Episode Transcript
[00:00:12] Speaker A: Has over 10 ways to combine sentences using relative clauses.
Well, this tiny words, you know, like who, which that. That can make your English sound much more natural or completely confusing if you use them incorrectly.
[00:00:32] Speaker B: Today we're going to explore relative clauses, how to use them correctly, and some common mistakes that learners make.
But that's not all. We're also taking English outside the classroom and into the city. Because today we're talking about urban gardening.
Why are more and more people growing food, flowers and even vegetables in the middle of busy cities? And what can this trend teach us about the way we live?
[00:01:03] Speaker A: So stay with us. I'm Johnny. I'm here with my friend Aline and her little pet, Kenya. Yes.
So I think we have seen Felix around today.
Tokyo. No, it's true.
I call him Felix because he had. It has exactly the same.
[00:01:27] Speaker B: It's true. Absolutely true.
[00:01:30] Speaker A: So then, because by the end of the episode, you will not only understand relative clauses better, which is an important thing, but you'll also have some fascinating new ideas and vocabulary to talk about city life, nature and urban gardening. So let's get started. You are listening to the training podcast and this is your place to learn English. So get your free class with the link in the description or visit trainer.com so you can learn English with the best online school.
[00:02:03] Speaker B: And stick around because we're going to use real life situations to practice relative clauses, discover some surprising urban gardening trends, look at common mistakes to avoid and give you useful examples that will help you sound much more natural in English.
[00:02:21] Speaker A: Very good. Fantastic. So, Aline, let us go with our usual fictional dialogue.
And so I think we're in a co working space talking about people, places and things around us.
So let's start.
[00:02:36] Speaker B: Aline.
[00:02:36] Speaker A: Hey, did you meet the guy who was presenting the meeting earlier? He seemed really nervous.
[00:02:42] Speaker B: Yes, and the project which he explained sounded very promising even though it was complicated.
[00:02:48] Speaker A: I also noticed that laptop that he was using.
It was brand new, right?
[00:02:54] Speaker B: Exactly. The one that cost over $2,000. And the office where he works has such a great view. It's on the top floor.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: I want to visit the co working space with everyone. He's talking about the cafe near it which sells amazing pastries.
And so it's a must see.
[00:03:13] Speaker B: Don't forget the colleague who always brings snacks to the office.
The snack bar that she set up is incredible.
[00:03:22] Speaker A: I want to try everything, Aline, so you really notice details better than when you focus on who, which and then.
[00:03:29] Speaker B: Exactly. And we'll show you in a second why these words are. Are Tricky, especially for Spanish speakers.
[00:04:00] Speaker A: In our dialogue, we used sentences like the cafe that we visited yesterday. It was amazing.
Este is a defining relative clause which gives essential information about the noun.
Without it, the sentence wouldn't make complete sentence.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: Exactly. And notice how we didn't pause too much between cafe and that we visited.
In defining clauses, we don't use commas.
[00:04:33] Speaker A: So. Right. Contrast at which now defining clause like the cafe, which is the next to the station, has the best coffee. Here the clause adds extra information so you could remove it and the sentence still works.
Defining or non defining. Como las puedo differentia buono primeros la informacion. The information is the best. The first thing. On the defining clause, this is essential to identify the noun. But on the non defining, it's just extra information. It's not essential.
[00:05:14] Speaker B: Good. We mentioned earlier the commands when to use them and when not to use them. Defining. No commas, Non defining. We must use comma. It's compulsory. You need the commas.
[00:05:27] Speaker A: Fantastic. Then we have the use of relative pronouns with the defining. You can use that things who for people or which. When you want to make a difference between things.
On non defining, you use who, which and whose.
[00:05:47] Speaker B: Excellent. And what about the pronunciation? Back to the commas. There is no pause before the relative pronoun. No commas, no pause. But on the non defining one there is a slight pause, not very long, but a slight pause before the left pronoun. That's very important.
[00:06:07] Speaker A: Okay, should we just listen to some examples?
[00:06:10] Speaker B: For example, very good idea.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: Defining. So the teacher who helped me is amazing. The teacher who helped me is amazing. Just one sentence. Can you give us an example of a known defining?
[00:06:23] Speaker B: Of course. My teacher who helped me last year is amazing.
[00:06:28] Speaker A: Yeah, I could notice that. I could notice the little comma, the slight pause. Okay, so try, try you now a defining one.
