RELATIVE CLAUSE

We can use relative clauses to combine clauses without repeating information or to give focus to something or
to someone.
RELATIVE CLAUSE
Add extra information about someone or something in a sentence
Defining clause Non-defining Clause
It adds essential information (relevant information) It adds extra information to the sentence. If we take
about something or someone. If we take the clauses the clauses out of the sentence, the sentence still has
out of the sentence, the sentence has no meaning. the same meaning.
Ex: The girl who is wearing the T-shirt is my Ex: That girl, who is wearing the T-shirt, is my
girlfriend. girlfriend.
Relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, that Relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which
Relative adverbs: when, where, why Relative adverbs: when, where, why
No pauses in spoken language and no commas in Pauses in spoken language and commas in written
written language language
That is very often used instead of who/ which That cannot be used instead of who/ which
Ex: Could you iron the trousers that are hanging up Ex: I passed him this large glass of whisky, which he
behind the door? drank immediately.
We often leave out the relative pronoun if it is the Object pronouns cannot be left out.
object of the verb in the relative clause (common in Ex:
spoken English) Wrong: I passed him this large glass of whisky, he
Ex: drank immediately.
He is a man whom people like at first sight.
He is a man people like at first sight.
In formal English, the prepositions can come either
before relative pronoun, except for that and who, or
at the end of the clause.
Ex 1: She is a woman. I told you about her.
a. She is a woman about whom I told you.
b. She is a woman who(m) I told you about.
c. She is a woman that I told you about.
d. She is a woman I told you about.

Ex 2: The music was good. We listened to it last

night.
a. The music to which we listened last night
was good.
b. The music which we listened to last night
was good.
c. The music that we listened to last night was
good.
d. The music we listened to last night was good.
Relative adverbs
Relative adverb Example
When I will never forget the day. I met you then (on that
(in/ on which) day).
a. I will never forget the day when I met you.
b. I will never forget the day on which I met
you.
c. I will never forget the day which I met you
on.
d. I will never forget the day that I met you.
e. I will never forget the day I met you.
Where The building is very old. He lives there (in that
(in/ at which) building).
a. The building where he lives is very old.
b. The building in which he lives is very old.
c. The building which he lives in is very old.
d. The building that he lives is very old.
e. The building he lives in is very old.
Why I don’t know the reason. You didn’t go to the school
(for which) for that reason.
 I don’t know the reason why you didn’t go
to school.

THAT
We can use that in some cases.
1. In defining clause
Ex:
a. I see a girl that is running in the park.
b. I see a dog that is running in the park.
c. I see a girl and her dog that are running in the park.

2. Superlative clause:
Ex: He was the best man that I have ever seen.
3. Ordinal number: the first, the second, …. the last, the only
Ex: She is the first person that I met today.
4. Undefined pronouns:
Someone, anyone, no one, somebody, anybody, nobody, something, anything, nothing
Others: all, much, any, none, few, some, little
Ex:
I have said all that I want to say.
Anybody that want to succeed must work really hard.

(*) Cannot use that in the case of having preposition after words showing quantity such as neither of,
most of, all of, none of, many of, a lot of, …
Exercises:
I. Fill in each space with Who, Which, Where, When and Whose.
1. What is the name of the girl _____________ is wearing a white blouse?
2. I don’t like the food _____________ is very spicy.
3. Last week, my father returned to his home village, _____________ he was born.
4. I’ll never forget the day _____________ you gave me a surprise birthday party.
5. He is the man _____________ friends always trust him.
6. My friend Tom _____________ sings Western folk songs very well can compose songs.
7. I like reading books _____________ tell about different people and their culture.
8. On my Mom’s birthday, my father gave her roses _____________ were very sweet and
beautiful.
9. He is the man _____________ is wearing a blue shirt.
10. She is the woman _____________ son is a famous singer.
II. Choose one correct answer to complete the following sentences.
1. This is the man (who/ which/ whose/ whom) has asked me to marry him.
2. Daisy (that is/ who is/ that/ who are) always well dressed, has won the beauty contest.
3. He came in and didn’t say anything, (that/ whom/ whose/ which) worried all of us.
4. Gloves are things (whose/ who/ which/ whom) you wear on your hands.
5. A butcher is someone (who/ whom/ which/ whose) sells meat.
6. I’m in love with Chris, (who/ that/ whom/ which) is a wonderful person.
7. The bus (on that/ on which/ which on/ whose on) we got are very old.
8. I like cars (that are/ which is/ who are/ whose are) dependable in the winter.
9. I know a man (who owns/ which owns/ he owns/ that owning) three horses.
10. Documentary films are the films (who/ that/ whose/ what) I find most interesting.
11. It’s this computer program (that/ whom/ who/ what) my father created.
12. Mine is the one (what/ whom/ who/ that) has a green luggage bag.
13. The CD (whose/ that/ who/ whom) Victor bought is on the table.
14. “(That/ Which/ Who/ Whose) films are you talking about?” “Gone with the wind.”
15. The book (which/ who/ whom/ whose) we discussed was a best-seller.
16. How about the shirt (which/ whom/ who/ whose) you wore Saturday night?
17. The person (which/ whose/ who/ that) wallet is missing should report to the office.
18. Auld Lang Syne is a song (when/ where/ which/ it) is sung on New Year Eve.
19. Ms. Lien, (that/ who/ whose/ whom) is my neighbor, often shouts at night.
20. All people love the spring roll (which/ what/ why/ who) is made by themselves.
21. I live in Da Lat, (who/ which/ whom/ whose) is one of the most beautiful cities of Vietnam.
22. The picture (which/ whom/ whose/ who) I bought was very valuable.
23. The man (who/ whom/ which/ whose) helped us last week is a doctor.
24. Nguyen Du was the writer (who/ whom/ which/ whose) wrote “Kieu”.
25. It is the park (where/ that/ when/ whom) I met my wife at.