A relative clause tells us which person or thing, or what kind, the speaker means. Use who or that for people, that or which for things, and never add he, she, it or they inside the clause.
A What a relative clause is, and who for people
On Saturday the club held a quiz night. A lot of people came. Everybody won something, which says more about the prizes than the contestants.
Everybody who came to the quiz won something.
who came to the quiz is a relative clause. A clause is part of a sentence. A relative clause tells us which person or thing the speaker means, or what kind of person or thing.
| Noun | Relative clause | What it tells us |
|---|---|---|
| the man | who runs the chippy | which man |
| people | who talk during films | what kind of people |
Use who for people, not for things. that is also possible for people. which is not.
There are cases where who is required and that is not possible. These are covered in Unit 95.
- Everybody who came to the quiz won something.
- The man who runs the chippy is from Hong Kong.
- I can't stand people who talk during films.
- A florist is someone who sells flowers.
- What was the name of the man who rang earlier?
- Do you know anyone who wants a second-hand fridge?
- The man that runs the chippy is from Hong Kong. (not the man which)
B that or which for things
For things, use that or which, not who.
In these examples that is more usual than which. In some cases which is required. See Unit 95.
- I don't like songs that go on for ten minutes. / ... songs which go on for ten minutes.
- Imran works for a firm that builds conservatories. / ... a firm which builds conservatories.
- The lift that was out of order is working again. / The lift which was out of order ...
C who, that, which replace he, she, it, they
Inside a relative clause, who / that / which does the job that he / she / it / they would do in a separate sentence. Do not use both.
| Two sentences | One sentence |
|---|---|
| I met a Welsh man on the ferry. He plays in a brass band. | I met a Welsh man on the ferry who plays in a brass band. |
| I can't find the tickets. They were on the shelf. | Where are the tickets that were on the shelf? (not the tickets they were) |
- I met a Welsh man on the ferry who plays in a brass band.
- Where are the tickets that were on the shelf? (not the tickets they were)
D what = the thing(s) that
what means the thing that or the things that. It already contains its own noun, so it cannot follow one.
After a noun, or after everything, something, anything, nothing, use that, not what.
- What I said was true. (= the thing that I said)
- Everything that went wrong was my fault. (not Everything what went wrong)
- The lift that was out of order is working again. (not The lift what was out of order)
Exercises
92.1 What do these words mean? Choose from the box and write a sentence with who.
doesn't eat meatfixes pipes and boilerswalks along the streetsteals from people's pockets and bagsrents out a house or flat to someonesays one thing and does anotherexpects the best to happentravels in a vehicle but isn't driving it
(a plumber)
A plumber is someone who fixes pipes and boilers.
A plumber is someone who fixes pipes and boilers.
(a vegetarian)
A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat.
(a pickpocket)
A pickpocket is someone who steals from people's pockets and bags.
(a hypocrite)
A hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does another.
(a landlord)
A landlord is someone who rents out a house or flat to someone.
(a pedestrian)
A pedestrian is someone who walks along the street.
(a passenger)
A passenger is someone who travels in a vehicle but isn't driving it.
(an optimist)
An optimist is someone who expects the best to happen.
92.2 Make one sentence from two. Use who, that or which, and begin with The.
A boy fell off the climbing frame. He's fine now.
The boy who fell off the climbing frame is fine now.
The boy who fell off the climbing frame is fine now.
A plumber came to fix our boiler. He was rude and careless.
The plumber who came to fix our boiler was rude and careless.
A bridge was damaged in the flood. It has now been repaired.
The bridge that was damaged in the flood has now been repaired.
Some fans were thrown out of the ground. They have now been banned.
The fans who were thrown out of the ground have now been banned.
A train goes to Manchester Airport. It leaves every hour.
The train that goes to Manchester Airport leaves every hour.
92.3 Complete the sentences. Choose from the box and use who, that or which.
repairs bicyclesloses his memorywere on the fridgeexplains what words meanhas eaten therepeople left behind long agodiscovered penicillinhas a dragon on its flag
Rhys works for a firm that repairs bicycles.
Rhys works for a firm that repairs bicycles.
The film is about a man .
The film is about a man who loses his memory.
What happened to the photos ?
What happened to the photos that were on the fridge?
A dictionary is a book .
A dictionary is a book that explains what words mean.
People say it's a good restaurant, but I don't know anybody .
People say it's a good restaurant, but I don't know anybody who has eaten there.
Archaeology is the study of things .
Archaeology is the study of things that people left behind long ago.
Alexander Fleming was the scientist .
Alexander Fleming was the scientist who discovered penicillin.
Wales is the only country in the UK .
Wales is the only country in the UK that has a dragon on its flag.
92.4 Are these sentences right or wrong? Write OK if the sentence is right. If it is wrong, write the corrected sentence.
I don't like films who have sad endings.
I don't like films that have sad endings.
I don't like films that have sad endings.
What was the name of the woman who rang?
OK
What was the name of the woman who rang?
Where's the nearest garage who sells diesel?
Where's the nearest garage that sells diesel?
Kirsty said some things about you they weren't true.
Kirsty said some things about you that weren't true.
The cyclist which went through the red light was fined £100.
The cyclist who went through the red light was fined £100.
Do you know the person that painted this?
Do you know the person that painted this?
We live in a society what is changing all the time.
We live in a society that is changing all the time.
Ian apologised for what he'd done.
Ian apologised for what he'd done.
What was the name of the dog what won the show?
What was the name of the dog that won the show?