THEORY RELATIVE CLAUSES

We can use relative clauses to join two English sentences, or to give more information about something.

I bought a new car. It is very fast.
→ I bought a new car that is very fast.

She lives in New York. She likes living in New York.
→ She lives in New York, which she likes.

First, let's consider when the relative pronoun is the subject of a defining relative clause.

We can use 'who', 'which' or 'that'.

We use 'who' for people and 'which' for things. We can use 'that' for people or things.

The relative clause can come after the subject or the object of the sentence. We can't drop the relative pronoun.

For example (clause after the object of the sentence):

• I'm looking for a secretary who / that can use a computer well.
• She has a son who / that is a doctor.
• We bought a house which / that is 200 years old.
• I sent a letter which / that arrived three weeks later.

More examples: 

• The people who / that live on the island are very friendly.
• The man who / that phoned is my brother.
• The camera which / that costs £100 is over there.
• The house which / that belongs to Julie is in London.

• The bike (which / that) I loved was stolen.
• The university (which / that) she likes is famous.
• The woman (who / that) my brother loves is from Mexico.
• The doctor (who / that) my grandmother liked lives in New York.

Relative Clauses

EXERCISE ON RELATIVE CLAUSES

Practice: relative clauses

Complete the sentences using relative clauses. Use who and which.

1. A Scot is a person (live in Scotland) 
2. Nessie is a monster (live in Loch Ness) 
3. A fridge is a thing (keep food cool) 
4. A DJ is someone (play music in a disco) 
5. A bee is an insect (make honey) 
6. A lemon is a fruit (be yellow and sour) 
7. A watch is a thing (tell the time) 
8. A ferry is a ship (carry people across the water) 
9. A shop assistant is someone (work in a shop) 
10. A key is a thing (can open and lock doors)