"This book examines the syntax of relative clauses in colloquial English, and is divided into four main chapters. The first (= this chapter) provides an introduction to the main types of relative clause found in standard registers and varieties of English, which typically contain an (overt or null) relativiser associated with a gap lower down in the structure. Chapters 2-4 provide a detailed description and analysis of three types of relative clause found in colloquial English, but not in standard varieties/registers. Chapter 2 examines the syntax of resumptive relatives, so called because they contain a resumptive expression which most frequently comprises a personal pronoun like that italicised in 'He's the kind of player that you wonder how he ever got into the team'. Chapter 3 deals with prepositional relatives in colloquial English, focusing on non-canonical structures containing doubled or mismatching prepositions"--