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Unit 93 · Relative clauses

Relative clauses 2: clauses with and without who/that/which

Study

A

Look at these example sentences from Unit 92:

›

The woman who lives next door to me is a doctor. (or The woman that lives …)

The woman lives next door to me

›

who (= the woman) is the subject

›

Where are the keys that were on the table? (or … the keys which were …)

The keys were on the table

›

that (= the keys) is the subject

You must use who/that/which when it is the subject of the relative clause. You cannot leave out who/that/which in these examples.

B

Sometimes who/that/which is the object of the verb. For example:

›

The woman who I wanted to see was away on holiday.

I wanted to see the woman

›

who (= the woman) is the object

I is the subject

›

Did you find the keys that you lost?

you lost the keys

›

that (= the keys) is the object

you is the subject

When who/that/which is the object, you can leave it out. So you can say:

›

The woman I wanted to see was away. or The woman who I wanted to see …

›

Did you find the keys you lost? or … the keys that you lost?

›

The dress Lisa bought doesn't fit her very well. or The dress that Lisa bought …

›

Is there anything I can do? or … anything that I can do?

Note that we say:

›

the keys you lost (not the keys you lost them)

›

the dress Lisa bought (not the dress Lisa bought it)

C

Note the position of prepositions (to/in/for etc.) in relative clauses:

›

Tom is talking to a woman. Do you know her? (2 sentences)

›

Do you know the woman Tom is talking to? (or … the woman who/that Tom is talking to)

›

I slept in a bed. It wasn't comfortable. (2 sentences)

›

The bed I slept in wasn't comfortable. (or The bed that/which I slept in …)

›

Are these the books you were looking for? or

›

Are these the books that/which you were …

›

The man I was sitting next to on the plane talked all the time. or

›

The man who/that I was sitting next to …

Note that we say:

›

the books you were looking for (not the books you were looking for them)

›

the man I was sitting next to (not the man I was sitting next to him)

D

We say:

›

Everything (that) they said was true. (not Everything what they said)

›

I gave her all the money (that) I had. (not all the money what I had)

What = the thing(s) that:

›

What they said was true. (= The things that they said)

→ Relative clauses 1 ➜ Unit 92 · Relative clauses 3–5 ➜ Units 94–96 · whom ➜ Unit 94B

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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93.1

In some of these sentences you need who or that. Correct the sentences where necessary.

  1. 1
    The woman lives next door is a doctor.example
  2. 2
    Did you find the keys you lost?
  3. 3
    The people we met last night were very friendly.
  4. 4
    The people work in the office are very friendly.
  5. 5
    I like the people I work with.
  6. 6
    What have you done with the money I gave you?
  7. 7
    What happened to the money was on the table?
  8. 8
    What’s the worst film you’ve ever seen?
  9. 9
    What’s the best thing has ever happened to you?
93.2

What do you say in these situations? Complete each sentence with a relative clause.

  1. 1
    Your friend lost some keys. You want to know if he found them. You say:
    Did you find the keys you lost ?example
  2. 2
    A friend is wearing a dress. You like it. You tell her:
    I like the dress .
  3. 3
    A friend is going to the cinema. You want to know the name of the film. You say:
    What’s the name of the film ?
  4. 4
    You wanted to visit a museum, but it was shut. You tell a friend:
    The museum was shut.
  5. 5
    You invited people to your party. Some of them couldn’t come. You tell someone:
    Some of the people couldn’t come.
  6. 6
    Your friend had to do some work. You want to know if she has finished. You say:
    Have you finished the work ?
  7. 7
    You rented a car. It broke down after a few miles. You tell a friend:
    Unfortunately the car broke down after a few miles.
93.3

These sentences all have a relative clause with a preposition. Put the words in the correct order.

  1. 1
    Did you find (looking / for / you / the books / were)?
    Did you find the books you were looking for ?example
  2. 2
    We couldn’t go to (we / invited / to / were / the wedding).
    We couldn’t go to .
  3. 3
    What’s the name of (the hotel / about / me / told / you)?
    What’s the name of ?
  4. 4
    Unfortunately I didn’t get (applied / I / the job / for).
    Unfortunately I didn’t get .
  5. 5
    Did you enjoy (you / the concert / to / went)?
    Did you enjoy ?
  6. 6
    Gary is a good person to know. He’s (on / rely / can / somebody / you).
    Gary is a good person to know. He’s .
  7. 7
    Who were (the people / with / were / you) in the restaurant yesterday?
    Who were in the restaurant yesterday?
93.4

Put in that or what where necessary. If the sentence is already complete, leave the space empty.

  1. 1
    I gave her all the money I had. (all the money that I had is also correct)example
  2. 2
    Did you hear they said?
  3. 3
    She gives her children everything they want.
  4. 4
    Tell me you want and I’ll try to get it for you.
  5. 5
    Why do you blame me for everything goes wrong?
  6. 6
    I won’t be able to do much, but I’ll do I can.
  7. 7
    I won’t be able to do much, but I’ll do the best I can.
  8. 8
    I don’t agree with you said.
  9. 9
    I don’t trust him. I don’t believe anything he says.