Study Guide

3rd Middle School

Second Period

Grammar:
I.- Relative Clause
1.- A relative clause is a subordinate clause that begins with a question word (e.g. who, which, where) or
the word that. You can use it to modify a noun or pronoun (i.e. to identify or give more information
about it).
For example:

Students who can develop independent learning skills often achieve good academic results.
There is a new book that investigates the controversy over political reforms in Hong Kong.
A university is a place where people pursue advanced knowledge in specific academic
disciplines.
The lecture theatre in which the inauguration ceremony will be held is now being cleaned.

2.- Two types of relative clause:

a).- The defining one: You use a defining (or restrictive) relative clause to identify or restrict the
reference of a noun. You do not separate it from the rest of the sentence by commas (in text) or pauses
(in speech).
For example:

The student who achieves the highest GPA score in this department will be awarded a prize of
$20,000.
Computer games that involve fighting and shooting apparently have a negative effect on young
people.

b).- The non-defining one: You use a non-defining (or non-restrictive) relative clause to supply
additional information about the noun, whose identity or reference is already established. You can also
use it to comment on the whole situation described in a main clause.
For example:

Albert Einstein, who put forward the theory of relativity, is considered by many as the most
intelligent person in human history.
The ELC, which provides language support to PolyU students, is located in the AG wing.

(You should not use the relative pronoun that in non-defining relative clauses.)

II.- Relative Pronouns

Words like who, that and when are often referred to as relative pronouns when they are used to introduce
relative clauses.
Use: who for people, which for things, and that for both people and things, whom as the object of a
relative clause (in more formal English), though it is increasingly common to replace it with who and
whose to indicate possession, as a determiner before nouns.
For example:

Whats the name of the person who/that first landed on the moon?
This is Dr. Perkins, whom we met at a conference in Canada last year.
All students whose registration numbers begin with 374 should immediately go to the library for a
tour.

III.- Reported Speech

Reported speech is use to report what another person has said, so we usually do not use the speakers
exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, students will need to study how
to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether
you want to transform a statement, question or request.
Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

pronouns
present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses
Type

Example

direct speech

I speak English.

reported speech

He said that he spoke English.

Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns
present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
place and time expressions
tenses
Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question

use the interrogative or if / whether
Type
with interrogative

Example
direct speech

Why dont you speak English?

reported speech He asked me why I didnt speak English.

without interrogative direct speech

Do you speak English?

reported speech He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Requests
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns
place and time expressions
Type

Example

direct speech

Carol, speak English.

reported speech

He told Carol to speak English.

Listening/ Writing/ Vocabulary

Students will hear an incomplete story and then they will write three possible endings for it using 10
different frases from their laminated vocabulary sheet that was handed in class.

EXERCISES
I.- Relative clauses - defining or non-defining?
Study the situations and then decide whether the following relative clauses are defining or non-defining.
Then underline the correct answer.
1. My friend Jane moved to Canada.
My friend Jane whose husband is Canadian moved to Canada last week.
My friend Jane, whose husband is Canadian, moved to Canada last week.
2. I am a shoe fanatic.
The shoes which I bought yesterday are very comfortable.
The shoes, which I bought yesterday, are very comfortable.
3. Mr Robinson is very famous.
Mr Robinson whom I met at the trade fair is a famous inventor.
Mr Robinson, whom I met at the trade fair, is a famous inventor.
4. Tamara has two cats. Both of them are black.
Tamara's two cats which can play outside are black.
Tamara's two cats, which can play outside, are black.
5. Kevin has four cats. Two of them are black.
Kevin's two cats which are black can play outside.
Kevin's two cats, which are black, can play outside.

II.- In the following questions the relative pronouns are missing. Rewrite the sentences,
putting in suitable relative pronouns and any missing commas.
1.The woman hair is long and curly is the new secretary, Mrs. Chan.
_______________________________________________________________________________
2.-Nearly all the proposals the committe put forward have been accepted.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3.- This is the book has become a betseller in recent years.
_______________________________________________________________________________
4.- Graduates possess a strong academic backgroung as well as good communication skills are
favoured by employers.
_______________________________________________________________________________
5.- Mosquitos are small two-winged insects can spread fatal deseases like malaria and dengue fever.
_______________________________________________________________________________

III.- Rewrite the sentences using Reported speech.

1. They said, "This is our book."
______________________________________________________________________
2. She said, "I went to the cinema yesterday."
______________________________________________________________________
3. He said, "I am writing a test tomorrow."
______________________________________________________________________
4. You said, "I will do this for him."
______________________________________________________________________
5. She said, "I am not hungry now."
______________________________________________________________________
6. They said, "We have never been here before."
______________________________________________________________________
7. They said, "We were in London last week."
______________________________________________________________________
8. He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow."
______________________________________________________________________
9. He said, "They won't sleep."
______________________________________________________________________
10. She said, "It is very quiet here."
______________________________________________________________________

Rewrite the questions in reported speech.

1. "What's the time?" he asked.
______________________________________________________________________
2. "When will we meet again?" she asked me.
______________________________________________________________________
3. "Are you crazy?" she asked him.
______________________________________________________________________
4. "Where did they live?" he asked.
______________________________________________________________________
5. "Will you be at the party?" he asked her.
______________________________________________________________________

6. "Can you meet me at the station?" she asked me.

______________________________________________________________________
7. "Who knows the answer?" the teacher asked.
______________________________________________________________________
8. "Why don't you help me?" she asked him.
______________________________________________________________________
9. "Did you see that car?" he asked me.
______________________________________________________________________

10."Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins.
______________________________________________________________________

Rewrite the following recuestes in reported speech.

1. She said, "Go upstairs."
______________________________________________________________________
2. "Close the door behind you," he told me.
______________________________________________________________________
3. "Don't be late," he advised us.
______________________________________________________________________
4. "Stop staring at me," she said.
______________________________________________________________________
5. "Don't be angry with me," he said.
______________________________________________________________________
6. "Leave me alone," she said.
______________________________________________________________________
7. "Don't drink and drive," she warned us.
______________________________________________________________________
8. "John, stop smoking," she said.
______________________________________________________________________
9. "Don't worry about us," they said.
______________________________________________________________________
10. "Meet me at the cinema." he said.
______________________________________________________________________