Relative Clauses 1: who/that/which
Using who, that, and which to add information about people and things in a sentence
What Is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is the part of a sentence that tells us which person or thing we mean, or what kind of person or thing we are talking about.
- The manager who hired me just resigned. — “who hired me” tells us which manager.
- We need staff who can work under pressure. — “who can work under pressure” tells us what kind of staff.
The relative clause starts with a relative pronoun: who, that, or which.
who and that for People
Use who (or that) when the relative clause is about a person.
- The consultant who reviewed our budget found several errors.
- I spoke to the employee who handles customer complaints.
- A project manager is someone who coordinates tasks across teams.
- Do you know anyone who speaks Mandarin?
that also works for people:
- The consultant that reviewed our budget found several errors.
You cannot use which for people.
- The colleague who sent the email is on leave. (not
the colleague which sent the email)
that and which for Things
Use that or which when the relative clause is about a thing (not a person).
| Example | |
|---|---|
| that | The report that was due yesterday is still missing. |
| which | The report which was due yesterday is still missing. |
Both are correct. In everyday English, that is more common.
- She works for a company that sells medical equipment.
- The laptop that broke down last week has been replaced.
- Is there a meeting room which is free this afternoon?
You cannot use who for things.
- The software that we installed works well. (not
the software who we installed)
Do Not Repeat the Subject
Inside a relative clause, who/that/which replaces the subject. Do not add he, she, they, or it after the relative pronoun.
Compare two separate sentences with one combined sentence:
| Two sentences | One sentence with a relative clause |
|---|---|
| I met a new supplier. He offers better rates. | I met a new supplier who offers better rates. |
| The files were on the server. They have been deleted. | The files that were on the server have been deleted. |
A common mistake is to keep the pronoun:
- The client who called this morning wants a refund. (not
the client who he called) - Where is the invoice that was on my desk? (not
the invoice that it was)
what vs. that
what = the thing(s) that. It already contains the meaning of “the thing,” so do not use it after a noun.
| Correct | Wrong |
|---|---|
| *What they proposed sounds reasonable.* | |
| Everything that they proposed sounds reasonable. | |
| The budget that was approved is final. |
Use what at the start when there is no noun before it. Use that (or which) after a noun or after words like everything, something, anything, nothing.
- *What happened in the meeting stays confidential.* (= the thing that happened)
- Everything that happened in the meeting stays confidential. (not
everything what happened)
Quick Self-Check
The employee _____ left early yesterday forgot to lock the office.
Select your answer:
Where is the contract _____ was on your desk this morning?
Select your answer:
A recruiter is someone _____ finds candidates for open positions.
Select your answer:
Everything _____ was discussed in the meeting is confidential.
Select your answer:
_____ the client said during the call surprised everyone on the team.
Select your answer: