Unit 19
Subject and object relative pronouns
Relative clauses usually begin w ith a relative pronoun. The relative pronoun acts as the subject
or object of the clause.
Subject relative clauses do not need a new subject as the pronoun acts as the subject:
Jacob is the only person who can feed the lions.
Who is the subject of the relative clause. (Jacob can feed the lions)
Object relative clauses need a new subject as the pronoun re Dresents the object:
The penguins were the best anim als that I saw at the zoo.
That refers to
penguins, so we m ust add a subject (/) fo r the relative clause (I saw the penguins at
the zoo).
Shortening relative clauses
The follow ing are ways in w hich a relative clause can be reduced:
1
A relative pronoun + verb can be replaced w ith a participle:
The cat spits at anyone who approaches it. = The cat spits at anyone approaching it.
2 For passive constructions, the relative pronoun + verb
to be can be removed to leave the past
participle:
The man who w as injured in the tig e r attack w ent to hospital.
