Learn to Use the Relative Clause
Patricia Fabiano
August 8, 2023
Langoo teaches you when and how to use the Relative Clause
Infography
A relative clause is a part of a sentence. It can begin with which, who, that or whose.
We use WHO when we are talking about people. Example: Employees who feel their absence will not harm the business.
We use WHICH when we are talking about things. Example: A ‘Music Box’ which could store music.
We use THAT instead of who or which. Example: Technologies that caused the death of our Virgin Megastores
We use WHOSE instead of his/her/their. Example: A friend whose company did the same thing.
We use WHERE when we talk about place. Example: I can’t remember the name of the hotel where we stayed.
Important points of the Relative Clause that you need to know:
That is more usual than which in defining relative clauses.
We do not use what in relative clauses:
Example of the incorrect form of use: I’ve never eaten a pizza what that tastes so good!
The correct use of it is: What I wanted was out of stock. I can’t decide what to buy.
When who/that/which is the object of the verb, we can leave it out.
They didn’t have the shirt that I wanted to buy. / They didn’t have the shirt I wanted to buy.
In the above sentence, that (= the shirt) is the object of the verb wanted.
However, if who/that/which is the subject of the verb, we cannot leave it out.
Do you know the woman who is standing over there?
(NOT: Do you know the woman is standing over there?)
See now some examples:
The receptionist helps clients. The clients visit the company.
The receptionist helps clients who/that visit the company.
I saw the employee. The employee left the company.
I saw the employee who/that left the company.
Let’s go to that restaurant. We ate there yesterday.
Let’s go to that restaurant where we ate yesterday.
I sent you an email. Did you receive it?
Did you receive the email that/which I sent you?
His new laptop doesn’t work. He bought it yesterday.
The laptop that/which he bought yesterday doesn’t work.
I work in an office. The office doesn’t have air-conditioning.
The office where I work doesn’t have air-conditioning.
She is the woman. She started her own business.
She’s the woman who started her own business.
I know him and he is the most interesting person.
He’s the most interesting person that I know.
Did you get the e-mail. The one that I sent you?
Did you get the email that I sent you?
He is the man his laptop was stolen.