1. SARS is a terrible disease that/which killed many people.

‘a terrible disease’ refers to things.

2. There are reports that say Armstrong and Aldrin saw alien spacecraft.

There are reports which say Armstrong and Aldrin saw alien spacecraft.

T: Why do we use that or who in the first sentence? Why do we use that or which in the second sentence?

S:

T: Excellent. Because we use ‘who’ or ‘that’ to refer to people and we use ‘which’ or ‘that’ to refer to things.

T: Please use the correct relative pronouns to fill in the brackets.

1. Neil Armstrong is the person that walked on the moon.

　 We can also say, Neil Armstrong is the person who walked on the moon.

3.　 I believe that he’s the best football player that I’ve ever known.

‘that I’ve ever known’ identifies the noun ‘the best football player’.

4　　　　 Have you found the information which you need for your article?

‘which you need for your article’ identifies the noun ‘the information’.

Step 2　 Relative pronouns

Part One　 Lead-in

T: We know we can use ‘who’, ‘which’ or ‘that’ in defining relative clauses. Please fill in the brackets using relative pronouns

T: All right.

2.　　　 Tell me the person who you want to write about.

‘who you want to write about’ identifies the noun ‘the person’.

1.　　　 He’s the person who discovered America.

‘who discovered America’ identifies the noun ‘the person’.

3. It is said that Neil Armstrong sent a message to Mission Control which said that two huge, strange objects landed near them and were watching them.

T: These sentences are defining relative clauses. In the first sentence, ‘who walked on the moon’ identifies the noun ‘the person’.　 In the second sentence, ‘that say Armstrong and Aldrin saw alien spacecraft’ identifies the noun ‘reports’. In the third sentence, ‘which said that two huge, strange objects landed near them and were watching them’ identifies the noun ‘a message’.

So a defining relative clause identifies the noun before it. We can use ‘who’, ‘which’ or ‘that’ in defining relative clauses.

Part Two 　Practice　

T: Now turn to Page 64. Let’s read the conversation between Kitty and Peter and decide whether they are using defining relative clauses. Please underline the defining relative clauses. 　

Peter: Which great people have you decided to write about?

Kitty: I may write about Christopher Columbus. Do you think that he’s the greatest explorer in the world?

Peter: Yes, I think so. He’s the person who discovered America.

Kitty: How about you? Tell me the person who you want to write about.

Peter: I’m going to write about Pelé. I believe that he’s the best football player that I’ve ever known.

Kitty: Yes, I think he is great. Have you found the information which you need for your article?

Peter: Not yet, but I’ve found a website that gives a detailed introduction to Columbus. It’ll be very helpful.

T: Let’s check the answers.

2. There are reports that say Armstrong and Aldrin saw alien spacecraft.

用时：15钟

Step 1　 　Defining relative clauses

Part one　 Lead-in

T: Hello, everyone! First please look at the picture. Who is he?

S:

T: All right. He is Neil Armstrong.

1. Neil Armstrong is the person who walked on the moon.

2.难点：定语从句关系代词的用法。