The relative pronoun we use depends on what we are referring to and the type of

relative clause.

There are two types of relative clauses:

a) defining-restrictive (realative clause) (only 4 relative pronouns who, whom, which, whose and that. All of
them can be omitted in the sentence if they function or serve as an object in a sentence)
Defining relative clause gives us essential information to tell us which person the speaker is talking about.
It took me a while to get used to people who eat popcorn during the movie. (we don’t know what kind of people
because we can not say all the people.)
In defining clause = who, whom, which and that can be omitted (aýyrmak) if it is the object of the clause.
If they are followed by a subject, they function as the object of the clause.
b) non-defining – non-restrictive (4 relative pronouns who, whom, which and whose. We can not use that in
non-defining clauses because non defining clauses gives non-essential extra information. This non-essential
part of the sentence is separated by commas.)
Non-defining relataive clause gives us extra information
The science fair, which lasted all day, ended with an awards ceremony.
Here the fact that the science fair lasted all day is just giving us extra information.

Restrictive Non-restrictive
Defining relative clause non-defining relative clause
a) Extra interesting information
* necessary information * extra information
* helps to identify the noun * interesting information b) Use commas

c) No “that”
The printer that/which is next to the door
can only print in black an white. The printer, which is ancient and needs to be thrown
(there are 2 printers in the room) away, can only print in black and white.

(there is only one printer in the room an it is ancient)

I need the names of all the people who
were here last night. I didn’t speak to Ed, who was working in a different
room.

Note: Second thing in non-defining clauses are

commas. Think of the commas like a box. So you can
easily remove the clause if you want.

The printer can only print in black and white.

In spoken English there are no commas. But if we give non-essential information we would still use which. Not that
When we are speaking sometimes we add a little pause. That pause is kind of like comma.

a) My boss decided to end the workday early because of the blizzard (a big snow storm), which thought was a
good idea. Blizzard was good idea?
My boss allowing people to leave work early, so they can drive home safely. That was a good idea. Not the
blizzard.
b) My teacher gave us a lot of homework for the weekend, which was unfair. Weekend was unfair?
My teacher gave us a lot of homework on a Friday. (The whole idea was unfair)
We can use which in non-defining relative clause to refer back to the entire sentence or the entire situation.
 Relative pronouns as object or subject in the clause
Subject? or Object?

People are still talking about the amazing dish that /which you brought to my party.

Subject verb object

You brought dish

Please sign the lines that/which have an “x” on them.

The lines have an “x”

I don’t like desserts which look too artificial.

Which
relative
pronoun
can we
Where is the hat that I bought you?
remove?

Subject

I have an aunt whose hair goes down past her back.

Who/that (people)

Which/that (thing)

Whose +noun Noun relative clause

Which/that (animal)

Who (pet animal)

The email had a mistake in it.

Food is bad for you We don’t know which email, food or what kind of people.
I hate people

The email that/which you sent me last night had a mistake in it.
Food that/which is high in sodium is bad for you.
I hate people who/that walk super slowly and take up the whole sidewalk.
 Relative Type of clause Used instead of Used for
Pronoun

1 That Defining Who, whom, which. People (who), animal and things (which).
(informal) (restrictive) (that – more
(subject) informal than the
(object) others)
2 Which Defining that Animals and things
(formal)
(subject) Non-defining used for objects and animals
(object)
3 Who Defining That, whom (if it People and pet animals
(formal) functions as an ( used for people: replaces subject pronouns like I,
(subject) Non-defining object in the she, he, we, they sometimes for pet animals it)
(object) sentence)
4 Whom Defining Who/that (replaces object pronouns like me, her, him)
(formal)
(object) Non-defining

5 Whose Defining (whose +noun) People, animals plants and sometimes for things in
formal situation. ( towns, countries, organisations)
Non-defining (shows possession or relationship) (we use whose
instead of his, hers, theirs…)

Who or Whom
Subject object
who whom
---------------- who

The spy who loved me.

