UI1_L09

Complete the following sentence with the best option:

This is the city _____ my father was born.

• where

• who

• when

Answer explanation

To connect two clauses that explain what happens or happened in a place, we use where.

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

Complete the following sentence with the correct option:

That's the man _____ car was completely destroyed in the accident.

• who

• whose

• which

Answer explanation

Use whose to show the relationship between a person or thing and something that belongs to that person or thing (e.g. the man and his car).

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

How can you best connect the following sentences?

My cousin Jane just got married. You met her last year.

• My cousin Jane, who you met last year, just got married.

• My cousin Jane, who just got married, you met her last year.

• My cousin Jane, which you met last year, just got married.

Answer explanation

When connecting two clauses that refer to a person, use who.

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

How can you best connect the following sentences?

She offered me some coffee. It was just what I needed!

• She offered me some coffee, that was just what I needed!

• She offered me some coffee, which was just what I needed!

• She offered me some coffee, who was just what I needed!

Answer explanation

To connect two clauses that refer to things in general, use which or that. However, do not use that in non-defining relative clauses (i.e. clauses that add additional information that can be omitted).

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

Which word can be omited from the following sentence?

This is the place that I was telling you about.

• is (in "This is")

• the (in "the place")

• that (in "that I")

• you (in "telling you")

Answer explanation

The relative pronoun that is optional when it is not followed by a verb in defining relative clauses.

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

How can you best complete the following sentence half?

Last week he got a phone call from his father, ...

• ... which he hadn't spoken with in years.

• ... that he hadn't spoken with in years.

• ... who he hadn't spoken with in years.

Answer explanation

When connecting two clauses that refer to a person, use who.

Note: We do not use that in non-defining relative clauses (i.e. relative clauses with commas).

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

Do the sentences below have the same meaning?

I own an apartment which is near the beach.

I own an apartment, which is near the beach.

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

I own an apartment which is near the beach.

(= I probably own more than one apartment. One of them is near the beach)

I own an apartment, which is near the beach.

(= I only own one apartment. The second clause adds additional information that can be omitted)

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.

Is the sentence below grammatically correct?

These are my friends, some of whom you already know.

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

You can modify which and whom to show quantity or time. For example:

most of which

some of whom

a few of which

many of whom

at which point

Find more information about relative clauses on pages 167-168 of your coursebook.