Relative Clauses
Learn relative clauses in English: who, which, that, whose, where and when; when to leave the pronoun out; and defining vs non-defining clauses with commas.
In short
- who/that = people · which/that = things and animals · whose = possession · where = places · when = times.
- The relative pronoun replaces a word, so don't repeat it: 'the man who lives here', not 'the man who he lives here'.
- In defining clauses, you can leave out who/which/that when another subject follows it: 'the book (that) I bought'.
- Defining clauses tell us which one and have no commas; non-defining clauses add extra information between commas.
- Never use 'that' after a comma: 'My car, which is red, …', not 'My car, that is red, …'.
A relative clause gives more information about a noun. It comes directly after the noun and starts with a relative pronoun. It lets us join two sentences into one: 'I have a friend. She speaks five languages.' → 'I have a friend who speaks five languages.'
Use 'who' for people. In defining clauses (without commas), 'that' is also possible and is common in informal speech: 'The woman who/that lives next door is a nurse.'
The relative pronoun replaces the subject or object of the clause, so don't add another pronoun: 'the man who lives here' (not 'the man who he lives here'). The verb after 'who' agrees with the noun it refers to: 'the people who live upstairs'.
'Whom' is a formal object form, used mainly in writing and after prepositions: 'the person to whom I spoke'. In everyday English, 'who' or 'that' is normal: 'the person (who) I spoke to'.
Form:person + who/that + verb … (the man who called)
Examples
I have a friend who speaks five languages.
who = she (the friend).
The woman who lives next door is a nurse.
The clause tells us which woman.
People who work at night often sleep badly.
who + plural verb (work).
He's the actor that played the main role.
'that' is also fine for people in defining clauses.
Is she the doctor who helped you?
A relative clause in a question.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The man which called is my uncle.Correct:The man who called is my uncle.
Use who (or that) for people, not which.
Incorrect:
I know a girl who she plays the drums.Correct:I know a girl who plays the drums.
'Who' replaces 'she', so don't use both.
Incorrect:
The people who lives upstairs are noisy.Correct:The people who live upstairs are noisy.
The verb agrees with the noun 'who' refers to: people → live.
the man who
/ðə ˈmæn huː/
The man who called is my friend.
people who
/ˈpiːpl huː/
I respect people who work hard.
the woman who
/ðə ˈwʊmən huː/
That's the woman who lives next door.
colleague
/ˈkɒliːɡ/
I have a colleague who cycles to work every day.
whom
/huːm/
The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.
Choose the correct relative pronoun: The man ___ called this morning is my uncle.
Complete with a relative pronoun: People ___ work at night often sleep badly.
Complete with the present simple of 'live': The people who ___ upstairs are very noisy.
Which sentence is correct?
Join the sentences: 'I have a friend. She speaks five languages.'
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
Use 'which' or 'that' for things and animals: 'The bus which/that goes to the airport leaves every 20 minutes.' In defining clauses both are correct; 'that' is very common in speech. Never use 'who' for things, and don't use 'what' after a noun: 'the book that I read' (not 'the book what I read').
'That' is preferred after words like everything, something, anything, nothing and all, and after superlatives: 'Is there anything that I can do?' 'It's the best film that I've seen this year.'
As with 'who', don't repeat the noun or add 'it': 'the bus that goes to the airport' (not 'the bus that it goes').
Form:thing + which/that + verb … (the bus that goes to the airport)
Examples
The bus that goes to the airport leaves every 20 minutes.
'that' refers to the bus.
I lost the watch which my grandfather gave me.
which = the watch.
Is there anything that I can do to help?
'that' after anything/something/everything.
It's the best film that I've seen this year.
'that' after a superlative.
We adopted a dog that loves swimming.
which/that for animals.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The phone who I bought is broken.Correct:The phone that I bought is broken.
Use which/that for things, who for people.
Incorrect:
This is the bus that it goes to the airport.Correct:This is the bus that goes to the airport.
'That' replaces 'it', so don't use both.
Incorrect:
The book what I read was great.Correct:The book that I read was great.
'What' is not a relative pronoun after a noun.
the book which
/ðə ˈbʊk wɪtʃ/
The book which I bought yesterday is great.
the car that
/ðə ˈkɑː ðət/
The car that I want is very expensive.
the song that
/ðə ˈsɒŋ ðət/
I love the song that's playing now.
anything that
/ˈeniθɪŋ ðət/
Is there anything that I can do?
Choose the correct word: The car ___ I want is very expensive.
Complete with a relative pronoun: I love the song ___ is playing on the radio.
Complete with a relative pronoun: Is there anything ___ I can do to help?
Which sentence is correct?
Build the sentence.
