Relative clauses
Defining relative clauses are used to
specify which person or thing we
mean.
Who or that are used for
people. Which or that are used for
things.
We don't use commas in a defining
relative clause.
Non-defining relative clauses (extra
information clauses) are used to add
extra information to a sentence.
We use commas in a non-defining
relative clause.
Who is used for people.
Which is used for things.
That cannot be used.
Relative pronouns
We can use who or that when we talk
about people.
Who is more formal than that.
We use which or that when we talk
about things (but not people).
I have a friend who / that speaks five
languages.
She showed me the coat which / that she
had bought.
Mr Fry, who speaks five languages,
works as a translator for the EU.
Mr Fry, that speaks five languages,
works as a translator for the EU.
The area, which has very high
unemployment, is in the north of the
country.
The area, that has very high
unemployment, is in the north of the
country.
This is the  man who helped us. (more
formal)
This is the  man that  helped us. (less
formal)
We don’t use what:
This is the man what helped us.
It's the watch which my husband bought
me for my birthday. (more formal)
It's the watch that my husband bought me
Which is more formal than that.
In informal speech, we
can omit which and that when the
pronoun refers to the object of the
sentence.
We cannot omit which and that when
the pronoun refers to the subject of
the sentence.
We use whose to show possession.
for my birthday. (less formal)
It's the watch my husband bought me for
my birthday.
In this sentence, 'the watch' is the
object of the verb bought so
we don’t need to use that or which.
It was the man that sold  me the car.
In this sentence, 'the man' is the
subject of the verb sold so we need
to use that or who.
It was the man sold me the car.
John,  whose brother was also a
musician, plays over 100 concerts every
year.
ACTIVITY 1 Exercise instructions
Put who, which, that or whose in each gap to make one sentence from the two
sentences given.
 
1  He is a famous architect. His designs won an international award last year.
whose
    He is a famous architect   designs won an international award last
year. 
2  He is the one. The award should be given to him.
which
    He is the one   the award should be given to. 
3  This is Mary. She is taking over my job when I leave.
who
    This is Mary,   is taking over my job when I leave. 
4  Its the invoice. You sent it to us last week.
which
    It's the invoice   you sent us last week. 
5  He is a consultant. I rely on his advice.
whose
     He is the consultant   advice I rely on. 
6  The photocopier has a two-year guarantee. It cost $2000.
which
    The photocopier,   has a two-year guarantee, cost $2000. 
7  The people were stopped at the border. They were all from Eastern Europe.
that
    The people   were stopped at the border were all from Eastern
Europe. 
8  They expect his decision soon. This decision should help us solve the
problem.
wich
    They expect his decision soon,   should help us solve the
problem. 
9  The President of the company is visiting us next week. I really admire him.
who
    The President of the company,   I really admire, is visiting us
next week. 
ACTIVITY 2 Relative Pronouns (who / which / whose)

Choose the correct relative pronoun (who, which, whose).

w hich
1. This is the bank   was robbed yesterday.
w hose
2. A boy   sister is in my class was in the bank at that time.
w ho
3. The man   robbed the bank had two pistols.
w hich
4. He wore a mask   made him look like Mickey Mouse.
w ho
5. He came with a friend   waited outside in the car.
w ho
6. The woman   gave him the money was young.
w hich
7. The bag   contained the money was yellow.
w ho
8. The people   were in the bank were very frightened.
w hose
9. A man   mobile was ringing did not know what to do.
w hose
10. A woman   daughter was crying tried to calm her.