Compact Advanced Training Part 2: 8.2.- Grammar: Relative clauses

Speaking Opening Practice

Talk about a famous researcher in your career and what that person did.

For example: 'Noam Chomsky laid the foundations for the CLT (Communicative Language Teaching) which is a method based on oral production while making connections between the previous knowledge and the one acquired in a lesson.'

Understanding Human Potential: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

When Howard Gardner, a psychologist at Harvard University, first presented his Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983, he challenged the traditional view that intelligence could be measured by a single IQ score. His proposal opened new perspectives on what it truly means to be intelligent. According to Gardner, human intelligence is not one-dimensional but rather a collection of distinct abilities, each of which reflects different ways of processing information.

Gardner identified several types of intelligence, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and later, existential intelligence. A musician whose ear for rhythm and tone allows them to compose complex melodies demonstrates musical intelligence, while a scientist who formulates hypotheses and analyzes data exemplifies logical-mathematical intelligence. Each domain values talents that schools often overlook but that society increasingly needs.

The theory also redefined the classroom as a space where diverse strengths could flourish. Instead of forcing all learners to fit into one mold, teachers were encouraged to design lessons that addressed multiple intelligences—by integrating music, movement, visuals, or interpersonal interaction. The 1980s was a decade when education began to recognize that creativity, empathy, and collaboration were just as valuable as analytical reasoning.

Gardner’s work, which continues to inspire educators worldwide, reminds us that intelligence is not fixed but multifaceted. Those whom we call “gifted” may simply be people whose talents align with specific intelligences that society rewards more visibly. Ultimately, understanding multiple intelligences helps us appreciate human diversity and redefine what success really means.

📚 References (APA 7th Edition)

Gardner, H. (2011). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences (3rd ed.). Basic Books.

Armstrong, T. (2018). Multiple intelligences in the classroom (4th ed.). ASCD.

Sternberg, R. J. (2020). Adaptive intelligence: Surviving and thriving in times of uncertainty. Cambridge University Press.

Christison, M. A., & Kennedy, D. (2021). Multiple intelligences and language teaching. Cambridge University Press.

Reading Comprehension Exercise:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/ebF094ddG-m

📘 Grammar Chart: Relative Pronouns in the Article

This is a theory which I like so much.

This is a theory that I like so much.

This is a theory I like so much.

Multiple Intelligences

Personal Quiz about Multiple Intelligences

https://alis.alberta.ca/careerinsite/know-yourself/multiple-intelligences-quiz/

Relative clauses

The relative clauses are the ones that are connected through a relative pronoun or adverb because they share a common piece of information instead of having written two separate sentences.

For example: Howard Gardner is a person. I admire Howard Gardner.

Howard Gardner is someone who I admire.

In both of the previous sentences, the common piece of information is Howard Gardner, who is a person. By the way, when combining those statements as relative clauses, it can be said 'Howard Gardner is a person who I admire.' or 'Howard Gardner is a person that I admire.'

Relative pronouns

Relative adverbs

Who

Which

That

Whom

Whose

Where

When

Why

Types of Relatives clauses

1.- Defining clauses

The defining clauses are the ones that provide essential information, for example, 'Howard Gardner is a well-known educationist who is from the United States.'

2.- Non-defining clauses

The non-defining clauses are the ones that provide non-essential information placed between commas and that information can be omitted, for example, 'Howard Gardner, who is a well-known educationist, is a lecturer in an American university.'

Defining relative pronouns

Who: You are the people who I need in this class.

Which: My laptop is something which can’t miss me.

That: My laptop is something that can’t miss me.

You are the people that I need in this class.

On the other hand, 'that' can be omitted, for example, 'My laptop is something can’t miss me.' or 'You are the people I need in this class.'

Whom: That´s the lady for whom I work.

That’s the lady who I work for.

He’s the man to whom I need to send an email.

He’s the man who I need to send the email to.

Whose: These are the researchers whose works have shown updated data.

Non-defining relative pronouns

Who: Madonna, who is a famous singer, gave a concert in Mexico city some years ago.

Which: My house, which is big, needs some reparations.

Whose: Leonardo Da Vinci, whose painting 'Mona Lisa' is exhibited in the Louvre Museum, was born in Italy in 1452.

Defining Relative Adverbs

When: I’ll get something to eat when the class finishes.

Where: Cancun is the city where I live.

Why: To know you is why I came here.

Non-defining relative adverbs

Where: City Park, where we used to go, has been closed down.

When: December, when Christmas is celebrated, is a summer month in the southern hemisphere.

Functions of each of the different relative pronouns and adverbs

Relative pronouns

Relative adverbs

Who; to talk about people and sometimes pet animals.

Which: to talk about animals or things

That: It can be used instead of who or which to talk about people, animals or things only in defining clauses.

Whom: to talk about people as action-effect receivers in formal contexts or when using old English

Whose: to talk about possessions

Relative pronouns allude to the subject in at least the first clause.

When: to talk about time or dates

Where: To talk about places

Why: To talk about reasons

The relative adverbs allude to complement.

Sources:

https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/relative-prnouns-who-whose-where-which#:~:text=We%20use%20whose%20in%20relative,by%20a%20noun%20or%20pronoun.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-intermediate/relative-clauses-non-defining-relative-clauses#:~:text=We%20always%20use%20a%20relative,the%20rest%20of%20the%20sentence.

Speaking Practice:

Complete the following sentences while sharing the information with a classmate.

Someone who I admire is ________ because_______.

Something which I can't miss is _______ because _________.

A celebrity with whom I would like to have a date is _______ because __________.

Someone whose work(s) like/such as ________ has/have been important in my career is ______.