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
In defining clauses you can often leave out the relative pronoun. This is very common in spoken English.
You can leave it out when it is the object of the relative clause — that is, when another subject comes after it: 'The book (that) I bought is great' (I bought the book: 'I' is the subject). 'The man (who) we met was French.'
You cannot leave it out when it is the subject of the clause — when a verb comes straight after it: 'The man who lives next door is French' (not 'The man lives next door is French').
Quick test: if the pronoun is followed by a noun or pronoun (I, you, my sister…), you can drop it. If it is followed by a verb, you must keep it.
In everyday English, prepositions usually go at the end of the clause: 'This is the flat (that) I told you about.' 'Who's the girl (who) you were talking to?'
Form:noun + (who/which/that) + subject + verb — drop the pronoun only when a subject follows it
Examples
The book I bought yesterday is great.
= the book (that) I bought.
The man we met on holiday was French.
= the man (who) we met.
The man who lives next door is French.
'who' is the subject: you can't leave it out.
This is the flat I told you about.
The preposition goes at the end.
Is that the girl you were talking to?
= the girl (who) you were talking to.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The woman lives next door is a teacher.Correct:The woman who lives next door is a teacher.
When the pronoun is the subject (a verb follows), you must keep it.
Incorrect:
The film that I saw it was boring.Correct:The film (that) I saw was boring.
Don't add 'it': the relative pronoun already refers to the film.
Incorrect:
This is the flat about I told you.Correct:This is the flat I told you about.
In everyday English, the preposition goes at the end of the clause.
relative pronoun
/ˌrelətɪv ˈprəʊnaʊn/
'Who', 'which' and 'that' are relative pronouns.
flat
/flæt/
This is the flat I told you about.
recommend
/ˌrekəˈmend/
The restaurant you recommended was excellent.
talk to
/ˈtɔːk tə/
Who was the man you were talking to?
In which sentence can you leave out 'that'?
Which sentence is NOT correct?
Complete with a relative pronoun: The man ___ lives next door is a pilot.
Build the sentence without a relative pronoun.
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
Build the sentence without a relative pronoun.
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
Use 'whose' to show possession. It replaces his, her, its or their, and it is always followed directly by a noun: 'I have a friend. Her brother is a famous chef.' → 'I have a friend whose brother is a famous chef.'
'Whose' is mostly used for people, but it can also refer to animals, things, countries and organisations: 'It's a company whose products are sold all over the world.'
Don't confuse 'whose' with 'who's' (= who is / who has). They sound the same, /huːz/: 'the man whose car was stolen' vs 'Who's (who is) that man?'
Don't add a possessive after 'whose': 'the man whose car was stolen' (not 'the man whose his car').
Form:noun + whose + noun + verb (the man whose car was stolen)
Examples
I have a friend whose brother is a famous chef.
whose brother = her brother.
The man whose car was stolen called the police.
whose car = his car.
She's the writer whose book won the prize.
whose book = her book.
It's a company whose products are sold worldwide.
'whose' can refer to things too.
Who's the man whose dog keeps barking?
who's = who is; whose = possession.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The man who's car was stolen is upset.Correct:The man whose car was stolen is upset.
'Who's' means who is/has; for possession write 'whose'.
Incorrect:
That's the girl who her father is a pilot.Correct:That's the girl whose father is a pilot.
Use 'whose' instead of 'who her'.
Incorrect:
The student whose his phone rang apologised.Correct:The student whose phone rang apologised.
'Whose' already shows possession: no 'his'.
the man whose
/ðə ˈmæn huːz/
The man whose car was stolen is upset.
people whose
/ˈpiːpl huːz/
I admire people whose ideas change the world.
who's
/huːz/
Who's coming to the party?
owner
/ˈəʊnə/
The dog whose owner was away barked all night.
Choose the correct word: The man ___ car was stolen called the police.
Join the sentences: 'I admire people. Their ideas change the world.' → I admire people ___ ideas change the world.
Choose the correct sentence.
Join the sentences: 'I have a friend. Her brother is a chef.'
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
Use 'where' after nouns for places (the city, the house, the restaurant) and 'when' after nouns for times (the day, the year, the moment): 'This is the café where we first met.' 'I'll never forget the day when I passed my driving test.'
'Where' means 'in/at which', and it is followed by a full clause with its own subject: 'the town where I grew up' = 'the town (that) I grew up in'.
Be careful: if the verb in the clause needs an object, use which/that, not where. 'The museum that we visited was amazing' (we visited the museum), but 'The museum where we saw the dinosaurs was amazing' (we saw the dinosaurs in the museum).
After 'the day', 'the year' or 'the time', 'when' can be replaced by 'that' or left out in informal English: 'the day (that) we met'.
