Relative Clauses helps you communicate about adding identifying or descriptive information. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can identify people, things, places and times with relative clauses.
- Recognise and build the form: noun + who/which/that/whose/where/when + clause.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Relative Clauses for adding identifying or descriptive information. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
The woman who lives next door is a pilot.
Use 'who' as the subject relative pronoun for a person.
This is the book that I mentioned.
Use 'that' or 'which' for a thing in a defining relative clause.
That's the café where we first met.
Use 'where' to refer to a place.
noun + who/which/that/whose/where/when + clauseKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- Use 'who' as the subject relative pronoun for a person.
- Use 'that' or 'which' for a thing in a defining relative clause.
- Use 'where' to refer to a place.
- Use 'whose' to express possession in a relative clause.
- Use 'when' to refer to a time.
Common mistakes
Not:The woman which lives next door is a pilot.
Use:The woman who lives next door is a pilot.
Use 'who' as the subject relative pronoun for a person.
Not:This is the book who I mentioned.
Use:This is the book that I mentioned.
Use 'that' or 'which' for a thing in a defining relative clause.
Not:That's the café who we first met.
Use:That's the café where we first met.
Use 'where' to refer to a place.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
I met a student ____ father is a scientist.
whose
Use 'whose' to express possession in a relative clause.
Do you remember the day ____ we moved here?
when
Use 'when' to refer to a time.
The phone ____ she bought is already broken.
which
Use 'which' for a thing that receives the action in the relative clause.