[00:06:37] Speaker B: Very good. Another one. I bought the book that you recommended.
[00:06:42] Speaker A: All right. Yeah, Straight. No, just no commas. Okay, let's see. Let's see if I can get a non defining one with the book. Again, the book which you recommended was really interesting.
Oh yeah, there was a slight pause. No, that just what you recommended.
So fantastic.
Talking about information, just only to give you a tip.
So we said essential information and known essential information. Okay, so we said the teacher who helped me is amazing. Fantastic. But if you say the teacher is amazing.
Yeah, is amazing. But who? Which teacher? So you need that information to give the clear information.
So now you say the book was really interesting.
Fantastic. Okay, well, that sentence makes sense. The book was very interesting. But now you want to add information. Which book? Okay, well, the one you recommended. So that's mainly the idea about the defining and non defining relative clauses.
Okay.
So I think, in fact we have had even here some slides that we were using. This is the extra information that we just said. So let's talk about common mistakes. So one, for example, could be using that in known defining clauses. For example, okay, so the cafe that we visited was nice.
That. No, here would be which the cafe which we visited was nice.
Or another problem could be mixing up who and which. In this case, the person. The person which.
The person who.
Remember always when we talk about people, you have to use who. You don't use that or you use which. The person who helped me was Kai.
All right, let's continue.
[00:08:52] Speaker B: More examples. Let's talk about examples from the dialogue. Yes.
The market where we bought exotic spices smelled. Smelled incredibly.
Again here defining one. Where we bought no commas. I tried the dish which had been recommended by the chef, and I loved it.
Again here there is a comma. There is a slight pause. And. And it's a non defining clause.
[00:09:22] Speaker A: Can you give us also some pronunciation tips? Anim.
[00:09:25] Speaker B: Exactly. Well, as I mentioned, when it's a defining clause, it connects smoothly. Okay, so the restaurant that serves vegan desserts, smooth but non defining clothes. There is that slight pause. That is not something that we think about, but it's necessary. So the restaurant which serves vegan desserts is always crowded. It's like as if we had brackets. Like, by the way, I'm giving that extra information.
[00:09:54] Speaker A: Very good. Fantastic. So then we can say that this type of defining or non defining relative clauses, they add context.
They add context to our sentence. Right.
All right. So yeah. Can you give another example about this?
[00:10:15] Speaker B: Yes. Let's see. Real life context. Now think of these relatives clauses, like giving directions. If I say the bakery that is on main street sells croissant. Croissants. Sorry. The info is necessary to find it.
[00:10:29] Speaker A: Okay, I was going to correct you just when you said croissant.
[00:10:34] Speaker B: I said sorry.
[00:10:35] Speaker A: No, Aline just.
[00:10:40] Speaker B: Well, I should say it like the English people say. No. Maybe, but it's a crime for me not to say croissant.
[00:10:48] Speaker A: It's not possible pronouncing croissant.
[00:10:51] Speaker B: But we got the idea. Yes. That the bakery that is on the main street sells croissant. Well, that's the necessary. I mean, we need to know which bakery if we want to get the croissant.
[00:11:02] Speaker A: That's right. Yeah, but. But if I say the bakery which is famous for its croissant is my favorite. Well, I'm just adding extra info.
This is not known Defining Fantastic.
So when we talk about travel, food, context, the defining for example the hotel that has free wi fi is perfect for digital nomads. Or no defining the hotel which was built in the 19th century. Fantastic. I'm giving you some extra tip, extra information about the hotel, but nothing important. Has amazing architecture.
[00:11:38] Speaker B: Very good. I think you've explained it beautifully, Jenny. So let's see how well you can use relative clauses now, this time with our urban gardening topic. Imagine a community garden in London. How would you say this in English?
Las Personas que cultiva emberduras en la azotea viben and mi difficio.
Try to write the full sentence in English using the correct relative pronoun.
And if you're on YouTube, post your sentence in the comments. We will read them.
[00:12:10] Speaker A: Fantastico. And if you are enjoying this episode, well then what you can do is just visit our website.
To improve your English go into website trainer.com or you can also scan the QR to get your free class. This you are.
So let's continue then just with our cultural hook.
So yeah, and well, by the way, no, it's true. Maybe you have noticed, Aline, that rooftops, balconies and big cities are turning green everywhere.
It feels like every week there is a new garden popping up.
