Relative Clauses

Look at this example sentence:

The woman who lives next door is a doctor.  (the relative clause is highlighted in the sentence.)

A clause is a part of a sentence. A relative clause tells us which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means:

We use who in a relative clause when we are talking about people (not things):

the woman – she lives next door – is a doctor

The woman who lives next door is a doctor.

we know a lot of people – they live in the country

We know a lot of people who live in the country.

You can also use that (instead of who), but you can’t use which for people:

The woman that lives next door is a doctor. (not the woman which)

When we are talking about things, we use that or which (not who) in a relative clause:

where is the cheese? – it is in the fridge

Where is the cheese {that/which} was in the fridge?

Remember that in relative clauses we use who/that/which, not he/she/they/it:

I’ve never spoken to the woman who lives next door. (not the woman she lives)

Relative Clause Exercises

A. Make one sentence from two. Use (who/that/which)

1. A girl was injured in the accident. She is now in hospital. _______________________________________________________________________________

2. A waitress served us. She was impolite and impatient. _______________________________________________________________________________

3. A building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt. _______________________________________________________________________________

4. Some people were arrested. They have now been released. _______________________________________________________________________________

5. A bus goes to the airport. It runs every half hour. _______________________________________________________________________________

6. Susan said something. I couldn’t hear it clearly. _______________________________________________________________________________

B. Complete the sentences. Choose the best ending from the box and change it into a relative clause.

1. Barbara works for a company _______________________________________________________________________________

2. The book is about a girl _______________________________________________________________________________

3. What happened to the pictures _______________________________________________________________________________

4. A mystery is something _______________________________________________________________________________

5. The police have caught the men _______________________________________________________________________________

6. A dictionary is a book _______________________________________________________________________________

7. Alexander Bell was the man _______________________________________________________________________________

8. It seems that the earth is the only planet _______________________________________________________________________________

C: Put in that or what where necessary. If the sentence is already complete, leave the space empty.

1. I gave her all the money _________ I had.

2. Did you hear __________ they said?

3. I won’t be able to do much, but I’ll do ___________ I can.

4. They give their children everything ___________ they want.

5. I won’t be able to do much, but I’ll do the best ___________ I can.

6. Tell me __________ you want and I’ll try to get it for you.

7. I don’t agree with __________ you’ve just said.

8. Why do you blame me for everything _________ goes wrong?

9. I don’t trust him. I don’t believe anything __________ he says.

10. He showed me the rocks __________ he had collected.

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