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Unit 92 · Relative clauses

Relative clauses 1: clauses with who/that/which

Study

A

Study this example situation: Last week we had a party and a lot of people came. Everybody enjoyed it.

›

Everybody who came to the party enjoyed it.

A clause is a part of a sentence. A relative clause tells us which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means:

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the woman who lives next door to me ('who lives next door to me' tells us which woman)

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people who complain all the time ('who complain all the time' tells us what kind of people)

We use who in a relative clause for people (not things):

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The woman who lives next door to me is a doctor.

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I don't like people who complain all the time.

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An architect is someone who designs buildings.

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What was the name of the person who called?

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Do you know anyone who wants to buy a car?

We also use that for people, but not which:

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The woman that lives next door to me is a doctor. (not the woman which)

Sometimes you must use who (not that) for people – see Unit 95.

B

When we are talking about things, we use that or which (not who) in a relative clause:

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I don't like stories that have unhappy endings. or … stories which have unhappy endings.

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Grace works for a company that makes furniture. or … a company which makes furniture.

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The machine that broke down is working again now. or The machine which broke down …

In these examples that is more usual than which, but sometimes you must use which. See Unit 95.

C

In relative clauses we use who/that/which, not he/she/they/it.

Compare:

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I met a Canadian woman at the party. She is an English teacher. (2 sentences)

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I met a Canadian woman who is an English teacher. (1 sentence)

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I can't find the keys. They were on the table.

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Where are the keys that were on the table? (not the keys they were)

D

What = the thing(s) that

Compare what and that:

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What happened was my fault. (= the thing that happened)

but

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Everything that happened was my fault. (not Everything what happened)

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The machine that broke down is now working again. (not The machine what broke down)

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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92.1

What do these words mean? Choose from the box and write sentences with who.

steals from a shopdesigns buildingsdoesn't tell the truthis not bravebuys something from a shoppays rent to live somewherebreaks into a house to steal thingsexpects the worst to happen
  1. 1
    1 (an architect)
    An architect is someone who buildings.example
  2. 2
    2 (a customer)
    A customer is someone who from a shop.
  3. 3
    3 (a burglar)
    A burglar is someone who to steal things.
  4. 4
    4 (a coward)
    A coward is someone who brave.
  5. 5
    5 (a tenant)
    A tenant is someone who to live somewhere.
  6. 6
    6 (a shoplifter)
    A shoplifter is someone who a shop.
  7. 7
    7 (a liar)
    A liar is someone who the truth.
  8. 8
    8 (a pessimist)
    A pessimist is someone who the worst to happen.
92.2

Make one sentence from two. Use who/that/which.

  1. 1
    A girl was injured in the accident. She is now in hospital. The girl who was injured in the accident is now in hospital.
    The girl who was injured in the accident is now in hospital.example
  2. 2
    A waiter served us. He was impolite and impatient.
  3. 3
    A building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
  4. 4
    Some people were arrested. They have now been released.
  5. 5
    A bus goes to the airport. It runs every half hour.
92.3

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box and use who/that/which.

happened in the pastruns away from homecannot be explaineddeveloped the theory of relativitymakes furniturecan support lifehas stayed therewere hanging on the wall
  1. 1
    1 Helen works for a company
    Helen works for a company makes furniture.example
  2. 2
    2 The movie is about a girl
    The movie is about a girl .
  3. 3
    3 What happened to the pictures
    What happened to the pictures ?
  4. 4
    4 A mystery is something
    A mystery is something .
  5. 5
    5 I've heard it's a good hotel, but I don't know anyone
    I've heard it's a good hotel, but I don't know anyone .
  6. 6
    6 History is the study of things
    History is the study of things .
  7. 7
    7 Albert Einstein was the scientist
    Albert Einstein was the scientist .
  8. 8
    8 It seems that Earth is the only planet
    It seems that Earth is the only planet .
92.4

Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.

  1. 1
    1 I don't like stories who have unhappy endings.
    stories that haveexample
  2. 2
    2 What was the name of the person who phoned?
    ✓ 正确，无需修改example
  3. 3
    3 Where's the nearest shop who sells bread?
  4. 4
    4 Dan said some things about me they were not true.
  5. 5
    5 The driver which caused the accident was fined £500.
  6. 6
    6 Do you know the person that took these pictures?
  7. 7
    7 We live in a world what is changing all the time.
  8. 8
    8 Gary apologised for what he said.
  9. 9
    9 What was the name of the horse what won the race?