Vypracoval: Miroslav Kováč
Defining relative clauses and nondefining relative clauses.
Relative clauses are very often a reason for people to make mistakes in their writing because they get confused by the Slovak rules in writing. The main problem is the comma. It‘s necessary to realize the true meaning of the desired sentence and then decide whether the comma is needed or not.
Defining relative clause
This clause gives us further description of the subject. Commas are not used in front of the linking words nor after the clause.
My sister who lives in Spain has two children.
We can (should) understand that I have more sisters but the one who lives in Spain has two children. Túto vetu by sme mali porozumieť tak, že mám viac sestier a práve tá, ktorá žije v Španielsku, má dve deti.
Would you be so kind to hand me the book that’s on the table? Bol by si taky láskavý a podal mi tú knihu, čo je na stole?
There are more books all over the room but I only want the one on the table.
Chcem knihu, ktorá je na stole, ale v miestnosti môže byť porozhadzovaných viac kníh.
We can use both which, who and that in the meaning of ktorý in defining relative clauses.
It isn’t always necessary to use which, who, what, that etc because the meaning stays the same even without these.
The teacher I wanted to talk to went away. = The teacher who I wanted to talk to went away.
One thing I really hate to do is the washing up. = One thing that/which I really hate to do is the washing up.
V defining relative clause nepíšeme čiarky a opisuje bližšie podmet, predmet, osobu či vec, o ktorej sa bavíme. Taktiež môžme použiť which, who a that vo význame ktorý. Which sa vzťahuje na veci a zvieratá, who sa vzťahuje na osoby. Podobne ako môžme v slovenčine niekedy ktorý vynechať, takisto to platí aj v angličtine bez zmeny významu vety.
Nondefining relative clause – extra information
This clause provides us with extra unnecessary information and is separated by commas from the rest of the sentence.
My sister, who lives in Spain, has two children.
This sentence tells us that i have only one sister with two children and, by the way, she happens to live in Spain and this piece of information wasn‘t necessary but extra, the main point of the sentence were her two children.
Táto veta nám oznamuje, že mám len jednu sestru a tá má dve deti a na dôvažok sa dozvedáme extra informáciu, že žije v Španielku, no nosná informácia vety je, že má dve deti.
My friend Carl, who has a new car, is coming tonight for a visit.
Cathy told me about her new relationship, which (not that) she is enjoying very much.
Carl is coming to visit me tonight – that’s the main information, his new car is an extra piece of information and can be left out. Cathy has a new relationship she told me about and it is pleasant that she’s enjoying it but unnecessary for me to know.
It is very important to remember that can’t be used in this type of clause and the comma can’t be in front of that.
Nondefining relative clause nám sprostredkováva extra informácie, ktoré nie sú nutné, a tak by bez nich veta nestratila svoj význam. V posledných dvoch modelových vetách to môžme vidieť na Carlovom novom aute, ktoré nie je vo vete podstatné podobne ako vedľajšia informácia, že Cathy sa teší zo svojho nového vzťahu.
Je mimoriadne dôležité pamätať na fakt, že v tomto type relative clause nemôže byť použité that, ale smieme použiť who vo vzťahu k ľuďom, which pre veci a zvieratá, where, whom, whose, why.
A widow is a woman .... husband is dead.
whom
whose
which
that
Nick was very ill and couldn’t come, .... was a pity.
who
that
which
why
b
c