Everything you need to use relative clauses correctly: the formula, when to use it, signal words, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
A relative clause adds information about the noun in front of it. The main relative pronouns: who (people) / which (things) / that (both); Relative adverbs: where (place) / when (time) / why (reason); : Defining: no commas (identifies) | Non-defining: commas (adds extra information). Signal words: who (people - subject), whom (people - object), which (things), that (people and things - defining), whose (possession), where (place).
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The main relative pronouns | who (people) / which (things) / that (both) The man WHO called you is my brother. | The book WHICH I bought is great. | The girl who sits next to me is very smart. who/which/that stand in for a noun already mentioned, so it is not repeated |
| Relative adverbs | where (place) / when (time) / why (reason) The city WHERE I was born... | The day WHEN we met... | This is the restaurant where we had dinner. |
| Defining: no commas (identifies) | Non-defining: commas (adds extra information) Defining: The man who called is here. | Non-defining: Tom, who is my friend, called. | My mother, who is a doctor, works at the hospital. Non-defining: never 'that', and commas are required |
It pins down exactly which person or thing is meant
It adds extra information (non-defining, set off by commas)
It replaces his/her/its/their inside a relative clause
who/which/that can be left out when it is the object
| Word | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| who | The teacher who teaches us is kind. | Stands for a person as the subject of the clause |
| whom | The man whom I met is a doctor. | Stands for a person as the object (formal) |
| which | The car which he bought is expensive. | Stands for a thing or an event |
| whose | The boy whose father is a pilot is my friend. | Shows possession, for people and things alike |
| where | The city where I grew up is beautiful. |
Fill in the blank, then open the answer to check it.
Options: which · who · whom · whose
who. 'woman' is a person and the subject here, so 'who'.
Options: where · which · who · whose
which. 'book' is a thing and the object here, so 'which' or 'that'.
Options: which · who · whom · whose
whose. 'whose' shows possession: whose father means the boy's father.
Options: that · when · where · which
where. 'city' is a place, so 'where' (= in which).
Options: when · where · which · who
when. 'day' is a time, so 'when' (= on which).
Options: which · who · whom · whose
whom. 'man' is a person and the object here (I spoke to him), so 'whom'.
Options: which · who · whom · whose
which. 'car' is a thing and the subject here, so 'which' or 'that'.
Options: which · who · whom · whose
whose. 'whose class' means her class, which is possession, so 'whose'.
Options: that · when · where · which
where. 'hotel' is a place - we stayed at the hotel - so 'where'.
Options: which · who · whom · whose
who. 'people' are people and the subject here, so 'who'.
Options: where · which / that · who · whose
which / that. 'phone' is a thing and the object here, so either 'which' or 'that' works.
Options: when · where · which · why
why. 'reason' takes 'why' (= for which).
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