A place where I used to go when I was a child was________.

A special time I remember with tenderness is when ________.

The main reason why I chose this career is ________.

Collaborative exercise 2 on page 66.

Relative clauses online exercises

https://www.englishtestsonline.com/relative-clauses-adjective-clauses-advanced-level-test-quiz-online-exercise-with-answers-2/

💬 Discussion Prompts (with Relative Pronouns)

Which type of intelligence best describes the person who has most influenced your way of thinking?
In your opinion, what type of intelligence is most useful in today’s workplace, and why?
Can you think of someone whose success reflects more than one kind of intelligence?
Describe a situation when your intelligence helped you solve a difficult problem.
Discuss a classroom or learning environment where multiple intelligences could be effectively applied.
Who do you think benefits most from Gardner’s theory, and why do you believe so?
Which of Gardner’s intelligences do you find most difficult to identify in people whom you teach or observe?
In your country, what changes could be made in schools to recognize students whose strengths are not purely academic?

At, in and on as prepositions of time, location and place

What I liked most in Geneva

Geneva is a city in which I’ve always dreamt to be. It is located on the banks of the rivers Rhône and Arve in Switzerland.

When I was there in 2018, I remember having taken a cruise in the Rhône from one the docks at eight in the evening to see the statue of ‘The Little Mermaid’ in the Leman lake, which was astonishing to be seen at the sunset as the night falls down at nine pm in summer. After, that I went back to my hotel at 2 James Fazy Boulevard to have supper in its dining room and go to bed in my room on the third floor.

It was a trip I will never forget, so I hope to go back there soon.

Collaborative online review exercise about 'in', 'on' and 'at'

https://wordwall.net/resource/55458480

Individual online exercise about 'which' vs 'when' and 'where'

https://www.topworksheets.com/custom/789cc1f1-3e1d-4dca-8489-b059d4f4b67c

'In which' versus 'where' and 'when'

Cancun is the city where I live.

Cancun is the city in which I live.

Spring break is the season when many young Americans arrive in Cancun.

Spring break is the season in which many young Americans arrive in Cancun.

What statements do you think sound more formal - the ones with 'in which' or the ones with 'where' and 'when'?

As you can probably guess, 'in which' is more formal than 'where' and 'when.'

Collaborative online exercise about prepostion + which or whom on Wordwall

https://wordwall.net/resource/55416780

Prepositions + Relative pronouns vs Relative adverbs

Preposition + relative pronoun

A wide range of prepositions are often used in prepositional structures with relative pronouns who and which to introduce relative clauses. In most cases, the prepositions retain their original meaning. Compare the following:

That post marks the beginning of the mined area, beyond which it is inadvisable to go.
In the clearing lay the badly injured soldier, above whom birds of prey were circling.
We passed a giant toadstool in the forest, under which fairies were sitting.
They had collected the sap from the sugar maple trees, from which maple syrup is manufactured.
Before us we could see a forest orchid of which there are many varieties.

An Austrian naturalist, with whom I worked closely in the Eighties, discovered this particular orchid

where / in which / at which / on which

In which, on which, and at which are sometimes used as more precise sounding alternatives to where to introduce relative clauses after nouns referring to place:

Near where I live there's a wood where you can find woodpeckers.
Near where I live there's a wood in which you can find woodpeckers.
The fancy-dress party, where the men all turned up as gangsters, was held in Manhatten.
The fancy-dress party, at which the men all turned up as gangsters, was held in Manhatten.
The table where you left your laptop is over there.
The table on which you left your laptop is over there.

when / on which / in which / at which

On which, in which, and at which are sometimes used as a more precise sounding alternative to when to introduce relative clauses after nouns referring to time:

The day when I'm forced to give up riding will be a sad day for me.
The day on which I'm forced to give up riding will be a sad day for me.
The month when we celebrate the Mexican Independence Day is September.
The month in which we celebrate the Mexican Independence Day is September.
The time when the train leaves is at 9pm.
The time at which the train leaves is 9pm.

The use of the prepositions with which and whom

Note that in questions the preposition is more frequently placed at the end of the clause. It can also be placed before the relative pronoun where it sounds more formal:

In which street does he live? (Formal)
Which street does he live in? (Informal)
He lives in the street in which the houses are surrounded by high fences (Formal)
He lives in the street where all the houses are surrounded by high fences. (Informal)

For which organisation does he work? (Formal)
Which organisation does he work for? (Informal)
He works for a spy network, about which I know nothing. (Formal)
He works for a spy network (which) I know nothing about. (Informal)
The reason for which I came is to establish an agreement with you.

Note from examples above and below that putting the preposition at the end of the clause is usually also possible in statements:

The people with whom he worked have all been arrested. (Formal)
The people (who) he worked with have all been arrested. (Informal)
This is the bedroom in which he was murdered. (Formal)
This is the bedroom (that/which) he was murdered in. (Informal)

Note from these examples, that in statements when the preposition is placed at the end of the clause, we can use that instead of who or which or we can omit the relative pronoun completely!

Source: WOODHAM, Roger (W/D) Preposition + Relative Pronoun in Learning English on BBC World Service on https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv286.shtml (Obtained on the 8th of April 2022)

MILLS, Bonnie (2021) ‘In which’ versus ‘where’ on Quick and Dirty Tips on https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/where-versus-in-which (Obtained on the 8th of April 2022 at 11:30h)

Collaborative online exercise about relative clauses with preposition + relative pronoun on https://wordwall.net/resource/31776102

Individual assignment

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/8HyO8kCeRsF

https://game.educaplay.com/

Quantifiers with Relative Pronouns

Think about a comment related to a teacher's experience from which you had learned.