Introduction: Leveling Up Your English

Have you ever felt that your writing sounds a bit "choppy" or repetitive? For example: "I saw a man. The man was wearing a red hat. The man was running." While this is correct, it won't help you reach the higher levels (Level 4 or 5+) in the HKDSE.

In this chapter, we will learn how to use Relative Clauses and Complex Noun Phrases. These tools allow you to "pack" more information into a single sentence, making your writing more professional and sophisticated—exactly what examiners look for in Paper 2 (Writing) and Paper 3 (Integrated Skills).

Quick Cross-Reference: These structures help create the "sentence variety" mentioned in the chapter on Connectives and Cohesion.

1. Relative Clauses: Adding the "Extra Info"

A relative clause is a part of a sentence that describes a noun. Think of it as a "mini-sentence" inside a bigger sentence. We start these clauses with relative pronouns.

The Key Relative Pronouns

  • Who: For people. (The student who won the prize is my friend.)
  • Which: For things or animals. (The book which I bought is expensive.)
  • That: For people or things (mostly in casual or "defining" contexts).
  • Whose: To show possession. (The girl whose phone rang was embarrassed.)
  • Whom: For people when they are the object (more formal).

Defining vs. Non-defining: The "Comma Rule"

This is where many students lose marks. There are two types of relative clauses:

A. Defining Relative Clauses (Essential Info)
These tell us which specific person or thing we are talking about. If you remove this clause, the sentence doesn't make sense.
Example: The students who study hard usually pass. (Which students? Only the hard-working ones! No commas needed.)

B. Non-defining Relative Clauses (Extra Info)
These give us "bonus" information about something we already know. We must use commas.
Example: Mr. Wong, who is my English teacher, is very kind. (We already know it's Mr. Wong; his job is just extra info. Commas are like "brackets.")

Quick Tip: You can never use "that" in a non-defining clause (the ones with commas). Always use "who" or "which".

Key Takeaway:

Use commas if the information is just a "by the way" detail. Don't use commas if the information is needed to identify the noun.

2. Reduced Relative Clauses: The "Short Cut"

To make your writing even more concise (useful for word counts in Paper 2!), you can "reduce" the clause. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; it follows a simple pattern:

  • Active Voice: Use the -ing form.
    Full: The man who is standing there is my uncle.
    Reduced: The man standing there is my uncle.

  • Passive Voice: Use the past participle (Verb-ed).
    Full: The report which was written by the principal is long.
    Reduced: The report written by the principal is long.

Did you know? Using reduced relative clauses makes you sound more like a native speaker and shows high grammatical control!

3. Complex Noun Phrases: "Packing" Information

A Noun Phrase is just a noun plus all the words that describe it. In the HKDSE, especially in formal reports or essays, we use Complex Noun Phrases to give a lot of detail quickly.

Think of a noun phrase like a sandwich. The Noun is the bread, and the descriptors are the fillings.

Building the "Sandwich"

You can add information in two places:

1. Before the Noun (Pre-modifiers): Usually adjectives or other nouns.
\( \text{The} \rightarrow \text{new} \rightarrow \text{sports} \rightarrow \textbf{centre} \)

2. After the Noun (Post-modifiers): Using prepositional phrases or relative clauses.
\( \textbf{The centre} \rightarrow \text{in Causeway Bay} \rightarrow \text{which opened last week} \)

Putting it all together:

Simple: The project was a success.
Complex: The government-funded environmental project in Lantau Island was a success.

Analogy: Imagine you are packing a suitcase. You could carry five small bags (five simple sentences), or you could pack everything neatly into one large, well-organized suitcase (one complex noun phrase). The "large suitcase" approach is much more efficient for academic writing.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Double Pronouns
Incorrect: The girl who she lives next door is nice.
Correct: The girl who lives next door is nice. (Don't use "who" and "she" together!)

Mistake 2: Missing Commas
Incorrect: My mother who is a nurse works late.
Correct: My mother, who is a nurse, works late. (You only have one mother, so the "nurse" part is extra info.)

Mistake 3: Wrong Pronoun for Things
Incorrect: The phone who I bought is broken.
Correct: The phone which/that I bought is broken.

5. Application in the HKDSE

Paper 2 (Writing): Use complex noun phrases in the opening of a Report or Letter to the Editor to set the scene professionally.
Example: "I am writing to express my concerns regarding the rising number of noise complaints from residents living near the new airport."

Paper 1 (Reading): When you see a very long sentence, look for the Main Noun and the Main Verb. Everything else is likely just part of a complex noun phrase or a relative clause designed to give extra detail.

Summary Checklist:
  • Identify if the extra info is essential (no commas) or extra (commas).
  • Use who for people and which for things.
  • Try reducing clauses (using -ing or -ed) to be more concise.
  • Build complex noun phrases by adding details before and after the main noun to sound more formal.