This essential English grammar guide for Moroccan Tronc Commun students explains relative pronouns (who, which, that, where, whose, when), the formal distinction between defining and non-defining relative clauses, and comma placement rules, complete with sentence combining drills and full answer keys.
💡 Direct Grammar Summary : Relative Pronouns at a Glance
- WHO : Refers to people (*’The teacher who taught us mathematics is very helpful’*).
- WHICH : Refers to objects, animals, and ideas (*’The laptop which I bought last week is fast’*).
- THAT : Can replace who or which exclusively in Defining relative clauses.
- WHERE : Refers to places (*’The school where I study is clean’*).
- WHOSE : Expresses possession for people or objects (*’The student whose project won first prize’*).
- WHEN : Refers to time (*’I remember the day when we first met’*).
1. Defining vs Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Critical Exam Rule)
- Defining clauses : Provide essential information identifying the noun. NO COMMAS allowed, and ‘that’ can be used (*’Students who work hard pass their exams’*).
- Non-defining clauses : Add optional extra information. COMMAS ARE COMPULSORY, and you CANNOT use ‘that’ (*’Rabat, which is the capital of Morocco, has beautiful monuments’*).
- Sentence combining : When joining two sentences, replace the repeated pronoun with the corresponding relative pronoun.
2. Documents et exercices à télécharger (PDF)
Consultez et téléchargez les ressources pédagogiques officielles ci-dessous :
| Titre du document | Nature de la ressource | Accès |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson PDF | Document PDF | Télécharger PDF |
| Exercises PDF | Document PDF | Télécharger PDF |
| Answer Key PDF | Document PDF | Télécharger PDF |
3. Questions fréquentes des élèves (FAQ)
Q : Can we omit the relative pronoun in English?
Yes, but only in Defining relative clauses when the pronoun is the OBJECT of the verb, not the subject (e.g., ‘The book (which) I read yesterday was interesting’).
Télécharger la ressource
Version PDF prête à consulter ou imprimer.