The spy whom loved me (incorrect)
The spy who I loved.
The spy whom I loved.
Who are you talking to? Not technically correct, but fine
Whom are you talking to?
Both technically correct
You are talking to whom?
You are talking to who? Not as common

Whom – (pay attention and never use whom as a subject but who is taking over whom)

That can be used after:

( something, anything, (quantifiers all, none, much, little and noun phrases that include superlatives)
Examples:
She is the singer who I heard on the radio. ( who refers to the singer and gives us essential information)
She is the singer I heard on the radio. ( we omit the relative pronoun who because it functions as the object in this
clause
 General overview

1) That (defining) more informal than who, whom or which. (that can refer to anything)
a) We went to a beach (that/who) Ali had recommended to us. (we can omit relative pronouns in this
sentence because they are followed by the subject and they function as the object of the relative clause.
b) The boy (whom/who/that and no relative pronoun) Elena had shouted at smiled. (Defining)
c) Decorating is a job (that/which) I hate. (Defining)
d) She went to school (that.which) my mother went to. (Defining)
e) She went to school my mother went to.

2) Which (defining and non-defining) (animal and things)

a) We drove past my old house, which is being renovated at the moment. (Non-defining)
b) Chinese is a language which I have found hard to learn. (Defining)
c) Chinese is a language I have found hard to learn.

3) Who (defining and non-defining) (people and sometimes pet animals)

(more formal than that) (less formal than whom. We can use who instead of whom in spoken English).
She is the singer who I heard on the radio. (Defining)
She is the singer I heard on the radio.

4) Whom (defining and non-defining) (formal context) or (in writing) and often (with
preposition) (rarely used in spoken English + who)
a. The parents whom we met were all involved in organizing the school fete (праздник). (Defining)
Whom can be omitted as it is defining relative clause and the object of the clause.
b. The parents we met were all involved in organizing the school fete. (Defining)
c. The parents who we met were all involved in organizing the school fete. (Defining)

5) Whose + noun (defining and non-defining)

The headteacher, whose name changed from Smith to Brown, is an inspiration to the students. (Non-defining)
We need
 Common errors

It gives me a good chance to improve my Spanish, which has become a little bit rusty.(poslamak) (Non-defining)

We don’t use what as a relative pronoun.

He can make himself easily understood in the two languages, which helps a lot.

He can make himself easily understood in the two languages, what helps a lot.

We don’t use who for things

She has written some great children’s books which have got colourful pictures in. (Defining)

She has written some great children’s books who have got colourful pictures in.

The man who (subject) is taking (verb) all of pictures is my uncle. (man)

I didn’t like the cake which Erin(subject) brought(verb) to the party. (cake)

I read the email that you(subject) sent(verb) me last night. (email)

The relative clause is always goes after the noun it is describing.

People who/that I had a friend who could speak six I had a friend that could speak six
languages! languages!
Things which/that I bought a blanket which glows in I bought a blanket that glows in the dark.
the dark.
Possessive Whose +noun I spoke to a friend whose uncle is a It was a beautiful hotel, whose lobby
(person, lawyer. looked like a palace.
animal, plant I spoke to a friend. His uncle is a It was a beautiful hotel. Its lobby looked
and lawyer. like a palace.
sometimes
tings in a
formal
situation)
Pets Who My neighbor has a dog who
(öý (sometimes constantly barks.
haýwanlary) for pet we
can also use
which)
Animals which/that Giant pandas, which are Animals that have hair or fur are called
endangered, can spend 10 hours a mammals.
day eating.
 Quiz

Which or that (they describe the subject in more detail)

To introduce adjective clauses

My car, which is brand new, is making strange noises.

My car- is making strange noises

That --- (essential info) (-extra info we need

Which ---(non-essential information) (-extra info we don’t need)

It’s nice to have extra information but we don’t need it.

The car that I hired last week was making strange noises.

The car was making strange noises.

It doesn’t make sense. Which car was making noises? (It can’t be taken out because it is part of the meaning of the
sentence)

We put commas because we can remove this part and the whole sense still makes sense.

I have 3 dogs and one of them with spots.

The dog with spots is missing.

Then we can say:

My dog that has spots is missing. Here this information is essential.

My brother has a dog.

My brother’s dog is sick. We know which dog. If we want to tell more about it we can use which.

