouldn’t know which people I was talking about.
There are no commas before and after the clause.
No, not with defining relative clauses.
The islanders pick the tall reeds that grow at the sides of the lake and use them to make the islands.
OK, so what about non-defining relative clauses?
We use those to give extra information, which isn’t absolutely necessary. We use commas to separate them from the rest of the sentence, unless they come at the end of the sentence, when we use a comma and a full stop.
That grey thing, which you can see on the roof there, isn’t very traditional.
The video’s from yesterday, when she was on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca.
This is Sophie, whose blog you’ve been reading.
OK, got it, I think. Is there anything else that I need to know?
Ah, you just used a relative clause with that. We can use that instead of who or which in defining clauses, not non-defining clauses.
So this grammar snack, which has been very interesting, has taught me everything that I need to know about relative clauses.
OK, it’s taught you nearly everything you need to know.
Worksheets and downloads
Transcript
Discussion
Do people still follow traditions or use old ways of doing things where you live? What do they do?
Comments
In my village Hidalgo, Mexico, people celebrate Xantolo know as All Saints' Day on November 2. Xantolo consist in life and death ritual, where indigenous communities remember their dead, disguise and dance for their dead.
I am from Mexico many people follow the traditions of our ancestors, especially in the villages they continue doing things of past years, such as celebrating the day of the dead, Christmas, New Year and many other things.
In my neighborhood there are people who have modernized the traditions, for example I have a friend who still puts ornaments for the festivities, but puts LED screens to decorate.
The only thing they still do in the place where I live is to make tortillas by hand, some merchants use carbon to heat their food.
People who live in Mexico generally follow some of the traditions of some years ago, although not all, and do not do them as before, since they change some or many things of what used to be done. In general, people living in big cities no longer continue betrayals, just as younger people do not usually do the same with older adults. Normally some traditions are the offering on the day of the dead or in ancient times several ceremonies were held towards some gods
Although the people where I live already use the technology that does not prevent them from following some traditions or certain ways of doing things as before. For example, sometimes they cook with coal, move on horses, grow their own vegetables. The festivities of the town is something that does not go unnoticed and is instilled in each of the new families
I'm from Mexico, in the neighborhood where I live the lifestyle is modern, but in some towns of Mexico the traditions of our ancestors are still preserved.
Please help me convert the following sentence into compound.
"Having sweet smell and beauty,We love it very much"
Dear Hossainbd3,
Here you go ... It has sweet smell and beauty, so we love it very much.
Best wishes, Tina (LearnEnglish Teens team)
It is depend.People do not change from traditional things even young people.We are getting more old way our country sink bottom of the ocean.Our change only thing is fashion cloth.People love traditional way because they don't think about what is a best for us.Most of people don't do new way.
Hello, I can't see the video. What is wrong?
Hi Lodestar,
Thanks for letting us know. I've just tried playing the video and it's working fine for me. Are you using Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari or another browser? Try using a different browser and see it that works. Are you having problems playing other videos on our site? If so, which ones?
Rachael
LearnEnglish Teens team
hi im Dani.. How to download those videos,please tell me?
Hi Ramdan,
We don't allow our videos to be downloaded. Sorry about that. You can watch them as much as you like online.
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
I have a question, when Sophie says "The amazing thing about these islands is THAT they are man-made", is "that" a relative pronoun? what is it? Thank you for you answer :)
Hi barbars,
That's a good question! In the example you give, that is being used as a conjunction - it's connecting the two parts of the sentence together. But sometimes that can be a relative pronoun and you can learn more about it in this grammar snack: http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/these-those
I hope this helps. Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
I´m from Ecuador, here! always we celebrate the day of the
"inty raymy" this is about sun, when planted around the year who gives us energy it is the sun.
Hi , here in Ecuador the people do not respect the tradition today. Sometimes, they even forget that in some places life still looks like before ages.
in Ecuador is traditional to drink "chicha", when some traditional groups of the regions "bring the chicha"
Here, in Ecuador, is very hard that the people accept the changes. Most of they prefer the old ways to do the things; is a archaic thinking to my opinion.
In costums, one that me likes very much is eat the "Colada morada" and the "Guagas de pan" are so tasty! It is celebrated on november 2th, in memory of our deceased.
I´m from Ecuador
When Easter arrives , all people cook fanesca that has 12 grains of our country
i´m fron ecuador in Easter in my country cooking Fanesca is very delicious !!
ere in Ecuador people celebrate the New Year with costumes and there are some puppets that are burned. Everyone has a tradition for it. There are a kind of people who likes to eat grapes, walk around with the bag, has a yellow underwear. They do all this things to have luck for the next year.
I am from Ecuador
people celebrate the Day of the Dead on November 2 ...
people cook bread and beverage
My neighbors and I are always those who clean the streets of the neighborhood and December are the ones who organize the Christmas entertainment for children.
Where I live still clean the streets every week and pray the novena every year.
Hello, Im new joint this website I want to improve my skill englis writing please guaid me where I should go and write something and I the best way which I like to help me is that when I write some paragraph I want to show me my grammatical mistakes accidentally please help me .im looking forward to hearing from your sooner .Thanks alot Lida
Hi Lida,
Welcome to LearnEnglish Teens. I'm sorry but we can't correct all the mistakes in the comments you write. We simply don't have time. Also, it's not necessary. We can understand your comments perfectly and you don't have to write perfect English to communicate. All practice is good practice!
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Hi there!
I think people do not respect the tradition today. Sometimes, they even forget that in some places life still looks like before ages.
Technology is necessary to live in our world. Kids having own mobile or tablet - it's everyday life. It makes people alienated. Nowadays there is no family celebrations like Christmas Eve dinner. Even watching movies with all family is going into oblivion. It is negative phenomenon in my opinion.
Iam from Afghanistan
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