B2 · Intermedio alto Capítulo 7

Connecting Information with Relative Clauses

5 Reglas totales
58 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of weaving complex ideas into elegant, concise English sentences.

  • Connect ideas using relative pronouns and adverbs.
  • Distinguish between essential and extra information with comma usage.
  • Condense complex thoughts by mastering reduced relative clauses.
Weave your thoughts into seamless, professional prose.

Lo que aprenderás

Ready to weave your ideas together more smoothly and concisely? This chapter empowers you to connect information elegantly, crafting tighter sentences by even shortening clauses. You'll soon express complex thoughts with newfound clarity and confidence.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use relative clauses to combine two separate sentences into one fluid statement.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

As a B2 English learner, you're past the basics and ready to truly refine your expression. This chapter is your key to unlocking a more sophisticated and natural way of speaking and writing, making your B2 English grammar shine. We're diving into English connecting information with relative clauses – a powerful tool that transforms choppy sentences into smooth, flowing prose.
Imagine being able to explain complex ideas or describe intricate scenarios with effortless clarity. That's what relative clauses offer!
You'll learn to weave details seamlessly, whether it's showing possession with whose, linking information to places, times, or reasons using where, when, and why, or distinguishing between essential and extra information with defining and non-defining clauses. We’ll even show you how to elegantly shorten your sentences by reducing relative clauses, making your speech and writing more concise and impactful. Plus, for those moments when you need to sound truly professional, we'll cover formal relative clause structures.
Get ready to express your thoughts with newfound precision and confidence!

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, a relative clause adds information about a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea) without starting a new sentence. It makes your English sound much more natural and less like a series of short, unconnected statements. Think of them as linguistic bridges.
We start with the basics: whose shows possession, just like his or her but within a clause. For example:
The student whose essay won the prize is incredibly talented.
Here, whose links the student to their essay. Next, relative adverbs (where, when, why) connect details to places, times, or reasons.
Instead of saying
I remember the restaurant. We had our first date there,
you can say
I remember the restaurant where we had our first date.
This is far more elegant and efficient.
The distinction between defining and non-defining relative clauses is crucial and often hinges on commas. A defining clause provides essential information to identify the noun – without it, the meaning changes or is unclear. For instance,
The car that is parked illegally will be towed.
(No commas, essential info).
A non-defining clause, on the other hand, adds extra, non-essential information and is always set off by commas.
My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting next week.
(With commas, 'who lives in Canada' is just additional detail; I only have one brother).
For even greater conciseness, you can often reduce relative clauses. If the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause and the verb is active, you can remove the pronoun and be verb (if present) and change the main verb to its present participle (-ing form).
The man who is standing near the door is my boss
becomes
The man standing near the door is my boss.
If passive, use the past participle:
The documents which were signed yesterday are ready
becomes
The documents signed yesterday are ready.
Finally, for a touch of formality, particularly in written English, you can shift prepositions to the beginning of the clause with 'which' or 'whom'.
Instead of
This is the problem that I referred to,
you can say
This is the problem to which I referred.
This instantly elevates your language.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Using who instead of whose for possession.
✗ "That's the student who grades are always top-notch."
✓ "That's the student whose grades are always top-notch."
Explanation: Whose is possessive, meaning belonging to whom or of which. Who is a subject pronoun.
  1. 1✗ Incorrect comma usage for defining and non-defining clauses.
✗
The book, that I borrowed from you, was excellent.
✓
The book that I borrowed from you was excellent.
(Defining – essential information to identify *which* book)
✓
My old car, which was quite reliable, finally broke down.
(Non-defining – 'which was quite reliable' is extra info about *my old car*, already identified)
Explanation: That is typically used for defining clauses (no commas). Which can be used for both, but for non-defining clauses (with commas), which is the only correct choice.
  1. 1✗ Incorrectly reducing clauses, especially in the passive voice.
✗
The report sending to the client needs final approval.
✓
The report sent to the client needs final approval.
Explanation: The report isn't sending itself (active); it is sent (passive). When reducing a passive relative clause, use the past participle.

Real Conversations

A

A

Did you hear about Sarah, whose presentation at the conference was a huge success?
B

B

"Yes! I saw the venue where it took place. It was massive! She mentioned it's a topic to which many people can relate."
A

A

"I'm looking for the cafe that serves the best coffee downtown. Do you know it?"
B

B

"You mean 'The Daily Grind,' which is on Elm Street? It's really good. The barista making your coffee often has cool tattoos."
A

A

Remember that old movie theater where we used to go as kids?
B

B

Oh, the one whose marquee was always flashing? They tore it down last year, which was a real shame.

