Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 92 · B1

Relative clauses 1: clauses with who/that/which

A relative clause pins down which person or thing, or what sort, is meant. People take who or that, things take that or which, and the clause never repeats he, she, it or they.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 29 minutes

In this lesson

What a relative clause is, and who for peopleA4 screens of questions
that or which for thingsB1 screen of questions
who, that, which replace he, she, it, theyC1 screen of questions
what = the thing(s) thatD1 screen of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

What a relative clause is, and who for people

On Saturday the club held a quiz night. A lot of people came. Everybody won something, which says more about the prizes than the contestants.

Everybody who came to the quiz won something.

who came to the quiz is a relative clause: a clause, or part of a sentence, that pins down which person or thing is meant, or what sort of person or thing.

Noun Relative clause What it tells us
the man who runs the chippy which man
people who talk during films what kind of people

Use who for people, not for things. that is also possible for people. which is not.

There are cases where who is required and that is not possible. These are covered in Unit 95.

  • Everybody who came to the quiz won something.
  • The man who runs the chippy is from Hong Kong.
  • I can't stand people who talk during films.
  • A florist is someone who sells flowers.
  • What was the name of the man who rang earlier?
  • Do you know anyone who wants a second-hand fridge?
  • The man that runs the chippy is from Hong Kong. (not the man which)

Point A · Exercise 92.1 · part 1 of 2

What do these words mean? Choose from the box and write a sentence with who.

Use these

doesn't eat meatfixes pipes and boilerswalks along the streetsteals from people's pockets and bagsrents out a house or flat to someonesays one thing and does anotherexpects the best to happentravels in a vehicle but isn't driving it

  1. Example

    (a plumber)

    A plumber is someone who fixes pipes and boilers.

    AnswerA plumber is someone who fixes pipes and boilers.

  2. (a vegetarian)

  3. (a pickpocket)

  4. (a hypocrite)

  5. (a landlord)

Point A · Exercise 92.1 · part 2 of 2

What do these words mean? Choose from the box and write a sentence with who.

Use these

doesn't eat meatfixes pipes and boilerswalks along the streetsteals from people's pockets and bagsrents out a house or flat to someonesays one thing and does anotherexpects the best to happentravels in a vehicle but isn't driving it

  1. (a pedestrian)

  2. (a passenger)

  3. (an optimist)

Point A · Exercise 92.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box and use who, that or which.

Use these

repairs bicyclesloses his memorywere on the fridgeexplains what words meanhas eaten therepeople left behind long agodiscovered penicillinhas a dragon on its flag

  1. Example

    Rhys works for a firm that repairs bicycles.

    AnswerRhys works for a firm that repairs bicycles.

  2. The film is about a man .

  3. What happened to the photos ?

  4. A dictionary is a book .

  5. People say it's a good restaurant, but I don't know anybody .

Point A · Exercise 92.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box and use who, that or which.

Use these

repairs bicyclesloses his memorywere on the fridgeexplains what words meanhas eaten therepeople left behind long agodiscovered penicillinhas a dragon on its flag

  1. Archaeology is the study of things .

  2. Alexander Fleming was the scientist .

  3. Wales is the only country in the UK .

Point B of 4

that or which for things

For things, use that or which, not who.

In these examples that is more usual than which. In some cases which is required. See Unit 95.

  • I don't like songs that go on for ten minutes. / ... songs which go on for ten minutes.
  • Imran works for a firm that builds conservatories. / ... a firm which builds conservatories.
  • The lift that was out of order is working again. / The lift which was out of order ...

Point B · Exercise 92.2

Make one sentence from two. Use who, that or which, and begin with The.

  1. Example

    A boy fell off the climbing frame. He's fine now.

    The boy who fell off the climbing frame is fine now.

    AnswerThe boy who fell off the climbing frame is fine now.

  2. A plumber came to fix our boiler. He was rude and careless.

  3. A bridge was damaged in the flood. It has now been repaired.

  4. Some fans were thrown out of the ground. They have now been banned.

  5. A train goes to Manchester Airport. It leaves every hour.

Point C of 4

who, that, which replace he, she, it, they

Inside a relative clause, who / that / which does the job that he / she / it / they would do in a separate sentence. Do not use both.

Two sentences One sentence
I met a Welsh man on the ferry. He plays in a brass band. I met a Welsh man on the ferry who plays in a brass band.
I can't find the tickets. They were on the shelf. Where are the tickets that were on the shelf? (not the tickets they were)
  • I met a Welsh man on the ferry who plays in a brass band.
  • Where are the tickets that were on the shelf? (not the tickets they were)

Point C · Extra practice

Make one sentence from two with who, that or which. Do not also use he, she, it or they.

  1. I met a man on the train. He plays in a band. I met a man on the train in a band.

  2. Where are the tickets? They were on the shelf. Where are the tickets on the shelf?

  3. I've got a friend. She speaks five languages. I've got a friend five languages.

Point D of 4

what = the thing(s) that

what means the thing that or the things that. It already contains its own noun, so it cannot follow one.

After a noun, or after everything, something, anything, nothing, use that, not what.

  • What I said was true. (= the thing that I said)
  • Everything that went wrong was my fault. (not Everything what went wrong)
  • The lift that was out of order is working again. (not The lift what was out of order)

Point D · Extra practice

Put in what or that.

  1. you said is true.

  2. Everything went wrong was my fault.

  3. Did you get you wanted for your birthday?

Put it together · Exercise 92.4 · part 1 of 2

Are these sentences right or wrong? Write OK if the sentence is right. If it is wrong, write the corrected sentence.

  1. Example

    I don't like films who have sad endings.

    I don't like films that have sad endings.

    AnswerI don't like films that have sad endings.

  2. Example

    What was the name of the woman who rang?

    OK

    AnswerWhat was the name of the woman who rang?

  3. Where's the nearest garage who sells diesel?

  4. Kirsty said some things about you they weren't true.

  5. The cyclist which went through the red light was fined £100.

  6. Do you know the person that painted this?

Put it together · Exercise 92.4 · part 2 of 2

Are these sentences right or wrong? Write OK if the sentence is right. If it is wrong, write the corrected sentence.

  1. We live in a society what is changing all the time.

  2. Ian apologised for what he'd done.

  3. What was the name of the dog what won the show?

Lesson 92 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Relative clauses 2: clauses with and without who/that/whichBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What a relative clause is, and who for people–Not checkedB. that or which for things–Not checkedC. who, that, which replace he, she, it, they–Not checkedD. what = the thing(s) that–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked