RELATIVE CLAUSES 

WHO / WHICH / THAT / WHERE / WHOM

A clause is a part of a sentence. A relative clause tells us which person or thing (or what kind of

person or thing) the speaker means:

the woman who lives next door to me 

(‘who lives next door to me’ tells us which woman)

people who complain all the time

(‘who complain all the time’ tells us what kind of people)

 

We use who in a relative clause for people (not things):

The woman who lives next door to me is a doctor.

I don’t like people who complain all the time.

An architect is someone who designs buildings.

What was the name of the person who called?

Do you know anyone who wants to buy a car?

 

We also use that for people, but not which:

The woman that lives next door to me is a doctor. (not the woman which)

 

When we are talking about things, we use that or which (not who) in a relative clause:

I don’t like stories that have unhappy endings or … stories which have unhappy endings. 

Grace works for a company that makes furniture. or … a company which makes furniture.

The machine that broke down is working again now. or The machine which broke down.

WHERE

We use where in a relative clause to talk about a place:

I recently went back to the town where I grew up. (I grew up there)

The restaurant where we had lunch was near the airport.

I would like to live in a place where there is plenty of sunshine.

WHOSE 

We use whose mostly for people:

A widow is a woman whose husband is dead. 

 (her husband is dead)

I met someone whose brother I went to school with. 

(I went to school with his/her brother)

Compare who and whose:

I met a man who knows you. (he knows you)

I met a man whose sister knows you. (his sister knows you)

WHOM

Whom is possible instead of who when it is the object of the verb 

George is a person whom I admire very much. (I admire him)

You can also use a preposition + whom (to whom / from whom / with whom etc.):

It’s important to have friends with whom you can relax. (you can relax with them)

 

Whom is a formal word and we do not oft en use it in spoken English. We usually prefer to say:

a person I admire a lot or a person who/that I admire a lot

friends you can relax with or friends who/that you can relax with

 

THE DAY, THE TIME , THE REASON … 

We say ‘the day we got married’, ‘the year I was born’, ‘the last time they met’ etc. :

I can’t meet you on Friday. That’s the day I’m going away.

The last time I saw her, she looked great.

You can also use that:

The last time that I saw her, she looked great.

We say ‘the reason I’m calling you’, ‘the reason she didn’t get the job’ etc.

The reason I’m calling you is to ask your advice.

You can also use that:

The reason that I’m calling you … or The reason why I’m calling you

RELATIVE CLAUSE : EXTRA INFORMATION CLAUSES

There are two types of relative clause. In these examples, the relative clauses are underlined.

Compare:

Type 1

The woman who lives next door to me is a doctor.

Grace works for a company that makes furniture.

We stayed at the hotel (that) you recommended.

In these examples, the relative clauses tell you which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means:

Remember;

We do not use commas (,) with these clauses: We know a lot of people who live in London.

Type 2

My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect.

Anna told me about her new job, which she’s enjoying a lot.

We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended.

In these examples, the relative clauses do not tell you which person or thing the speaker

means. We already know which thing or person is meant: ‘My brother Ben’, ‘Anna’s new 

job’ and ‘the Park Hotel’.

The relative clauses in these sentences give us extra information about the person or thing.

We use commas (,) with these clauses: My brother Ben, who lives in Hong 

Kong, is an architect.

 

In both types of relative clause we use who for people and which for things. But:
Type 1

You can use that:

Do you know anyone who/that speaks French and Italian?

Grace works for a company which/that makes furniture.

You can leave out who/which/that when it is the object 

We stayed at the hotel (that/which) you recommended.

This morning I met somebody (who/that) I hadn’t seen for ages.

 

Type 2

You cannot use that:

John, who speaks French and Italian, works as a tour guide. (not that speaks)

Anna told me about her new job, which she’s enjoying a lot. 

You cannot leave out who or which:

We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended.

This morning I met Chris, who I hadn’t seen for ages.