B2 · Intermediário superior Capítulo 7

Connecting Information with Relative Clauses

5 Regras totais
58 exemplos
6 min
Regras neste capítulo Prática 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.

O que você vai aprender

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.

Guia do 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.

Exemplos-chave (6)

1

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

A cafeteria onde estudamos tem o melhor Wi-Fi.

Advérbios Relativos (onde, quando, por que)
2

I remember the exact moment when the idea finally clicked.

Eu lembro o momento exato quando a ideia finalmente fez sentido.

Advérbios Relativos (onde, quando, por que)
3

The student who submitted their assignment on time got extra points.

O aluno que entregou o trabalho no prazo ganhou pontos extras.

Orações Relativas Restritivas vs. Explicativas (Vírgulas e Significado)
4

My best friend, who lives in Vancouver, is visiting next month.

Meu melhor amigo, que mora em Vancouver, vem me visitar no mês que vem.

Orações Relativas Restritivas vs. Explicativas (Vírgulas e Significado)
5

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

O cachorro correndo no parque é super rápido.

Encurte Suas Frases: Orações Relativas Reduzidas
6

The email `sent` yesterday got lost in spam.

O e-mail enviado ontem se perdeu no spam.

Encurte Suas Frases: Orações Relativas Reduzidas

Dicas e truques (4)

💡

O teste do 'Who is'!

Se você conseguir substituir a palavra por 'who is' ou 'who has' e a frase ainda fizer sentido, use 'who's'. Se não, o correto é 'whose'! Por exemplo: "Who's coming to dinner?"
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posse
💡

Pense em 'lugar, tempo e motivo'

Se o substantivo que você está descrevendo for um lugar, tempo ou razão, use logo 'where', 'when' ou 'why'. Isso evita frases picadas:
This is the library where I study.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advérbios Relativos (onde, quando, por que)
💡

O Teste do 'Pode Tirar?'

Se você remover a frase relativa e o sentido principal continuar o mesmo, use vírgulas (non-defining). Se a frase ficar confusa ou incompleta, não use vírgulas. Veja:
My car, which is blue, is fast.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Orações Relativas Restritivas vs. Explicativas (Vírgulas e Significado)
💡

Ache o verbo 'Be'!

Sempre procure pelo verbo 'be' (is, are, was, were) na frase completa. Se ele não estiver lá seguido de -ing ou -ed, você provavelmente não pode reduzir assim:
The girl who is dancing
vira The girl dancing.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Encurte Suas Frases: Orações Relativas Reduzidas

Vocabulário-chave (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

Erros comuns

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

Wrong: The woman who her bag was stolen.
Correto: 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.
Correto: 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.
Correto: 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: A Arte da Precisão: Dominando Padrões e Verbos

Prática rápida (10)

Qual frase está correta?

Escolha a opção correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The car that was stolen was a red sedan.
Precisamos saber *qual* carro foi roubado, então a informação é essencial e não leva vírgulas.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Orações Relativas Restritivas vs. Explicativas (Vírgulas e Significado)

Encontre e corrija o erro.

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.
O substantivo 'day' refere-se a tempo, então devemos usar 'when' em vez de 'where'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advérbios Relativos (onde, quando, por que)

Qual frase usa 'whose' corretamente?

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She's the artist whose work I admire.
Você não precisa de 'her' após 'whose', pois 'whose' já indica a posse. 'Who's' estaria gramaticalmente errado aqui.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posse

Escolha a palavra correta para completar a frase.

That's the student ___ project won first prize.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: whose
'Whose' é a forma possessiva, indicando que o projeto pertence ao estudante. 'Who's' significa 'who is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posse

Qual frase usa corretamente a relative clause reduzida?

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The package delivered yesterday arrived late.
O pacote 'foi entregue' (ação passiva), então usamos o particípio passado 'delivered'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Encurte Suas Frases: Orações Relativas Reduzidas

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

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.
O carro não 'danificou' nada; ele 'foi danificado'. Por isso, precisamos do particípio passado 'damaged'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Encurte Suas Frases: Orações Relativas Reduzidas

Escolha o pronome relativo e a pontuação correta.

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
A frase 'I finished yesterday' é essencial para saber *qual* livro, então não usamos vírgulas e 'that' é perfeito.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Orações Relativas Restritivas vs. Explicativas (Vírgulas e Significado)

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

I saw a car who's engine was smoking.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I saw a car whose engine was smoking.
'Who's' é contração de 'who is'. Precisamos do possessivo 'whose' para mostrar que o motor pertence ao carro.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Whose: Mostrando Posse

Escolha a forma correta para reduzir a relative clause.

The student ___ for the exam seemed nervous.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: studying
A frase original seria 'who was studying'. Como o aluno faz a ação, usamos o particípio presente 'studying'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Encurte Suas Frases: Orações Relativas Reduzidas

Escolha o advérbio relativo correto.

This is the restaurant ___ we celebrated our anniversary.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: where
O substantivo 'restaurant' indica um lugar, por isso usamos 'where'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advérbios Relativos (onde, quando, por que)

Score: /10

Perguntas comuns (6)

O 'whose' é um pronome relativo possessivo usado para mostrar propriedade ou uma relação próxima entre dois substantivos. Ele ajuda a conectar ideias de forma suave, como em:
The artist whose painting sold...
Sim, com certeza! Embora seja muito associado a pessoas, como em
the student whose laptop
, ele é gramaticalmente correto para objetos ou conceitos, como em:
the company whose technology...
É uma palavra (como where, when, why) que conecta uma oração a um substantivo de lugar, tempo ou motivo. Pense nele como um combo de pronome e preposição:
The place where I work
.
Eles são mais diretos e naturais. Em vez de dizer 'the house in which I live', soa muito melhor dizer:
The house where I live.
A diferença está na necessidade da informação. Se a frase identifica o substantivo, ela é 'defining' e não usa vírgulas. Se ela apenas adiciona um detalhe extra, é 'non-defining' e precisa de vírgulas. Por exemplo:
The car that is red
vs
My car, which is red.
Use vírgulas quando o que você está dizendo for apenas um comentário adicional sobre algo que já sabemos quem ou o que é. Pense nas vírgulas como parênteses. Um exemplo clássico é:
Paris, which is beautiful, is in France.
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