Relative clauses (2)

UNIT 85 Relative clauses (2) clauses with or without who/that

A.   Look again at these examples from the last unit:

• The man who lives next door is very friendly. (or that lives)

• Where are the eggs that were in the refrigerator? (or which were)

In these who and that subjects of the in the relative clauses: the man lives next door, the eggs were in the refrigerator. You cannot leave out who or that in these sentences
Sometimes who and that are objects of the verbs:

the man - I wanted to see (him) - was away on vacation
                                                 ||
The man                              (who) (or that) I wanted to see was away on vacation.

have you found the keys? you lost them
                                                                 ||
Have you found the keys                 (that) you lost?

When who or that are objects of the verbin the relative clause, you can leave them out: 

• The man I wanted to see was away on vacation. (but not The man I wanted to see him was away on vacation.)

• Have you found the keys you lost? (but not Have you found the keys you lost them)

• The dress Ann bought doesn't fit her very well, (= the dress that Ann bought)

• The woman Jerry is going to marry is Mexican (= the woman who/that Jerry is going to marry)

• Is there anything I can do? (= is there anything that I can do?)                       

B.   There are often prepositions (in/at/with, etc.) in relative clauses. Study the position of the prepositions in these sentences:

do you know the girl? -Tom is talking                       (to) her
                                                                                            ||
Do you know the girl (who/that) Tom is talking (to)?

the bed -I slept             (in) it last night - wasn't very comfortable.
                                          ||
The bed (that) I slept (in) last night wasn't very comfortable.

• The man (who/that)Isat next to on the plane talked all the time.

• Are these the books (that) you have been looking for?

• The girl (who/that) he fell in love with left him after a few weeks.

C.   You cannot use what instead of that:

• Everything (that) he said was true. (not everything what he said)

• I gave her all the money (that) I had. (not all . . . what I had)

What= the thing(s) that:

• Did you hear what I said? (= the words that I said)

• I won't tell anyone what happened (= the thing that happened)