Quick FAQ

Q

Is that always interchangeable with which in defining relative clauses?

In informal English, yes, that and which are often interchangeable for things in defining clauses. However, that is generally preferred, especially for objects. For people, use who or that. Remember, for non-defining clauses (with commas), you *must* use which for things, and who for people.

Q

Can I always reduce a relative clause?

Not always. You can only reduce a relative clause if the relative pronoun (who, which, that) is the subject of the clause and the verb is active (use -ing) or passive (use past participle). You cannot reduce clauses where the relative pronoun is the object (e.g.,

The book that I read was good
).

Q

What's the main difference between where and in which?

Both can indicate location. Where is a more common and informal relative adverb. In which is a more formal and often more precise structure, especially common in academic or formal writing. For example,

The city where I live is bustling
vs.
The study described the conditions in which the experiment was conducted.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers frequently use these structures to create flow and avoid repetitive sentences. While formal structures like to whom or in which are common in academic writing or official communications, everyday conversation often opts for simpler phrasing (
the person I spoke to
instead of
the person to whom I spoke
). Reduced relative clauses are particularly prevalent in both spoken and written English, making communication more efficient and dynamic.
Mastering these nuances will help you sound truly fluent and adaptable in various contexts.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

I have a friend whose brother is a famous musician.

Tengo un amigo cuyo hermano es un músico famoso.

Whose: Mostrando Posesión
2

She found a dog whose collar had a phone number.

Encontró un perro cuyo collar tenía un número de teléfono.

Whose: Mostrando Posesión
3

The coffee shop where we study has the best Wi-Fi.

La cafetería donde estudiamos tiene el mejor Wi-Fi.

Adverbios Relativos (donde, cuando, por qué)
4

I remember the exact moment when the idea finally clicked.

Recuerdo el momento exacto cuando la idea finalmente encajó.

Adverbios Relativos (donde, cuando, por qué)
5

The dog `running` in the park is super fast.

El perro corriendo en el parque es súper rápido.

Acorta tus frases: Cláusulas de relativo reducidas
6

The email `sent` yesterday got lost in spam.

El correo electrónico enviado ayer se perdió en el spam.

Acorta tus frases: Cláusulas de relativo reducidas
7

The document `to which` the legal team referred contained crucial evidence.

El documento al que se refirió el equipo legal contenía pruebas cruciales.

Cláusulas de Relativo Formales (en el cual, a quien)
8

She is the expert `from whom` I sought advice on the subject.

Ella es la experta a quien le pedí consejo sobre el tema.

Cláusulas de Relativo Formales (en el cual, a quien)

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

¡Haz la prueba del 'who is'!

Si puedes cambiar 'whose' por 'who is' o 'who has' y la frase sigue teniendo sentido, usa 'who's' con apóstrofe. Si no, necesitas whose: "Who's coming to the party?"
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posesión
💡

Piensa en 'lugar, tiempo, razón'

Si el sustantivo que describes es un sitio, momento o motivo, usa estos adverbios directamente: "It's better than using 'which' or 'that'."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adverbios Relativos (donde, cuando, por qué)
💡

La prueba de 'Eliminar'

Si quitas la parte de la frase y el mensaje principal sigue siendo igual de claro, necesitas comas. Mira este ejemplo:
My mother, who is 60, loves gardening.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de Relativo Especificativas vs. Explicativas (Comas y Significado)
💡

¡Busca el verbo 'Be'!

Para reducir, primero identifica si hay un verbo 'be' (is, are, was, were) seguido de un gerundio o participio:
The man who is standing there.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Acorta tus frases: Cláusulas de relativo reducidas

Vocabulario clave (5)

antecedent the word a pronoun refers back to restrictive essential for meaning (defining) non-restrictive providing extra information (non-defining) participle verb form used in reduced clauses prepositional relating to prepositions

Real-World Preview

users

The Networking Event

Review Summary

  • Noun + whose + noun
  • Noun + where/when/why
  • Noun, [extra info], verb
  • Noun + [V-ing/V3]
  • Preposition + whom/which

Errores comunes

Do not use a personal pronoun after 'whose'. 'Whose' already functions as the possessive pronoun.

Wrong: The woman who her bag was stolen.
Correcto: The woman whose bag was stolen.

