Relative Clauses

Relative Clauses

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Relative clauses give us information about the person or thing mentioned. 

Defining relative clauses give us essential information – information that tells us who or what we are talking about.

-The woman who lives next door works in a bank. 

-These are the flights that have been cancelled.

We usually use a relative pronoun or adverb to start a defining relative clause: who, which, that, when, where or whose.

who/that

We can use who or that to talk about people. that is more common and a bit more informal.

-She's the woman who cuts my hair.

-He's the man that I met at the conference.

Which/ That

We can use which or that to talk about things. that is more common and a bit more informal.

-There was a one-year guarantee which came with the TV.

-The laptop that I bought last week has started making a strange noise!

Other pronouns

when can refer to a time.

-Summer is the season when I'm happiest.

where can refer to a place.

-That's the stadium where Real Madrid play.



whose refers to the person that something belongs to.

-He's a musician whose albums have sold millions. 

Multiple Choice

The film ___ we saw last week was awful.

• that

• which

• who

Multiple Choice

That's the hospital ___ I was born.

• when

• where

• who

• whose

Multiple Choice

The doctor ___ I usually see doesn't work there any more.

• that

• who

• whose

Multiple Choice

The week ___ they were in Edinburgh was lovely and sunny.

• when

• where

• who

• whose

Multiple Choice

That's the woman ___ bought my old car.

• that

• which

• who

Multiple Choice

He called a plumber ___ he found online.

• that

• who

• whose

Multiple Choice

They ate at a restaurant ___ serves only vegan dishes.

• that

• where

• which

Multiple Choice

The passengers ___ flights were cancelled got a refund.

• that

• where

• who

• whose

Multiple Choice

That's the woman ___ bought my old car.

• that

• which

• who