Relative structures with whose, what and it

A Whose

Vicky: What I'd really like is a job in television. Daniel: The other day I met a man whose sister

works in television. Vicky: Who? What's her name? Daniel: Oh, I don't know. She's the woman whose car Tom crashed into.

Here whose sister means his sister (the sister of the man Daniel met), and whose car means her car (the car belonging to the woman). Here are some more examples.

Someone whose bicycle had been stolen was reporting it to the police.

Wayne Johnson is the man whose goal won the game for United.

We use whose mainly with people, e.g. someone, the man. But sometimes it goes with other nouns. Which is the European country whose economy is growing the fastest? Round the corner was a building whose windows were all broken. Melanie was looking after a dog whose leg had been broken in an accident.

B What

We use the relative pronoun what without a noun in front of it. The shop didn't have what I wanted. (= the thing that I wanted) What we saw gave us quite a shock. (= the thing that we saw)

We can also use what to give emphasis to a word or phrase, to make it more important. Compare these examples.

NEUTRAL EMPHATIC

Rachel's stereo kept me awake. What kept me awake was Rachel's stereo.

Vicky is looking for a job in television. What Vicky is looking for is a job in television.

I want to make a fresh start. What I want to do is make a fresh start.

They booked a holiday together. What they did was book a holiday together.

C It

We also use it + be + a relative clause to give emphasis.

NEUTRAL EMPHATIC

Tom had an accident. It was Tom who had an accident (not David).

The computer gives me a headache. It's the computer that gives me a headache.

I'm eating chocolate cake. It's chocolate cake (that) I'm eating.

Mike's uncle died on Thursday. It was on Thursday that Mike's uncle died.

We must put in a pronoun when it is the subject of the relative clause (e.g. who had an accident). If it is the object (e.g. that I'm eating), then we can leave it out (see Unit 138B).

140 Exercises

1 Who or whose? (A)

You are reading a crime story. One of these people has murdered the industrialist Colin Howard. Look at the detective's notes and write a sentence about each person. Use a relative clause with who or whose.

? George Paxton, company director - he had an argument with Colin
George is the company director who had an argument with Colin.

? Vera Stokes, politician - her sister once worked for Colin
Vera is the politician whose sister once worked for Colin.

1 Felix Reeves, journalist - his tape recorder was stolen

2 Graham Wilshaw, architect - he knew Colin at school

3 Rex Carter, farmer - Colin bought his land

4 Norman Bridge, lawyer - he looked after Colin's interests

5 Sonia Goldman, house guest - her fingerprints were on the door handle

2 What(B)

Zedco Chief Executive Barry Douglas is telling a group of managers how to run a business successfully. He emphasizes the underlined words using what.

► You must pay attention to the details.

What you must pay attention to are the details.

1 You have to think about your profit.

2 You must know the needs of your customers.

3 You should work towards a realistic target.

4 You need to plan ahead.

3 lt(C)

Quiz champion Claude Jennings is answering some questions.

Look at each question and answer and write a sentence with it + be + a relative clause. ► Who invented radio? ~ Marconi. It was Marconi who invented radio.

1 When did Columbus sail to America? ~ In 1492.

It was in 1492 that..............................................................................

2 What does Tiger Woods play? ~ Golf.
It's ………………………………………………………………..

3 Where did the Olympic Games first take place? ~ In Greece.

4 Which is nearest the sun, Venus or Mercury? ~ Mercury.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1380