My brother’s dog, which he got for his birthday, is sick.

My house that/ which has a green door is at the end of the street.

Shoes that have cheap soles make my fee hurt.

Shoes, which have cheap soles, make my feet hurt.

Because not all shoes have cheap soles and if we will say

Shoes make my feet hurt it means that I cannot take shoes because all of them make my feet hurt.

The ring that my grandma gave me is worth a lot of money.

The ring, which my grandma gave me, is worth a lot of money.

It would depend if the listener knew which ring they were talking about, right?

If we both see a ring on the finger of a speaker it means that we both knew about it and it is an extra information
and we don’t need it right. But if you didn’t know which ring then can be specific say.

Food that is cooked with soy oil can give him an allergic reaction.

Food, which is cooked with soy oil, can give him an allergic reaction.
He is not allergic for all food, just specifically food cooked with soy oil.

Food can give him an allergic reaction.

I have one pair of glasses and they are pink.

I lost my sunglasses that are pink at the beach.

I lost my sunglasses, which are pink, at the beach. Dogry (the fact that it is pink is not essential because I have only
one pink glasses)

I have had my computer for six years. It is the only computer that I have

My computer that I have had for 6 years died.

My computer, which I have had for six years, died.

Music that has a good beat makes me want to dance.

Music, which has a good beat, makes me want to dance.

Music makes me want to dance. (not any other types of music make me to dance)

My shirt that has a stain on it need to be washed.

My shirt, which has a stain on it, needs to be washed.

I need to know which shirt because not all my shirt need to be washed.

I forgot my jacket that is purple on the bus.

I forgot my jacket, which is purple, on the bus.

I have one jacket and it is purple that’s why the second answer is correct. If we have more jackets and listener
knows about we should use the answer a.

The picture that was taken at sunset is my favourite.

The picture, which was taken at sunset, is my favourite.

The picture is my favourite ( it doesn’t make sense because there are so many pictures and we cannot make clear
which one is his or her favourite).
 Test 1
1. I have a friend _________ speaks four languages.
2. The Internet is a place ________ you can get cheap technology products.
3. E-mails _______ advertise things are called "spam".
4. A "technophobe" is someone ________ is scared of technology.
5. We should only buy products ________ can be recycled.
6. That's the shop _________ I bought those shoes.
7. I can't find the CD __________ borrowed from you.
8. Do you remember the park _______ we met?
9. There were three people at the party ________ knew me.
10. I want to see the film __________ everybody's talking about.

Test 2
1. What's the name of the man ____ lives next door?
a) That he
b) Where
c) Who
2. This is the computer ____ I bought from my friend.
a) Which
b) What
c) Who
3. We can eat at the restaurant _____ Joanne works.
a) where
b) Which
c) Who
4. Who is the man _____ is dancing with your sister?
a) That he
b) Which
c) That
5. That's the house _____ I lived when I was a child.
a) That
b) Where
c) Which
6. The two men _____ robbed the bank were wearing masks.
a) That they
b) Which
c) Who
7. Working is the only thing _____ makes him happy.
a) Which
b) Who
c) That
8. The police are looking for the place _____ he is hiding.
a) That
b) Which
c) Where
9. A dressing room is a room _____ players change their clothes before and after the match.
a) Where
b) That
c) Which
10. A hairdryer is an electrical device _____ people use to dry their hair.
a) Who
b) Which
c) Where
Test 3
1. That's the neighbour. He helped me when I moved in. ⇒ That's the neighbour____
2. What's the name of the film? You watched this film yesterday. ⇒ What's the name of the
film________.
3. He drives a car. The car is very expensive. ⇒ The car _____is very expensive.
4. Sue wasn't at the bar. She always goes to that bar. ⇒ Sue wasn't at the bar_______
5. A car was stolen. The car was a Mercedes. ⇒ The car _______
6. The octopus is the only animal. It has three hearts. The octopus_____.
7. That's the shop. I bought my TV in that shop. ⇒ That's the shop ______.
8. The man finished the marathon first. He trains three hours a day. ⇒ The man ________trains three
hours a day.
9. This is the school. I studied in this school. ⇒ This is the school_______.
10. That's the remote. It is broken. That's the remote ____________.

