SEMAINE 23 – JOUR 5 Révision + Listening
INTRODUCTION
Aujourd’hui, tu vas :
✅ réviser tout ce qui a été appris cette semaine
✅ renforcer les Relative Clauses
✅ améliorer ta compréhension orale
✅ corriger les erreurs les plus fréquentes
LISTENING DU JOUR
REVISION & EXERCICE
📚 Relative Clauses — B2
Advanced structures · reduced relatives · preposition + whom/which
who · which · that · where · whose · whom · in which · of which
📖 B2 Revision — Relative Clauses
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At B2, you must use both types accurately — and know exactly when that is allowed or forbidden.
Defining relative clause — no commas — identifies which one
→ who / which / that / where / whose all allowed
Non-defining relative clause — with commas — adds extra info
→ who / which / where / whose only — NEVER that
→ who / which / that / where / whose all allowed
Non-defining relative clause — with commas — adds extra info
→ who / which / where / whose only — NEVER that
The report that was submitted late was rejected. (defining — identifies which report)
Le rapport soumis en retard a été rejeté.
The report, which was submitted on Monday, was accepted. (non-defining — extra info)
Le rapport, qui a été soumis lundi, a été accepté.
⚠️ Never use THAT in a non-defining clause :
✘ My manager, that has worked here for 20 years, is retiring.
✔ My manager, who has worked here for 20 years, is retiring.
✘ My manager, that has worked here for 20 years, is retiring.
✔ My manager, who has worked here for 20 years, is retiring.
At B2, you must know when you can drop the relative pronoun. This only applies in defining clauses where the pronoun is the object of the clause.
Subject relative clause → pronoun CANNOT be omitted
→ The man who called you is here. (who = subject of "called")
Object relative clause → pronoun CAN be omitted
→ The book (that) I recommended is excellent. (that = object of "recommended")
→ The man who called you is here. (who = subject of "called")
Object relative clause → pronoun CAN be omitted
→ The book (that) I recommended is excellent. (that = object of "recommended")
The candidate (that/who) we interviewed yesterday has accepted the offer.
Le candidat que nous avons interviewé hier a accepté l'offre.
The solution (which/that) she proposed was brilliant.
La solution qu'elle a proposée était brillante.
💡 Quick test : If the relative clause already has its own subject after the pronoun, the pronoun is the object → it can be dropped.
"The book that [I] read" → 'I' is the subject, 'that' is object → can omit.
"The book that [I] read" → 'I' is the subject, 'that' is object → can omit.
In formal written English (reports, essays, professional emails), prepositions come before whom or which — not at the end of the clause.
Informal : This is the colleague who I work with.
Formal B2 : This is the colleague with whom I work.
Informal : The project which we invested so much time in failed.
Formal B2 : The project in which we invested so much time failed.
Formal B2 : This is the colleague with whom I work.
Informal : The project which we invested so much time in failed.
Formal B2 : The project in which we invested so much time failed.
The committee by whom the decision was made has since been dissolved.
Le comité par lequel la décision a été prise a depuis été dissous.
This is a situation for which there is no easy solution.
C'est une situation pour laquelle il n'y a pas de solution facile.
The country to which she emigrated has a very different culture.
Le pays vers lequel elle a émigré a une culture très différente.
⚠️ Important : Preposition + that is NEVER correct in formal English.
✘ The reason for that she left is unknown.
✔ The reason for which she left is unknown.
✘ The reason for that she left is unknown.
✔ The reason for which she left is unknown.
At B2, whose is used not just for people but for organisations, countries, ideas and abstract concepts.
Whose + noun = the noun belongs to or is associated with the antecedent.
Works for: people · companies · countries · concepts · things
Works for: people · companies · countries · concepts · things
A country whose natural resources are mismanaged will struggle to develop.
Un pays dont les ressources naturelles sont mal gérées aura du mal à se développer.
The organisation, whose headquarters are in Geneva, employs over 10,000 people.
L'organisation, dont le siège est à Genève, emploie plus de 10 000 personnes.
It was a decision whose consequences were felt for decades.
C'était une décision dont les conséquences se sont fait sentir pendant des décennies.
At B2, you can reduce a relative clause to a participle phrase for conciseness — a key academic writing skill.
Active → Present Participle (-ing) :
The man who is standing by the door → The man standing by the door.
Passive → Past Participle (-ed / irregular) :
The report which was written by Aminata → The report written by Aminata.
Only possible in defining clauses where pronoun = subject.
The man who is standing by the door → The man standing by the door.
Passive → Past Participle (-ed / irregular) :
The report which was written by Aminata → The report written by Aminata.
Only possible in defining clauses where pronoun = subject.
The policies introduced by the new government have been widely criticised.
Les politiques introduites par le nouveau gouvernement ont été largement critiquées.
Anyone wishing to apply must submit their documents before Friday.
Toute personne souhaitant postuler doit soumettre ses documents avant vendredi.
💡 B2 Writing tip : Reduced relative clauses make your writing more concise and academic. Instead of "the students who are studying hard", write "the students studying hard". Examiners reward this.
At B2, relative adverbs can be replaced by preposition + which — a more formal and precise option.
where = in which / at which (place)
when = at which / on which (time)
why = for which (reason) — often omitted in defining clauses
when = at which / on which (time)
why = for which (reason) — often omitted in defining clauses
The office where she works = the office in which she works.
Le bureau où elle travaille.
The year when I graduated = the year in which I graduated.
L'année où j'ai obtenu mon diplôme.
The reason why he resigned = the reason for which he resigned.
La raison pour laquelle il a démissionné.
| Structure | Use / Context | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who / that | Defining — people | The student who passed is brilliant. |
| which / that | Defining — things | The book that I read was fascinating. |
| who / which | Non-defining (commas) | My boss, who retired last year, was great. |
| whose | Possession — people, things, abstracts | A country whose economy is strong. |
| where / in which | Place | The city where / in which I grew up. |
| when / in which | Time | The year when / in which it happened. |
| why / for which | Reason | The reason why / for which he left. |
| with / by / for + whom | Formal — people (object) | The person with whom I work. |
| in / for / by + which | Formal — things (object) | The project in which we invested. |
| Zero relative (omitted) | Defining — object clause | The report (that) she wrote was great. |
| -ing / -ed participle | Reduced defining clause | The policies introduced last year. |
💡 Coach Assoa's B2 Strategy : To reach B2 in writing, aim to use at least one non-defining clause (with commas), one formal preposition + whom/which, and one reduced relative clause (-ing or -ed). These three structures alone will significantly raise your written English level.
🎓 Relative Clauses B2 — Mon Coach Pro
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