19 Wildlife
R elative clau se s
The ze b ra s w hich are next to the lake are a
new addition to o u r safari park.
The zebras, w hich are next to the lake, are a
new addition to o u r safari park.
Defining relative clauses
A defining relative clause is used to give
essential inform ation about the person, place o r thing.
W ithout the defining relative clause the sentence does not have enough meaning, fo r example:
Animals are called wild animals.
This sentence does not have enough inform ation because not a ll anim als are called w ild anim als.
A nim als which live in a non-dom esticated environm ent are called w ild anim als.
The relative clause here gives the sentence meaning. We now know
which anim als.
Defining relative clauses are often used in definitions (for example the clause above defines w ild
animals).
Relative pronouns for defining relative clauses: who (person, subject),
whom (person, object)
which
(thing),
whose (possessive). Also
when (time),
where (place),
why (after the word
reason) can be used.
That can be used in place of the above relative pronouns (except
whose} in defining relative clauses.