[00:12:57] Speaker B: Totally. Urban gardening has exploded, especially in London. And in New York City, people are growing vegetables, herbs and even small fruit trees in places that used to be completely empty.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: Yeah, one of my favorites is a rooftop farm in Brooklyn. Produces fresh tomatoes, herbs, leafy greens on the naval goods for the neighborhood. It's incredible to see a farm with rows of plants right above the streets.
[00:13:29] Speaker B: London has amazing projects too. There's a community garden in East London that started with just a few neighbors planting seeds. Now it's a huge space where families pick up organic produce every week.
[00:13:43] Speaker A: Yeah, and the balconies. Oh, some look like have many jungles.
People grow salad ingredients, strawberries, peppers, all in tiny corners of the apartments.
[00:13:56] Speaker B: Urban gardens have become social hubs. People meet there after work, share gardening tips, exchange seeds, and even cook together. It's a way of building community in cities where people often feel isolated.
[00:14:11] Speaker A: Many gardens also offer workshops.
Kids learn how to plant the first tomato, adults learn composting, and volunteers teach sustainable gardening techniques.
[00:14:24] Speaker B: What I love is the creativity. Some skyscraper terraces have been transformed into microforms with neat rows of lettuce and herbs like we see on the picture. It's like discovering a secret green world in the middle of the city.
[00:14:41] Speaker A: Yeah. And restaurants are joining the movement too. Some partner with rooftop farms to serve dishes made with vegetables grown just a few blocks away.
It doesn't get more local than that.
[00:14:53] Speaker B: And parks are evolving. In some cities, parks include urban farms where people can volunteer, buy fresh produce, or attend weekends market. Weekend markets.
[00:15:05] Speaker A: That's right. So New York, Brooklyn graduates is a great example. It's one of the largest rooftop farms in the world, producing thousands of pounds of vegetables every year. It's become a symbol of the urban agriculture.
[00:15:19] Speaker B: Urban gardening also helps cities fight climate change. Green roofs reduce heat absorption, improve air quality, and make building more energy efficient.
[00:15:32] Speaker A: Plus, community gardens, often organized events, cooking classes, seasonal celebrations, harvest festivals. And they bring people together in a way that feels very natural.
[00:15:44] Speaker B: And it's not just London and New York city. Tokyo has rooftop rice fields. Paris has vertical gardens. Barcelona is turning all industrial spaces into green zones. Even smaller cities are joining the movement.
[00:15:59] Speaker A: Urban gardening blends sustainability, creativity, and community.
So it's changing how people think about food and how cities use their space.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: It's inspiring to see how a simple idea, growing plants, can transform neighborhoods, connect people, and make cities healthier.
[00:16:19] Speaker A: Yeah. Urban gardening isn't just a trend. It's becoming part of modern city life.
[00:16:24] Speaker B: And it shows that even in the busiest cities, there's always room for a little bit of nature.
[00:16:30] Speaker A: Yeah, that's right. You know, I'm thinking to. To start this lean, just maybe I grow something in my balcony. In my balcony. So I'll see. Maybe one day I show you a picture of my urban gardening area.
[00:16:44] Speaker B: I would love that.
Very good. So now let's look at the way. I mean, the way we said this sentence in English and in Spanish side by side. Okay? So we said las versasque cultivan.
[00:17:08] Speaker A: The people who grow vegetables on the rooftop. Life in my building. Okay. The people who grow vegetables on the rooftop live in my building.
[00:17:30] Speaker B: Extra information.
[00:17:31] Speaker A: Exactly.
The people.
[00:17:37] Speaker B: Yes.
Very good.
So now I need to know about you. Have you ever visited an urban city? Tell us about your experience.
Maybe you enjoyed parks, green spaces, or interesting urban gardening projects. And if you're on YouTube, share your stories in the comments, please.
[00:18:05] Speaker A: Defining and non defining relative clauses. Okay. Algunas differentias.
Algunos nosdan information.
Extra.
[00:18:43] Speaker B: Yo grupo estamo glaro. And what will we see in our next episode? Johnny?
[00:18:49] Speaker A: Third and next conditionals. Okay, third and next.
[00:18:53] Speaker B: That sounds very good and very useful.
And remember, you can try a private free class with us. We guarantee the best teachers and the best platform. Click the link or scan the QR code to start speaking like a native.
[00:19:09] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:19:12] Speaker B: She said yes. She said you should do it.
Look, she's speaking.
Ms. Madigan.
