B1 English GrammarRelative Clauses
Connect ideas and add information using relative clauses with who, which, that, whose, where, and when. Master defining and non-defining relative clauses.
1Defining Relative Clauses
Defining relative clauses give essential information about the noun. Without them, the sentence doesn't make complete sense. We don't use commas with defining clauses. Use 'who' for people, 'which' for things, and 'that' for both.
Relative Pronouns
| Pronoun | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | people (subject) | The man who called is here. |
| which | things | The book which I read was great. |
| that | people/things | The car that he bought is red. |
| whose | possession | The girl whose bag was stolen. |
Examples
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
who = subject, essential information
The phone which I bought yesterday is broken.
The phone which I bought yesterday is broken.
which = object for things
That's the man that helped me.
That's the man that helped me.
that can replace who
I know a girl whose father is famous.
I know a girl whose father is famous.
whose = possession
2Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Non-defining relative clauses add extra information that is not essential. The sentence still makes sense without them. Always use commas around non-defining clauses. Never use 'that' in non-defining clauses.
Non-Defining vs Defining
| Type | Commas | That allowed | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defining | No | Yes | Essential info |
| Non-defining | Yes | No | Extra info |
Examples
My sister, who lives in London, is visiting.
My sister, who lives in London, is visiting.
extra info about my only sister
Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful.
Paris, which is the capital of France, is beautiful.
additional fact, not essential
John, whose car broke down, took the bus.
John, whose car broke down, took the bus.
extra information about John
I called Tom, who gave me the information.
I called Tom, who gave me the information.
non-essential detail
3Where, When, and Why
Use 'where' for places, 'when' for times, and 'why' for reasons. These can replace 'in which', 'at which', or 'for which' to make sentences simpler.
Examples
That's the restaurant where we first met.
That's the restaurant where we first met.
where = in which (place)
I remember the day when you arrived.
I remember the day when you arrived.
when = on which (time)
The reason why I'm late is the traffic.
The reason why I'm late is the traffic.
why = for which (reason)
This is the house where I grew up.
This is the house where I grew up.
where for a location
4Omitting Relative Pronouns
In defining relative clauses, you can omit 'who', 'which', or 'that' when they are the object of the clause (not the subject). This makes English more natural and flowing.
When to Omit
| Role | Can omit? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | No | The man who called... (keep who) |
| Object | Yes | The man I called... (omit who) |
Examples
The film I watched was boring.
The film (which/that) I watched was boring.
which/that omitted (object)
She's the person I told you about.
She's the person (who/that) I told you about.
who/that omitted (object)
Is this the book you wanted?
Is this the book (that) you wanted?
that omitted (object)
The people we met were friendly.
The people (who) we met were friendly.
who omitted (object)