There are two types of relative clause. In these examples, the relative clauses are underlined.
Compare:
Type 1
- The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
- Grace works for a company that makes furniture.
- We stayed at the hotel (that) you recommended.
| Type 2
- My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect.
- Anna t old me about her new job, which she's enjoying a lot.
- We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended.
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| In these examples, the relative clauses tell you which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means: 'The woman who lives next door' tells us which woman.
'A company that makes furniture' tells us what kind of company.
'The hotel (that) you recommended' tells us which hotel. | In these examples, the relative clauses do not tell you which person or thing the speaker means. We already know which thing or person is meant: 'My brother Ben', 'Anna's new job' and 'the Park Hotel'.
The relative clauses in these sentences give us extra information about the person or thing. |
We do not use commas (,) with these clauses:
- We know a lot of people who live in London.
| We use commas (,) with these clauses:
- My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect.
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In both types of relative clause we use who for people and which for things. But:
Type 1
You can use that:
- Do you know anyone who/that speaks French and Italian?
- Grace works for a company which/that makes furniture.
| Type 2
You cannot use that:
- John, who (not that) speaks French and Italian, works as a tour guide.
- Anna told me about her new job, which (not that) she's enjoying a lot.
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You can leave out who/which/that when it is the object (see Unit 93):
- We stayed at the hotel (that/which) you recommended.
- This morning I met somebody (who/ that) I hadn't seen for ages.
| You cannot leave out who or which:
- We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended.
- This morning I met Chris, who I hadn't seen for ages.
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| We do not often use whom in this type of clause (see Unit 94B). | You can use whom for people (when it is the object):
- This morning I met Chris, whom I hadn't seen for ages.
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In both types of relative clause you can use whose and where:
- We met some people whose car had broken down.
- What's the name of the place where you went on holiday?
| - Lisa, whose car had broken down, was in a very bad mood.
- Kate has just been to Sweden, where her daughter lives.
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