As relative clauses são orações subordinadas que dão mais informação sobre um nome. São introduzidas por who, which, that, where, whose, when.
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
The book that/which I borrowed was excellent.
That's the house where I grew up.
He is a man whose opinions I respect.
Defining: diz-nos de qual pessoa/coisa falamos (sem vírgulas — essential). Non-defining: dá informação extra (com vírgulas — extra info). Em non-defining, that NÃO se usa.
Defining: The student who passed the exam was very happy. (which student?)
Non-defining: My sister, who lives in Paris, is a chef. (extra info about my sister)
Non-defining: The Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1889, is in Paris.
Who → pessoas. Which → coisas. That → pessoas/coisas (só defining). Where → lugares. Whose → posse. When → tempo.
I met a man who/that speaks five languages.
The film which/that I saw was amazing.
This is the place where we first met.
She is the woman whose car was stolen.
I remember the day when we arrived.
Erros frequentes com orações relativas: