Prepositions with relative clauses

 

When prepositions are used with relative clauses they usually come at the end of the clause in spoken

English:

e.g. You may have a neighbour that you can rely on. (informal)

 

In formal style the preposition can be placed before the relative pronouns which or whom: e.g. I was unsuccessful in obtaining a place at any of the universities to which I applied. My boss, for whom I have worked for over 30 years, has decided to retire.

 

1. Rewrite the sentences below as single ones using non-defining relative clauses.

 

1. My father lives in a small house full of ornaments. This makes it really difficult to clean.

 

My father lives in a small house full of ornaments, which makes it really difficult to clean.

 

2. Some students take a year out before university. This allows them to work or travel. Some students_______________________________________________.

 

3. The Guggenheim Museum is in Bilbao. It only displays contemporary art. The Guggenheim Museum,____________________________________.

 

94

4. My English teacher is leaving. His lectures are very interesting.

 

My English teacher,__________________________________________.

 

5. The lecture was about current economic policy. It was not very easy to understand. The lecture_________________________________________________.

 

6. In 1951 my parents arrived in New York. They stayed there for the rest of their lives.

 

My parents arrived in New York_________________________________.

 

7. I gave my assignment to the faculty secretary. She was not very friedly.

I gave my assignmet___________________________________________.

 

2. In this exercise you have to explain what some words mean. Choose the right meaning from the box and then write a sentence with who. Use a dictionary if necessary.

 

	steals from a shop		buys something from a shop
he/she	designs buildings	he/she	pays rent to live in a house or flat
	doesn’t believe in God		breaks into a house to steal things
	is not brave		expects the worst to happen

 

1. (an architect) An architect is someone who designs buildings.

2. (a burglar) A burglar is someone _____________________________.

 

3. (a customer) _____________________________________________.

4. (a shoplifter) _____________________________________________.

5. (a coward) _______________________________________________.

6. (an atheist) _______________________________________________.

7. (a pessimist) ______________________________________________.

8. (a tenant) ________________________________________________.

 

3. Complete the sentences. Choose the best ending from the box and change it into a relative clause.

 

he invented the telephone	it makes furniture
she runs away from home	it gives you the meaning of words
they stole my car	it can support life
they were on the wall	it cannot be explained

 

1. Barbara works for a company that makes furniture.

2. The book is about a girl _____________________________________.

3. What happened to the pictures ________________________________?

 

4. A mystery is something______________________________________.

5. The police have caught the men _______________________________.

6. A dictionary is a book _______________________________________.

7. Alexander Bell was the man __________________________________.

8. It seems that the earth is the only planet _________________________.

 

95

4. Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.

 

1. I don’t like stories who have unhappy endings. stories that have

2. What was the name of the person who phoned you? Ok

3. Where is the nearest shop who sells newspapers? _________________

4. The driver which caused the accident was fined £500. _____________

5. Do you know the person that took these photographs? _____________

 

6. We live in a world what is changing all the time. _________________

7. Dan said some things about me that were not true. ________________

8. What was the name of the horse it won the race? _________________

 

5. Complete each sentence using a relative clause with a preposition. Choose from the box.

 

we went to a party last night I work with some people

 

you were looking for some books we were invited to a wedding

 

 

you can rely on Gary

I applied for a job

 

I saw you with a man you told me about a hotel

 

 

1. Are these the books you were looking for?

2. Unfortunately we couldn’t go to the wedding ______________________.

3. I enjoy my job. I like the people ________________________________.

4. What’s the name of that hotel __________________________________?

5. The party _____________________________ wasn’t very enjoyable.

 

6. I didn’t get the job ___________________________________________.

7. Gary is a good person to know. He’s somebody ____________________.

8. Who was that man ___________________________ in the restaurant?

 

Conditionals