When using a formal structure, the preposition moves before the pronoun, and the redundant pronoun at the end is removed.

Wrong: The house that I live in it.
Correcto: The house in which I live.

Do not repeat the subject after a relative clause. The relative pronoun is already the subject.

Wrong: My brother, who lives in London, he is a doctor.
Correcto: My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor.

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job navigating these complex structures. Keep practicing, and you will see your fluency soar!

Write a short biography of a famous person using all relative clause types.

Continue to: Habla con fluidez: El arte de los verbos y sus secretos

Práctica rápida (10)

¿Cuál de estas oraciones es gramaticalmente correcta?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The car that was stolen was a red sedan.
Necesitamos saber *cuál* coche fue robado para que la frase tenga sentido, así que es una cláusula definitiva sin comas.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de Relativo Especificativas vs. Explicativas (Comas y Significado)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

The colleague to who I spoke yesterday provided valuable feedback.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The colleague to whom I spoke yesterday provided valuable feedback.
Después de una preposición como 'to', se debe usar el caso objetivo 'whom', no 'who'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas de Relativo Formales (en el cual, a quien)

Elige la palabra correcta para completar la oración.

That's the student ___ project won first prize.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: whose
'Whose' es la forma posesiva, indicando que el proyecto pertenece al estudiante. 'Who's' significa 'who is' o 'who has'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posesión

¿Qué oración usa 'whose' correctamente?

Elige la opción correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She's the artist whose work I admire.
No necesitas 'her' después de 'whose' porque 'whose' ya indica posesión. 'Who's' es incorrecto aquí.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posesión

Elige la forma correcta para completar esta oración formal.

The university building ___ many important lectures are held was recently renovated.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: in which
Para cláusulas relativas formales que se refieren a un lugar, 'in which' es la opción más formal y correcta. 'In that' es incorrecto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cláusulas de Relativo Formales (en el cual, a quien)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

The car damaging in the accident needed repairs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The car damaged in the accident needed repairs.
El coche no 'daña', sino que 'fue dañado'. Por eso necesitamos el participio pasado 'damaged'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Acorta tus frases: Cláusulas de relativo reducidas

¿Qué oración usa correctamente una cláusula de relativo reducida?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The package delivered yesterday arrived late.
El paquete 'fue entregado' (acción pasiva), así que usamos el participio pasado 'delivered'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Acorta tus frases: Cláusulas de relativo reducidas

Elige el pronombre relativo y la puntuación correcta.

The book ___ I finished yesterday was a real page-turner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
La cláusula 'I finished yesterday' es esencial para saber de qué libro hablas, por eso no lleva comas y 'that' es perfecto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Oraciones de Relativo Especificativas vs. Explicativas (Comas y Significado)

Encuentra y corrige el error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Tuesday is the day where we have our team meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tuesday is the day when we have our team meeting.
El sustantivo 'day' se refiere a un tiempo, así que debemos usar 'when' en lugar de 'where'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adverbios Relativos (donde, cuando, por qué)

Elige el adverbio relativo correcto.

This is the restaurant ___ we celebrated our anniversary.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: where
El sustantivo 'restaurant' indica un lugar, por lo que 'where' es el adverbio correcto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adverbios Relativos (donde, cuando, por qué)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

'Whose' es un pronombre relativo posesivo que muestra pertenencia o una relación cercana entre dos sustantivos. Ayuda a que tus frases fluyan mejor, como en:
The artist whose painting sold...
¡Claro que sí! Aunque solemos asociarlo con personas, es gramaticalmente correcto usarlo para objetos o conceptos inanimados:
the company whose technology...
Es una palabra que introduce una cláusula para darnos detalles sobre un lugar, tiempo o razón. Piensa en ello como un combo de pronombre y preposición:
This is the place where I work.
Porque suenan mucho más naturales y directos. Es más fluido decir
the house where I live
que el formal
the house in which I live.
La clave está en si la información es necesaria para saber de qué hablamos. Si define al objeto, es 'defining'; si solo añade un dato curioso, es 'non-defining'. Por ejemplo:
The man who called you is here.
Usa comas cuando el sustantivo ya está identificado, como un nombre propio o algo único. Piensa en las comas como paréntesis que añaden algo extra:
My father, who is a doctor, is retired.
Capítulo anterior
¡Haz que tu inglés brille con detalle y énfasis!
Siguiente capítulo
Habla con fluidez: El arte de los verbos y sus secretos
Volver a la hoja de ruta