English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 93: Relative clauses 2 - clauses with and without who/that/which

Look at these example sentences from Unit 92:
  • The woman who lives next door is a doctor. (or The woman that lives ... )
    The woman lives next door.     who (= the woman) is the subject
  • Where is the cheese that was in the fridge? (or the cheese which was ... )
    The cheese was in the fridge.     that (= the cheese) is the subject

You must use who/that/which when it is the subject of the relative clause. So you cannot say
'The woman lives next door is a doctor' or 'Where is the cheese was in the fridge?'.

Sometimes who/that/which is the object of the verb. For example:
  • The woman who I wanted to see was away on holiday.
    I wanted to see the woman.
    who (= the woman) is the object
    I is the subject
  • Have you found the keys that you lost?
    You lost the keys.
    that ( = the keys) is the object
    you is the subject.

When who/that/which is the object, you can leave it out. So you can say:
  • The woman I wanted to see was away. or The woman who I wanted to see ...
  • Have you found the keys you lost? or ... the keys that you lost?
  • The dress Lisa bought doesn't fit her very well. or The dress that Lisa bought ...
  • Is there anything I can do? or ... anything that I can do?

Note that we say:
the keys you lost (not the keys you lost them)
the dress Lisa bought (not the dress Lisa bought it)

Note the position of prepositions (in/to/for etc.) in relative clauses:

Tom is talking to a woman - do you know her?
→ Do you know the woman (who/that) Tom is talking to ?

I slept in a bed last night - it wasn't very comfortable
→ The bed (that/which) I slept in last night wasn't very comfortable.

  • Are these the books you were looking for? or ... the books that/which you were ...
  • The woman he fell in love with left him after a month. or The woman who/that he ...
  • The man I was sitting next to on the plane talked all the time. or The man who/that I was sitting next to ...

Note that we say:
the books you were looking for (not the books you were looking for them)

You cannot use what in sentences like these (see also Unit 92D):
  • Everything (that) they said was true. (not Everything what they said)
  • I gave her all the money (that) I had. (not all the money what I had)

What = the thing(s) that:
  • Did you hear what they said? (= the things that they said)

93.1 What do you say in these situations? Complete each sentence with a relative clause.

  1. Your friend lost some keys. You want to know if he has found them. You say:
    Have you found ?
  2. A friend is wearing a dress. You like it. You tell her:
    I like the dress __________ .
  3. A friend is going to see a film. You want to know the name of the film. You say:
    What's the name of the film __________ ?
  4. You wanted to visit a museum. It was shut when you got there. You tell a friend:
    The museum __________ was shut when we got there.
  5. You invited some people to your party. Some of them couldn't come. You tell someone:
    Some of the people __________ couldn't come.
  6. Your friend had to do some work. You want to know if she has finished. You say:
    Have you finished the work __________ ?
  7. You rented a car. It broke down after a few miles. You tell a friend:
    The car __________ broke down after a few miles.

93.2 These sentences all have a relative clause with a preposition. Put the words in the correct order.

  1. Did you find (looking / for / you / the books / were)?
    Did you find ?
  2. We couldn't go to (we / invited / to / were / the wedding).
    We couldn't go to __________ .
  3. What's the name of (the hotel / about / me / told / you)?
    What's the name of __________ ?
  4. Unfortunately I didn't get (applied / I / the job / for).
    Unfortunately I didn't get __________ .
  5. Did you enjoy (you / the concert / to / went)?
    Did you enjoy __________ ?
  6. Gary is a good person to know. He's (on / rely / can / somebody / you).
    Gary is a good person to know. He's __________ .
  7. Who was (the man / were / with / you) in the restaurant last night?
    Who was __________ in the restaurant last night?

93.3 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. (all the money that I had is also correct)
  2. Did you hear they said?
  3. They give their children everything __________ they want.
  4. Tell me __________ you want and I'll try to get it for you.
  5. Why do you blame me for everything __________ goes wrong?
  6. I won't be able to do much, but I'll do __________ I can.
  7. I won't be able to do much, but I'll do the best __________ I can.
  8. I don't agree with __________ you've just said.
  9. I don't trust him. I don't believe anything __________ he says.

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