Relative Clauses- The Grammar Gameshow Episode 11

Hello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow! I’m your host, Will! But I’m no measure of intention! And of course, let’s not forget Leslie, our all-knowing voice in the sky. Hello, everyone! Tonight we’re going to be asking you three questions about… Relative clauses! That useful grammar that allows you to modify a noun! OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants! Hello, all. My name’s Levington! And contestant number two? Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Kate! Great! Nice to see you again, Levington. Let’s get going, and don’t forget you can play along at home too. Our first round is a quick-fire round. Look at this picture, and complete the sentence with the correct relative pronoun. Here we go! This is a guy

spoke to me on the bus. Who. This is a guy who spoke to me on the bus. Correct! These are the trees

I planted last year. Which. These are the trees which I planted last year. Correct! That is the lady

I saw eating lunch. ‘Who’ again. That is the lady who I saw eating lunch. Correct! Here is the building

is in the middle of town. Which. Here is the building which is in the middle of town. Correct! Well done both of you! And for a bonus point, tell me in which of these sentences can the relative pronoun ‘who’ or ‘which’ be replaced with ‘that’? All of them! Correct! Leslie? Good job. Defining relative clauses such as these specify which noun we are talking about. They use the relative pronouns ‘who’ and ‘which’. ‘Who’ is for people, and ‘which’ is for things. However, in this type of relative clause, both ‘who’ and ‘which’ can always be replaced by ‘that’. Just remember, it’s a bit less formal. Levington, four points for you. And Kate, it’s ladies’ night at my favourite club so eight points for you! Why is that important? Oh, Levington. I see chivalry truly is dead. I suppose you don’t give up your seat to a lady on the bus either. Minus two points for you . No, no! Question two. In addition to ‘who’, ‘that’ and ‘which’, the relative pronoun ‘whose’ can also be used. But why is ‘whose’ different to ‘who’, ‘which’ and ‘that’? Look at this sentence and tell me. I have a friend whose car is a Ferrari. ‘Whose’ is different because it describes a possession. Unlike ‘who’, ‘which’ and ‘that’, it cannot be used without being followed by a noun. Leslie? Right again, Levington! ‘Whose’ is a determiner, like ‘my’ or ‘your’. Despite being a relative pronoun, it must be followed by a noun. We cannot say, ‘I have a friend whose is a Ferrari’. It must be ‘whose car is a Ferrari’. Well done, Levington. However, this is a negative points round. Minus six points to you. Oh! I would graciously like to give my points for this round to Kate. That’s very gentlemanly of you! And because it’s ladies’ night, all her points are increased, so Kate, Levington gives you 100 points! But… It’s time for our last question. Look at these four sentences and tell me in which two the relative pronoun can be left out. Leslie: I’ve never seen a man who can dance like him. He met a friend who he invited to lunch. Libraries are buildings that lend you books. It’s definitely a job which I wouldn’t want to do. b) He met a friend he invited to lunch. And, d) It’s definitely a job I wouldn’t want to do. Leslie? You’re dead right, Kate. When the relative pronoun represents the object of the relative clause, such as in sentences b) and d), it can be left out. However, if it represents the subject of the relative clause, such as in a) and c), it cannot be left out. Well done Kate! Another hundred points to you. I’d like to give them to Levington. He’s doing so badly. I think he needs the help. So generous of you! Very well! Levington, Kate gives you the points. You get five points! Well that brings us to the end of today’s Grammar Gameshow. Let’s count out the points… and the winner is… Lockdown! Well, I never! It’s a lockdown! That means no winner is declared this show and we have to wait until next time to play again! Kate and Levington will both be staying here until the next show. What!? Oh, don’t worry. It doesn’t get that cold in here over the weekend, or so I’m told anyway. I’m off home. Say goodbye, Leslie! Adios, Leslie!