Chuyên đề: SOME METHODS AND EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING RELATIVE CLAUSES

Definition: A relative clause is a kind of subordinate clause that generally modifies a noun or noun phrase and is introduced by a relative pronoun which, that, who, whom, whose, a relat

Chuyên đề Tiếng Anh:

MỘT SỐ PHƯƠNG PHÁP VÀ KINH NGHIỆM DẠY

MỆNH ĐỀ QUAN HỆ (SOME METHODS AND EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING

RELATIVE CLAUSES)

Tác giả: Ninh Thị Khánh Nguyệt Giáo viên trường: THPT Quang Hà Đối tượng bồi dưỡng: Học sinh lớp 12

Số tiết dự kiến: 08 tiết

Bình Xuyên, năm 2015

Nowadays, English is more and more important, especially since Vietnam

has opened the economic and integrated to the world Therefore, learning

English is very necessary for all Vietnamese students It is not only thecompulsory subject at school but also an important device for school boys andgirls to join in the world with confidence In fact, the parents tend to providetheir children with a good English background knowledge It is quiteunderstandable However, the interest of learning English is not the same foreach student For students at my school, many of them find English verydifficult to adapt and feel unconfident when each exam comes Therefore, as ateacher of English I always try to design attractive lessons and activities to getmore attention and develop interest in learning English among students From

my point of view, it is needed that students should have a thoroughunderstanding of grammar while practicing every English skills and taking theexams

During a period of seven years in my teaching job, I’ve realized thatrelative clauses is one of important grammatical units which have presented inthe national exams for GCSE Only by having a particular grasp of relativeclauses can the students do relative clauses exercises well So, I would like to

share “Some methods and experience in teaching relative clauses” with the

hope that we can exchange and discuss to get a better major applied effectively

in our teaching careers Looking forward to getting responds from all of you

Thanks a lot!

In this writing, there are four parts:

Part 1: A summary of relative clauses

Part 2: Some popular types of exercises and suggestions

Part 3: Exercises and suggested answers

Part 4: Exercises for self-study

PART 1: A SUMMARY OF RELATIVE CLAUSES

I Definition:

A relative clause is a kind of subordinate clause that generally modifies

a noun or noun phrase and is introduced by a relative pronoun (which, that, who,

whom, whose), a relative adverb (where, when, why), or a zero relative It is also

known as an adjective clause

A relative clause is a post modifier and it follows the noun or noun phrase it modifies

Example: The person who phoned me last night is my teacher.

Relative clause

II Uses of relative pronouns and relative adverbs in relative clauses:

Look at the table below that sums up the use of relative pronouns and relativeadverbs:

Function in

the

sentence

Reference to People Things/

concepts

Subject who, that which, that

Object that, who,

whom

which, that where when why

Possessive whose whose, of

which

1 Who:

We use who in relative clauses to refer to people We use it to introduce defining

and non-defining relative clauses

We use whom in formal styles or in writing to refer to people when the person is

the object of the verb It is much more common in writing than in speaking

Ex:

- The response of those managers whom I have consulted has been very positive

and we are looking forward to meeting together

- She was a celebrated actress whom he had known and loved since her first

appearance on the stage.

- You need to tick the box which says yes (defining)

- This cat, which I recently bought, is a tri-colored cat (non-defining)

- She had to get up and walk all the way to the other side of the room,

which isn’t easy with a bad back (which refers to the whole sentence before it)

4 That

We use that instead of who, whom or which in relative clauses to refer to people, animals and things We use it to introduce defining clauses only That is more informal than who, whom or which.

Ex:

- We met somebody last night that did the speech therapy course two years after

you (refers to a person)

- The 8.30 is the train that you need to get (refers to a thing)

- She blamed herself for everything that had happened.

5 Whose

We usually use whose as a relative pronoun to indicate possession by people and

animals In more formal styles we can also use it for things

We use whose before nouns instead of a possessive expression (my, your, his,

her, its, our, their, X’s) in defining and non-defining clauses.

Ex:

- He’s marrying a girl whose family don’t seem to like him (The family of the

girl he’s marrying don’t seem to like him.)

- There was me and there was Kate, whose party it was, and then there were two

other people (It was Kate’s party.)

- It is a house, whose sitting room looks out over a wonderful garden (The

sitting room of the house looks out over a wonderful garden.)

6 Where = in/ on/ at which

The relative adverb where is used after nouns that refer to places.

Ex:

- The house where/ in which Mozart was born is now a museum (defining

relative clause)

- I flew to Munich, where/ in which I had to catch another plane to Oslo

(non-defining relative clause)

7 When = in/ on/ at which

The relative adverb when is used after nouns that refer to times and dates.