Difficult test

1. Did you really understand ________ I told you?

a) That
b) What
c) which
2. Mr. Dean, __________ had recently been fired, had a long list of misconducts.
a) Which
b) That
c) Who
3. The victims, most of __________ were adults, are being identified by the US authorities.
a) which
b) who
c) whom
4. I like the scene __________ Dorothy meets Scarecrow.
a) which
b) where
c) that
5. This is the man ______ I am in love with.
a) Which
b) That
c) ------
6. I wasn't honest with Kenneth, ______ made him furious.
a) Which
b) That
c) ------
7. The chancellor, ______________ sons were arrested in the corruption operation, resigned yesterday.
a) Both of whom
b) Both of whose
c) Both whose
8. The police searched the vehicle _________ the gun was found.
a) Which
b) where
c) That
9. The driver, _______ contract finishes at the end of the season, doesn't want to talk about his
future.
a) Whom
b) Who
c) Whose
10. Between 2000 and 2005 she wrote three novels, ___________ were published.
a) Either of which
b) None which
c) None of which

1. They said they were going to have twins, ______ surprised everybody.
A that
B which
C what
D whose
2. This is the man ______. Choose the INCORRECT answer
A who I used to work with
B with whom I used to work
C I used to work with
D whom I used to work with
3. They've caught the driver ______ caused the car accident. Choose TWO correct options
A who
B ------
C that
D which
4. Several men in plainclothes, ______ were armed, forced him to go with them.
A who some
B whom some
C some of whom
D some who
5. She's going with a friend ______ I really don't like. Choose the INCORRECT answer
A whom
B who
C that
D which
6. This is the house ______. Choose TWO correct options
A where I was born
B I was born
C in which I was born
D in where I was born
7. The world is full of good singers _______. Choose TWO correct options
A whom nobody has heard of
B who nobody has heard of
C of which nobody has heard
D of whom nobody has heard
8. The paramedics rescued the driver, ______ legs were injured.
A who both
B whom both
C both of whom
D both of whose
9. ______ won him many enemies. Choose TWO correct options
A what he wrote
B that he wrote
C which he wrote
D the things he wrote
10. The police in Seattle has arrested 10 men, ______ are members of a dangerous street gang.
A all of who
B all of whom
C all who
D whom all

1. Correct answer: who

➪ We use who for people.
➪ We could also use that, but we can't use an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of
relative clauses.
2. Correct answer: where
➪ We use where for places.
3. Correct answer: which
➪ We use which for things and animals.
➪ We could also use that.
4. Correct answer: that
➪ We can use that instead of who or which.
➪ We could also use who.
5. Correct answer: that
➪ We can use that instead of who or which.
➪ We could also use which.
6. Correct answer: where
➪ We use where for places.
7. Correct answer: that
➪ We can use that instead of who or which.
➪ We could also use which.
➪ We cannot use *what or an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of relative clauses.
8. Correct answer: where
➪ We use where for places.
9. Correct answer: who
➪ We use who for people.
➪ We could also use that, but we can’t use an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of
relative clauses.
10. Correct answer: which
➪ We use which for things or animals.
➪ We could also use that, but we can’t use an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of
relative clauses.

Test 2
1. ➪ We use who for people.
➪ We could also use that, but we can’t use an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of
relative clauses.
2. ➪ We use which for things or animals.
➪ We could also use that, but we can’t use an expression like *what or *that he/she etc. in this
type of relative clauses.
3. ➪ We use where for places.
4. ➪ We can use that instead of who or which.
➪ We could also use who, but we can’t use an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of
relative clauses.
5. ➪ We use where for places.
6. ➪ We use who for people.
➪ We could also use that, but we can’t use an expression like *that he/she etc. in this type of
relative clauses.
7. ➪ We use which for things or animals.
➪ We could also use that, but we can’t use an expression like *what or *that he/she etc. in this
type of relative clauses.
8. ➪ We use where for places.
9. ➪ We use where for places.
 10. ➪ We use which for things and animals.
➪ We could also use that.

