The Person I Told You About
I can identify people and things in conversation without repeating unnecessary pronouns.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
Two friends arrive at a club. “That’s the person I told you about,” says Jo. “Which one?” “The woman who organises the walks.” Later Jo adds, “This is the book she recommended.” The relative clauses help the listener identify the references.
Read the situation transcript
Two friends arrive at a club. “That’s the person I told you about,” says Jo. “Which one?” “The woman who organises the walks.” Later Jo adds, “This is the book she recommended.” The relative clauses help the listener identify the references.
Why can the first sentence omit a relative word after person?
Compare your idea
The relative clause already has I as its subject; the person is the object of about.
How it works
Defining relatives solve a practical problem: which person or thing? A subject relative keeps who or which: the woman who organises the walks.
An object relative can often omit the word: the book she recommended. Do not repeat the object at the end: not the book she recommended it. In conversation, the omitted form is often economical and natural.
The person who does…; the person (who/that) I spoke to; the thing (that/which) she recommended.
Notice this
The woman who organises the walks is Jo.
Who is the relative subject.
Compare this
The person I told you about is here.
The object relative word is omitted.
Hear the examples
The woman who organises the walks is Jo.
Who is the relative subject.
The person I told you about is here.
The object relative word is omitted.
This is the book she recommended.
She is the relative subject; book is its object.
The café that opens early is nearby.
That is the relative subject and is kept.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: This is the book she recommended it.
Say: This is the book she recommended.
The relative construction already supplies the object; remove it.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Identify someone by what they do.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
The person who organises the club is very helpful.
Check yourself: Keep the relative subject.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Identify a thing someone recommended.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
The film you recommended was excellent.
Check yourself: An object relative word may be omitted.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Clarify a reference after “Which one?”
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
The woman who is holding the blue folder.
Check yourself: Use only the scene information supplied or visible.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Shorten naturally: The person that I spoke to was helpful.
Compare a model and explanation
The person I spoke to was helpful.
That is an object relative word and can be omitted.
Self-check 2
Repair the repeated object: The café we visited it was quiet.
Compare a model and explanation
The café we visited was quiet.
Remove it.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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The woman ___ organises the walks is here.
who: Who is the relative subject and refers to the woman.
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This is the book ___ recommended. The recommender is Eva.
Eva: Eva is the subject; the object relative word can be omitted.
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Choose a natural object relative.
The person I spoke to was helpful.: The correct sentence leaves no unnecessary repeated object.
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Why does “the woman who called” need who in the basic finite pattern?
Who is the subject of called.: A finite subject relative needs its subject word.
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Which phrase helps identify a person by an activity?
The person who leads the group: The relative clause narrows the reference.
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Correct “The film you recommended it was funny.”
The film you recommended was funny.: Do not repeat the relative object with it.
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Can which introduce a defining relative about a thing?
Yes: Defining which is grammatical; do not enforce a false that-only rule.
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Which person is being identified?
The person who organises the walks: The subject relative gives the identifying activity.
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Choose the version with a valid omitted object relative word.
The café we visited was quiet.: We is a subject inside the relative, so the object word can be omitted.
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What makes a relative clause useful in this conversation?
It tells the listener which person or thing you mean.: Its main job here is clear identification.
Take it with you
I can identify people and things in conversation without repeating unnecessary pronouns.