Form:place + where + subject + verb · time + when + subject + verb
Examples
This is the café where we first met.
'where' refers to a place.
Paris is the city where she grew up.
where = in which.
I'll never forget the day when I passed my driving test.
'when' refers to a time.
Summer is the time when most people go on holiday.
'when' after 'the time'.
The museum that we visited was amazing.
We visited the museum (object) → that, not where.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The museum where we visited was amazing.Correct:The museum (that) we visited was amazing.
'Visit' needs an object, so use that/which, not where.
Incorrect:
That's the restaurant which we had dinner.Correct:That's the restaurant where we had dinner.
We had dinner in the restaurant → where.
Incorrect:
I remember the day where we met.Correct:I remember the day when we met.
Use 'when' for times.
the place where
/ðə ˈpleɪs weə/
This is the place where we met.
the city where
/ðə ˈsɪti weə/
Paris is the city where she grew up.
the day when
/ðə ˈdeɪ wen/
I remember the day when we first met.
grow up
/ˌɡrəʊ ˈʌp/
This is the street where I grew up.
Choose the correct word: This is the café ___ we first met.
Complete with a relative word: I'll never forget the day ___ I passed my driving test.
Choose the correct sentence.
Match each relative word with what it refers to.
Select a word on the left, then its pair on the right.
Build the sentence.
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
A defining relative clause tells us which person or thing we mean. It is essential: without it, the sentence is unclear. It has no commas: 'Students who study regularly usually pass' (which students? the ones who study regularly).
A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about a noun that is already clear, often a name or 'my mother', 'the Eiffel Tower'. It goes between commas, and the sentence still makes sense without it: 'My brother, who lives in Rome, is a chef' (I have one brother; the clause just adds information).
Non-defining clauses have two important rules: you cannot use 'that' — use 'who' or 'which'; and you cannot leave out the relative pronoun: 'Our car, which is ten years old, still runs well' (not ', that is ten years old,').
Commas can change the meaning: 'My sister who lives in Leeds is a doctor' (I have more than one sister; I mean the one in Leeds). 'My sister, who lives in Leeds, is a doctor' (I have one sister, and she lives in Leeds).
Non-defining clauses are more common in writing; in speech we often use two short sentences instead.
Form:Defining: noun + who/which/that … (no commas) · Non-defining: noun, who/which …, (commas)
Examples
Students who study regularly usually pass.
Defining: tells us which students.
My brother, who lives in Rome, is a chef.
Non-defining: extra information.
The Eiffel Tower, which was finished in 1889, is in Paris.
Extra information about a famous place.
My sister who lives in Leeds is a doctor.
No commas: I have more than one sister.
Our car, which is ten years old, still runs well.
Non-defining: 'which', never 'that'.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
My father, that is a pilot, travels a lot.Correct:My father, who is a pilot, travels a lot.
Never use 'that' in a non-defining clause.
Incorrect:
London which is the capital of the UK is very expensive.Correct:London, which is the capital of the UK, is very expensive.
Extra information about a clear noun goes between commas.
Incorrect:
My car, I bought last year, is red.Correct:My car, which I bought last year, is red.
You can't leave out the pronoun in a non-defining clause.
defining
/dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ/
Students who study pass exams. (defining, no commas)
non-defining
/ˌnɒn dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ/
My brother, who lives in Rome, is a chef. (non-defining)
comma
/ˈkɒmə/
Put a comma before 'which' here.
Which sentence has a non-defining clause?
Write 'who', 'which' or 'that': Our car, ___ is ten years old, still runs well.
Write 'who', 'which' or 'that': My grandmother, ___ is 90, still swims every day.
'My sister who lives in Leeds is a doctor.' What does this sentence tell us?
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Build the sentence.
Tap words in order to build the sentence.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 'who', 'which' and 'that'?
Use 'who' for people and 'which' for things and animals. 'That' can replace both in defining clauses (without commas): 'the man that called', 'the book that I bought'. In non-defining clauses (with commas), you can't use 'that'.
When can I leave out the relative pronoun?
In defining clauses, you can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause, that is, when another subject follows it: 'the film (that) we watched'. You can't leave it out when it is the subject: 'the man who lives here'.
What is the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses?
A defining clause tells us which person or thing we mean and has no commas: 'The students who passed got a certificate.' A non-defining clause adds extra information about a noun that is already clear and goes between commas: 'My brother, who is 25, is a chef.'
Is it 'whose' or 'who's'?
'Whose' shows possession: 'the woman whose bag was stolen'. 'Who's' is short for 'who is' or 'who has': 'Who's that?', 'Who's seen my keys?'. They sound the same, so check the meaning.
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