Ex:

- I can't remember the time when/ at which I was so happy (defining relative

clause)

- The most stressful day of the week is Monday, when/ on which people go back

to work (non-defining relative clause)

8 Why = for which

The relative adverb why is used after reason.

Ex:

- The reason why/ for which I didn't call you is that I've lost your phone

number (only in defining relative clauses)

9 Some notes:

* We use that to refer to the noun phrases containing person and things,

indefinite pronouns nothing, everything, something, anything…, after all, little, much, none and after the superlative comparison.

Ex:

- We can saw farmers and cattles that are going to the field.

- He just said anything that came into his head.

- These walls are all that remain of the city.

- My mother is one of the kindest people that I know.

* In defining relative clause, the relative pronouns used as objects (who, whom,

which, that) can be omitted.

Ex:

- The boy we are looking for is Tom

- The cat I recently bought is a tri-colored cat.

* We can use of which to indicate possession by things.

Ex: He has written a book whose name I have forgot.

= He has written a book the name of which I have forgot.

III Kinds of relative clauses:

There are two kinds of relative clauses: defining relative clause and

non-defining relative clause

1 Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses (also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive

relative clauses) give detailed information defining a general term or expression

or provide essential information about the noun to which they refer If they wereleft out, the sentence would not make sense

Defining relative clauses are not put in commas

Ex: Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?

- Defining relative clauses are used when nouns or noun phrases they refer to are:

+ The + noun

+ a/ an + noun

+ Plural nouns without the

+ Pronouns: all, those, none, anybody, …

- Defining relative clauses are often used in definitions

Ex: A seaman is someone who works on a ship.

- Object pronouns in defining relative clauses can be dropped

Ex: The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.

2 Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative

clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses) give additional information on

something, but do not define it If they were left out, the sentence would still make perfect sense Non-defining relative clauses are put in commas

Ex: Do you know that girl, who is talking to Tom?

- Non- defining relative clauses are used when nouns or noun phrases they refer

to are:

+ Proper nouns

+ Nouns with this, that, these, those

+ Nouns with possessive adjectives my, her, his, Lan’s, …

+ Nouns for the unique things such as: The Sun, the Moon, the Earth, ….

- In non-defining relative clauses, who/which may not be replaced by that.

- Object pronouns in non-defining relative clauses must be used

Ex: Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.

- In non-defining relative clauses, which can be used to refer to the whole

sentence

Ex: It rained all night, which was good for the garden.

IV Prepositions in relative clauses

There are often prepositions in relative clauses, and a relative pronoun is the object of that preposition

1 In everyday English, the preposition is normally placed at the end of the

relative clause and the pronoun may be included or omitted

Ex: The picture (that/ which) she was looking at was famous.

2 In formal English, the preposition is placed before the relative pronoun, and in

this case the pronoun cannot be omitted.

Ex: Mr Pike, to whom I spoke on the phone last night, is very interested in our

plan

3 In non-defining relative clauses, the expressions of quantity all of, most of,

neither of, many of,… can be used with whom, which and whose

Ex:

- Two women, neither of whom I had never seen before, came into my flat.

- The baby has a Teddy bear, both of whose eyes were missing.

4 Some notes:

- Preposition can’t be used before that and who

Ex: The girl who we are talking about is my boss’s daughter.

( NOT: The girl about who we are talking about is my boss’s daughter.)

- For phrasal verbs, prepositions can’t be used before whom and which.

Ex: Did you find the word which/ that you were looking up.

( NOT: Did you find the word up which you are looking.)

- Without can’t be used after verbs.

Ex: The woman without whom I can’t live is Ann.

(NOT: The woman whom I can’t live without is Ann.)

V Reduced form of relative clauses

Relative clauses can be reduced by using participle phrases, noun phrases or

infinitive phrases

1 Participle phrases:

Relative clauses can be reduced by using present participle (V-ing) and past

participle (V-ed/ V3)

a Present participle (V-ing) is used when:

- Verbs in relative clauses in continuous tenses

Ex: The boy who is playing football with me is my cousin.

→The boy playing football with me is my cousin

- Verbs in relative clauses express the actions happening regularly and

continually

Ex: The boys and girls who attend this school have to wear uniform.

→ The boys and girls attending this school have to wear uniform

- Verbs in relative clauses refer to hope, wishes or expectations…

Ex: Fans who hope to meet their idol have been waiting for two hours

→ Fans hoping to meet their idol have been waiting for two hours

- We don’t use present participle for simple action in the past

Ex: The police wanted to interview the people who saw the accident.

