Level
6 Unit 4 -
Distinguishing
subject from object in defining relative pronouns
Select the correct answer from the choices given
Why this is important
1) When the relative pronoun is the subject it is necessary in the sentence:
The dog which (that) bit the girl had rabies.
The person who killed John Kennedy has never been identified for sure.
2) When it is the object it can be omitted:
The girl whom (who, that or no pronoun at all) the rabid dog bit was lucky not to catch the disease.
3) There is a third case where the the verb "to be" is used:
The computer which was in my office has been stolen.
In cases like this it is common to eliminate the pronoun and the auxiliary verb keeping only the verb participle:
The computer in my office has been stolen.
Often it is in the passive
One of Jupiters satelites which has been photographed from space probes may be able to support life. One of Jupiters satelites photographed from space probes may be able to support life.
The illegal immigrant who was found in the boot of Smith's car has been extradited. The illegal immigrant found in the boot of Smith's car has been extradited.
The farm which has been identified as being at the origin of the Swine fever outbreak has been quarantined. The farm identified as being at the origin of the Swine fever outbreak has been quarantined.
Was the ship which was lost at sea insured by Lloyds? Was the ship lost at sea insured by Lloyds?
Note that this short cut works whatever tense of the verb is appropriate.
In this activity all you have to do is decide if the given sentence is case A: Subject: Pronoun must be kept (e.g. The man who bought the house got a bargain.) B: Object (Pronoun can be omitted) (e.g. The house which the man bought was undervalued) C: Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted (e.g The house which was sold so cheaply is going to be restored.)
The car which I bought yesterday has already broken down.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
I don't think the fellow who sold me the car was honest!
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The employee whom the company blamed for the theft was completely innocent.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
In the song "The Grandfather clock", the clock which the old man's parents bought on the day that he was born stopped on the day he died.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
In "Snow White", the wicked queen had a mirror which she used to ask every day if she was still the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The roses that grow in the garden next door are always better than mine!
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
In the British countryside people quite often see large cat-like animals which they think are black panthers.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
Queen Victoria was the monarch who reigned longest in Britain.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
I'm afraid all that wine that you drank last night hasn't done anything to improve your temper!
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The knife which I was using to cut the bread slipped and cut my finger.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The shares that I bought last month have gone up by 2O% already!
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
Those shares of mine that went up 20% in a month have just dropped to half what I bought them for!
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
Socrates said that a man who had the perfect qualities to rule a country would probably refuse the job.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
Ambrose Bierce's "The Devil's Dictionary" is a very funny book which you still frequently hear quoted.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
Greedy bankers are the people who most people blame for the disastrous economic situation.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The money which has been spent on this project so far will be completely lost if the plan is abandoned.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The candidate who has been adopted by the constituency is sure to win the election.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The money which was supposed to be in the safe turned out to be non-existant!
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The bird which was on sale in the pet shop window turned out to belong to a protected species.
Subject: Pronoun must be kept
Object (Pronoun can be omitted)
Pronoun & auxiliary can be omitted
The bird which was on sale in the pet shop window turned out to belong to a protected species.