Relative Clauses
We use relative clauses to give more information about a person, thing or place.
Examples:
Do you know the man who lives upstairs?
I didn't like the book which she gave me.
This is the restaurant where we first met.
For People:
We use the relative pronoun "who" to give more information about people.
Example:
Do you know the man who lives upstairs?
In the example above, the relative clause "who lives upstairs" gives more information about the man.
For Things:
We use the relative pronoun "which" to give more information about things.
Example:
I didn't like the book which she gave me.
In this sentence, the relative clause "which she gave me" gives more information about the book.
We can use "that" instead of "who" or "which" in everyday English.
Examples:
Do you know the man who / that lives upstairs?
I didn't like the book which / that she gave me.
For Places:
We use the relative pronoun "where" to give more information about places.
Example:
This is the restaurant where we first met.
In this example, the relative clause "where we first met" gives more information about the restaurant.
Exercises
Complete the sentences with "who", "which" or "where".
1A vacuum cleaner is a machine ____ cleans the floor.
A vacuum cleaner is a machine which cleans the floor.
2I like people ____ smile a lot.
I like people who smile a lot.
3This is the bag ____ I bought yesterday.
This is the bag which I bought yesterday.
4The phone ____ is on the table is mine.
The phone which is on the table is mine.
5She's the teacher ____ helped me with my English.
She's the teacher who helped me with my English.
6We need someone ____ can speak French.
We need someone who can speak French.
7I didn't like the shoes ____ she was wearing.
I didn't like the shoes which she was wearing.
8Is that the garage ____ you usually get your car fixed?
Is that the garage where you usually get your car fixed?