GRAMMAR RESOURCE · CHAPTER 23 · PART C

Relative Clauses

Use who, whom, whose, which, that and where accurately in defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the rules, recognise the target forms in context, avoid common errors and apply the patterns to new sentences.

1. What relative clauses do

A relative clause gives information about a noun or pronoun. Relative words link the clause to the noun being described and may serve as subject, object or possessive determiner.

The woman who called you is my teacher.

2. Choosing the relative word

Use who for people as subject, whom as a formal object, whose for possession, which for things, and where for places. That is common in defining clauses, but not in non-defining clauses.

The artist whose work won is here. / The room where we met was quiet.

3. Defining and non-defining clauses

A defining clause identifies which person or thing is meant and has no commas. A non-defining clause adds extra information and is separated by commas; use who/which, not that.

My car, which is ten years old, still runs well.

4. Omitting the relative pronoun

The object relative pronoun can often be omitted in a defining clause, but a subject relative pronoun cannot be omitted in standard usage.

The film (that) we watched was excellent. / The student who won is absent.

5. Avoiding common errors

Do not repeat the subject or object already represented by the relative word. Place the clause close to the noun it modifies to avoid ambiguity.

Incorrect: The man who he called left. Correct: The man whom he called left.

Guided practice

Try each item first. Then open the answer key and read the explanation for any answer you missed.

  1. Choose: The girl ___ won the prize is my cousin. (who / whom)
  2. Choose: The person to ___ I spoke was helpful. (who / whom)
  3. Complete: The author ___ book I borrowed is famous.
  4. Choose: This is the house ___ I grew up. (where / which)
  5. Can “that” normally introduce a non-defining clause set off by commas?
  6. Add punctuation: “My brother who lives abroad is visiting” if you have only one brother and the clause is extra information.
  7. Choose: The laptop ___ I bought is fast. (which / who)
  8. Can the object relative word be omitted in “The book that I read was useful”?
  9. Correct: “The woman who she works here is kind.”
  10. Choose: The candidates ___ names are listed should report now. (whose / whom)
  11. Which clause is defining: one with commas or one without commas?
  12. Choose: The museum, ___ opened in 1900, is closed today. (which / that)
  13. Complete: The person ___ you met yesterday is our new coach.
  14. What is wrong with “The book which I bought it is missing”?
  15. Choose: The day ___ we first met was rainy. (when / whose)
Show answer key and explanations
  1. who — The relative word is the subject of won.
  2. whom — Whom is the formal object after the preposition to.
  3. whose — Whose expresses possession.
  4. where — Where introduces a place-related relative clause.
  5. No — Non-defining clauses normally use who or which, not that.
  6. My brother, who lives abroad, is visiting. — Extra non-defining information is set off by commas.
  7. which — Which refers to things.
  8. Yes: “The book I read was useful.” — The relative word is the object of read, so it can be omitted in a defining clause.
  9. The woman who works here is kind. — Who is already the subject; do not repeat it with she.
  10. whose — Whose modifies names and expresses possession.
  11. One without commas — A defining clause identifies the noun and is not separated by commas.
  12. which — A non-defining clause uses which for a thing.
  13. whom / who / that — The relative word is the object of met; whom is formal, while who and that are common in defining clauses.
  14. The extra “it” is unnecessary. — Which already represents the object of bought.
  15. when — When introduces a time-related relative clause.

Revision checklist

If an answer was wrong, identify the rule behind the mistake and try writing two original examples.

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Editorial note: Some grammar conventions vary by dialect or examination syllabus. Follow the terminology and conventions specified by your course or exam board where relevant.