(NOT: The police wanted to interview the people seeing the accident.)

b Past participle is used when verbs in relative clauses in passive form.

Ex: Some of the people who have been invited to the party can’t come.

→ Some of the people invited to the party can’t come

2 Noun phrases

Non-defining relative clause can be reduced by noun phrases

Ex: George Washington, who was the first president of the United States, was a

general in the army

→ George Washington, the first president of the United States, was a general

in the army

3 Infinitive phrases

Defining relative clauses can be reduced by infinitive phrases (To-V or for + O

+ to-V) To-V can be used:

- After first, second,… last, next, only and superlatives.

Ex:

- Minh was the last student who left the classroom

→ Minh was the last student to leave the classroom

- The guest on our show today is the youngest golfer who won the Open

→ The guest on our show today is the youngest golfer to win the Open

- When expressing purpose and permission.

Ex: Here is the form that you must fill in.

→ Here is the form for you to fill in

- Note: When verbs in relative clause in passive form, we use to be PII.

Ex: Tom was the last person who was interviewed for the vacancy.

→ Tom was the last person to be interviewed for the vacancy

PART 2: SOME TYPES OF RELATIVE CLAUSES EXERCISES

I Put in relative pronouns or relative adverbs to complete the sentences.

For this type of exercise, students need:

- Determine the referred phrase: person or things

- Determine the function of relative pronouns or adverbs: subject, object, or

possession,… and choose a suitable pronoun or adverb

II Combine the two sentences using a relative pronoun or relative adverb

For this type of exercise, students need:

- Determine main clause and subordinate clause

- Find the two words or phrases in two sentences which have the same meaning

- Determine the function of the word or phrases

- Choose a suitable pronouns or adverb to combine the two sentences

III Reduced relative clauses exercises

For this type of exercise, students need:

- Determine relative clause

- Choose present participle (V-ing), past participle (V-ed/ V3), noun phrases, or infinitive phrases (To-V, for Obj to-V or tobe PII) to reduce relative clause.

IV Find and correct the mistakes

Find the mistakes about relative clauses They may be:

- Use wrong kind of relative pronouns or relative adverbs

- Verbs after relative clauses in incorrect form

- Preposition in relative clauses is placed at unsuitable position

- Make mistake when reducing relative clauses

Students need to look carefully the sentences, find the mistakes and correct them.

V Multiple choice exercises

For this kind of exercise, students can apply above methods flexibly

PART 3: SOME EXERCISES AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS

Ex 1: (Textbook English 12 – page 70) Add who, whoever, whose, whom, or

which to complete the following sentences

1 There is one person ……… I owe more than I can say

2 It was the kind of accident for ……… nobody was really to blame

3 ………… leaves last should turn off the light

4 Mary was late yesterday, ……… was unusual for her

5 At 6.00 pm, ………… was an hour before the plane was due, thick fog descended

6 I don’t know ………… told you that, but they were wrong

7 Mrs Brown was the first owner ………… dog won three prizes in the

same show

8 I’ve just spoken to Sally, ………… sends you her love

9 On Sunday, ……… was my birthday, we went out for a meal

10 The success of a shared holiday depends on ……… you share with it

Ex 2: (Textbook English 12 – page 70) Join the following sentences in two ways

1 I read a book It was written by a friend of mine

………

country.

………

Suggested answers:

1 I read a book that was written by a friend of mine

- I read a book written by a friend of mine

2 A man who was carrying a lot of money in a box got on the bus

- A man carrying a lot of money in a box got on the bus

3 In the street there were several people who were waiting for the shop to open

- In the street there were several people waiting for the shop to open

4 Britain imports many cars which that were made in Japan

- Britain imports many cars made in Japan

5 There are a lot of people in your office who want to talk to you

- There are a lot of people in your office wanting to talk to you

6 The cowboy who had been wounded by an arrow fell off his horse

- The cowboy wounded by an arrow fell off ms horse

7 Most of the people who were injured in the crash recovered quickly

- Most of the people injured in the crash recovered quickly

8 John, who wished he hadn't come to the party, looked anxiously at his watch

- John, wishing he hadn't come to the party, looked anxiously at his watch

9 The children who were playing football in the schoolyard were my students

- The children playing football in the schoolyard were my students

10 Vietnam exports a lot of rice which is grown mainly in the south of thecountry

- Vietnam exports a lot of rice grown mainly in the south of the country

Ex 3: Reduced relative clauses using V- ing, V-ed/ V3 or To V

1 There is someone who is knocking at the door

………

2 Passengers who travel on planes shouldn’t smoke

………