A relative clause adds information about a noun. It begins with a relative pronoun: who for people, which for things, that for both, whose for possession. The pronoun can be left out when it is the object of the clause, but not when it is the subject.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| who (people) · which (things) · that (both) · whose (possession) | the man who called; the book which I read |
| subject relative: pronoun is needed | The girl who lives here is my cousin. |
| object relative: pronoun can be omitted | The film (that) we saw was great. |
When to use it
- People: The teacher who taught me is retired.
- Things: The phone which rang was mine.
- Possession: The boy whose bike was stolen cried.
- Places and times: where, when: the town where he lives.
- Omitting the pronoun (object): The man I met was kind.
Examples
- The man who called is my uncle.
- The book that I read was great.
- She is the woman whose car was stolen.
- This is the house where I grew up.
- The film (that) we saw was long.
- People who exercise live longer.
Common mistakes
- Repeating the subject: The man who he called → The man who called.
- “What” for things: The book what I read → The book that/which I read.
- Omitting a subject pronoun: The woman lives here is my aunt → who lives here.