Unit 2.
Lesson A
Celebrity obsession
Q Do you read celebrity magazines? Which ones? What do you like about them?
A I don't tend to read celebrity magazines. Sometimes, though, when I'm in the grocery store, I look at the
celebrity magazines that are on the newsstands. And I read the headlines that are always about something
bad. Like a celebrity is getting divorced or someone's put on too much weight. There's always something!
Q Which celebrities are in the news right now?
A There are some stories in the news right now about a well-known actor. They're saying he's dating a
pop singer, but I'm not sure if it's true. They're showing all these photos of them together, and saying they
are going to get married.
Q Would you like to look like a celebrity? Which one? If not, why not?
A I would like to look like my favorite singer. He looks really cool. I like his 'look' - the way he dresses
and his hair. Maybe I'll get a hair cut like his.
Classmate's post
"I don't tend to read celebrity magazines or follow celebrity gossip, but sometimes when I'm in the
grocery store, I notice the celebrity magazines that are on the newsstands. You can't help seeing the
headlines that are always about something bad. Like a celebrity is getting divorced or someone's put on
too much weight. So, yeah, right now, that band is in the news. They were on tour and canceled their
shows because one of the band members got arrested. So all the fans are furious because they paid a lot of
money for concert tickets."
Sample comment
"I didn't know their show was canceled. Why did the band member get arrested? Are they going to refund
the cost of the tickets for the fans?"
Adding information: Defining and non-defining relative clauses
Relative clauses give information about a noun (i.e. a person or a thing). The clauses in bold are relative
clauses. They add information to the underlined nouns.
We love to read about the people that celebrities date.
Celebrity magazines, which outnumber news magazines, are on every newsstand.
Defining relative clauses
Defining relative clauses define, identify, or give essential information about a noun. This information is
necessary to know which thing or person the sentence is about.
There are shows that pay for plastic surgery.
We love to read about the people that celebrities date and the clothes that they wear.
You can use the relative pronouns that or which to refer to a thing, and that or who to refer to a person.
There are shows that pay for plastic surgery. or There are shows which pay for plastic surgery.
We love to read about the people who celebrities date … or We love to read about the people that
celebrities date …
Sometimes the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the relative clause.
There are shows that pay for plastic surgery. (Here, that is the subject of pay.)
Sometimes the relative pronoun is the object of the verb in the relative clause.
We love to read about the people that celebrities date … (Here, the subject is celebrities, and that is the
object of date.)
When the relative pronoun is the object, you can leave out the pronoun.
We love to read about the people celebrities date and the clothes they wear.
In conversation. That is more common than which in defining relative clauses.
Non-defining relative clauses
Non-defining relative clauses give extra information about a noun. This information isn't necessary to
know which thing or person the sentence is about.
Celebrity magazines, which outnumber news magazines, are everywhere.
It's natural to talk about celebrities, who we see as successful people.
You always need to use a relative pronoun in a non-defining relative clause. Use which for things and
who for people. Do not use that to begin a non-defining relative clause.
Celebrity magazines, which outnumber news magazines, are everywhere.
(NOT: Celebrity magazines, that outnumber news magazines, are everywhere.)
Notice the use of commas. Always use a comma before a non-defining relative clause.
It's natural to talk about celebrities, who we see as successful people.
If a non-defining relative clause is in the middle of a sentence, use a comma before and after it.
Celebrity magazines, which outnumber news magazines, are everywhere.
Do not use commas with defining relative clauses.
Which clauses
Sometimes a non-defining relative clause with which can add information not just to a noun, but to the
whole clause before it.
Celebrities come into our homes, which almost makes them family. (Here, the which clause adds
information to "Celebrities come into our homes.")
A which clause often adds a comment to the clause before it.
This obsession is normal, which is reassuring.
In conversation. Non-defining and which clauses often give opinions as well as information.
Common errors. In relative clauses, do not use what.
Do not use which for people.
We like to read about the people that celebrities date. (NOT… the people what celebrities date.)
(NOT… the people which celebrities date.)
Who's into celebrity gossip?
Questions
1. Do you always believe celebrity gossip?
2. What gossip have you heard recently?
Sample answers
1. It is hard to know if celebrity gossip is true or not. Sometimes, you cannot believe it because it is so
ridiculous. Magazines often invent stories which will help them sell more copies. Other times the gossip
is entirely possible.
2. The most recent gossip that I heard was about my favorite actor. There was a story about his marriage
break up, which was in every magazine and on every news website. Apparently it wasn't true, which is
good news for his family, but it must be really difficult for them to read about this. I think the journalists
who report these untrue stories should apologize.
Sample comment
That's interesting. I usually like to read about the problems that celebrities have, but I hadn't heard about
this. His wife is the actor who stars in a new TV series that has just started this fall.
A Photographers are always following celebrities around, which must be a pain.
B I agree. It seems like photographers are always taking pictures of celebrities, which must be annoying
for them.
A The magazines make up all these stories about them, which is probably annoying.
B I know. It must be terrible to have someone write something about you which is untrue.
A People complain about them even when they do charity work, which is totally unfair.
B Totally. It's difficult for charities to publicize an issue, which is why they use celebrities.
A They can't have a private life – even their breakups are in the news, which must be awkward.
B I know. Everyone knows who they are, and they are followed everywhere, which leaves them with no
privacy.
A People expect them to live perfect lives, which is impossible.
B Exactly. Because of their fame and money, people think that they can't have any problems or
difficulties in their lives, which is totally unrealistic.
A There are websites that tell you where celebrities are, which must be scary for them.
B Exactly. There are all these people leaving comments in chatrooms whenever they see a celebrity,
which really isn't right.
04/04/2022
Grammar Extra
Verbs in subject and object relative clauses
In relative clauses, who, that, and which can be the subject or object of the verb. Use a singular verb with
a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject.
Subject relative clauses
Defining
There’s a TV show that arranges plastic surgery.
TV shows that arrange plastic surgery are often criticized by doctors.
Nondefining
Celebrity magazines, which need to attract readers, publish some incredible stories.
My brother, who loves celebrity gossip, reads celebrity magazines all the time.
Object relative clauses
Defining
People read about the clothes that celebrities wear.
I’m interested in the people who my favorite actor dates. or I’m interested in the people my favorite actor
dates.
Nondefining
Reality shows, which I never watch, by the way, have millions of viewers.
Which clauses that comment on a previous clause can be subject or object relative clauses. As a subject,
which takes a singular verb.
Celebrity magazines sometimes invent stories, which is pretty shocking.
Some people believe everything they read, which I find very scary.
Common errors: Don’t repeat the subject or object in a relative clause.
The actor who was on TV last week has … (NOT The actor who he was on TV last week has …)
The actor that I saw on TV last week has … (NOT The actor (that) I saw him on TV last week has …)
03/03/2023