Test 3
1. Correct answer: who/that helped me when I moved in
➪ We use who or that to refer to people.
2. Correct answer: which/that you watched yesterday
➪ We use which or that to refer to things or animals.
3. Correct answer: which/that he drives
➪ We use which or that to refer to things or animals.
4. Correct answer: where she always goes
➪ We use where to refer to places.
5. Correct answer: which/that was stolen was a Mercedes
➪ We use which or that to refer to things or animals.
6. Correct answer: is the only animal which/that has three hearts
➪ We use which or that to refer to things or animals.
7. Correct answer: where I bought my TV
➪ We use where to refer to places.
8. Correct answer: who/that finished the marathon first
➪ We use who or that to refer to people.
9. Correct answer: where I studied
➪ We use where to refer to places.
10. Correct answer: which/that is broken
➪ We use which or that to refer to things or animals.

Difficult test

1. Correct answer: what

➪ We use which/that as relative pronouns. They refer back to a noun or sentence.
➪ We use what independently to mean ‘the thing/s that’.
➪ Did you really understand what I told you? = Did you really understand the thing(s) I told you?
2. Correct answer: who
➪ We use who or that to refer to people, but that cannot be used in non-defining relative clauses
(between commas).
3. Correct answer: whom
➪ We can use of which/whom after a quantifier such as some, any, none, all, both, several,
enough, many and few.
➪ We use of whom (NOT ) to refer to people.
4. Correct answer: where
➪ We can use where or at/in/on which to refer to a place.
5. Correct answer: who
➪ We can use who(m) to refer to people. We use whom after a preposition.
➪ This is the man who I am in love with. = This is the man with whom I am in love.
6. Correct answer: which
➪ We use which as a relative pronoun when we want to refer back to a whole sentence.
➪ We can never use that in a non-defining relative clause (between commas).
7. Correct answer: both of whose
➪ In non-defining relative clauses (=between commas), we can use a quantifier + of whose.
8. Correct answer: where
➪ We can use where or at/in/on which to refer to a place.
➪ The police searched the vehicle where the gun was found. = The police searched the vehicle in
which the gun was found.
9. Correct answer: whose contract
➪ We use whose to express possession (whose contract= the driver's contract).
10. Correct answer: none of which
➪ In non-defining relative clauses (=between commas), we can use of which/whom after a
quantifier such as some, any, none, all, both, several, enough, many and few.
➪ We use either when we have to choose between two possibilities, A or B.

Difficult test 2

1. ➪ We use which as a relative pronoun when we want to refer back to a whole sentence.
➪ We can never use that in a non-defining relative clause (between commas).
2. ➪ We use whom after a preposition, and we use who or that if we leave the preposition at the end.
3. ➪ We can use who or that to refer to people.
➪ We cannot leave out a relative pronoun when it's the subject of the relative clause, i.e. when it is
followed by a verb.
4. ➪ We can use of which/whom after a quantifier such as some, any, none, all, both, several,
enough, many and few.
5. ➪ We use which to refer to things or animals, not people.
➪ In formal language, we can use whom when it is the object of the relative clause, i.e. when it's
followed by subject + verb.
6. ➪ We can use where or at/in/on which to refer to a place.
➪ We could also put the preposition at the end and/or leave the relative pronoun out.

• This is the house where/in which I was born.

• This is the house (which/that) I was born in.

7. ➪ We use whom after a preposition to refer to people.

➪ We can also use who/that, or leave the relative pronoun out, and put the preposition at
the end:
a) The world is full of good singers of whom nobody has heard.
b) The world is full of good singers of (who/that) nobody has heard of.
8. ➪ In non-defining relative clauses (=between commas), we can use of which/whom after a
quantifier such as some, any, none, all, both, several, enough, many and few.
➪ We can also use a quantifier + of whose when we want to express possession.
9. ➪ We use which/that as relative pronouns. They refer back to a noun or sentence.
➪ We use what independently to mean ‘the thing/s that’.
10. ➪ We use which/that as relative pronouns. They refer back to a noun or sentence.
➪ We use what independently to mean ‘the thing/s that’.