Defining relative clauses
Use who, which, that, where and whose to identify exactly which person, thing or place you mean.
Learning goal: Defining relative clauses
Choose a suitable relative word and build essential defining information into one sentence.
In a nutshell
Use who, which, that, where and whose to identify exactly which person, thing or place you mean.
When do we use it?
Choose a suitable relative word and build essential defining information into one sentence.
Pattern
Form
Use who for people, which for things, where for places and whose for possession; that can replace who or which.
- The woman who called is my aunt.
- This is the book that I bought.
- The café where we met is closed.
Examples
Key contrast
Read the whole context and identify the time, meaning, noun type or sentence structure before choosing.
Watch out
Common mistakes
The man which lives here.→ The man who lives here.The place who we met.→ The place where we met.
Key takeaway
Remember
Use who, which, that, where and whose to identify exactly which person, thing or place you mean.
Self-check
Quick check
- Find the grammar clue.
- Check the subject and verb form.
- Confirm that the answer fits both structure and meaning.
Put it into practice
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