Who, Which, That: and Nothing
I can identify a person or thing and know when an object relative word can be omitted.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
Two people are waiting. The woman who has the blue folder is our tutor. The book that I borrowed is in the folder. We can also say the book I borrowed, but not the woman has the blue folder for the same relative-clause structure.
Read the situation transcript
Two people are waiting. The woman who has the blue folder is our tutor. The book that I borrowed is in the folder. We can also say the book I borrowed, but not the woman has the blue folder for the same relative-clause structure.
Why can that disappear from “the book that I borrowed”?
Compare your idea
It is the object of borrowed; I is already the subject inside the relative clause.
How it works
Use a defining relative clause to identify which person or thing you mean. Who is common for people; which and that are common for things. That can also refer to people in defining clauses.
You can often omit the relative word when it is the object: the book I borrowed. Do not omit it when it is the subject: the woman who called. Do not add another object pronoun for the same noun.
Subject relative: the person who called. Object relative: the person (who/that) I called.
Original relationship
The woman who called is our tutor.
Who is the subject of called.
Alternative construction
The book that I borrowed is here.
That is the object of borrowed.
Hear the examples
The woman who called is our tutor.
Who is the subject of called.
The book that I borrowed is here.
That is the object of borrowed.
The book I borrowed is here.
An object relative word can be omitted.
The café which opens early is nearby.
Which is the subject and remains.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: The book that I borrowed it is here.
Say: The book that I borrowed is here.
Do not repeat the relative object with 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 a person with a subject relative.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
The person who teaches us is very patient.
Check yourself: Keep who as 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 with an object relative.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
The film I watched was interesting.
Check yourself: The object relative word can be omitted.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Say the same object relative with and without that.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
The book that I bought is here. The book I bought is here.
Check yourself: The meaning should stay the same.
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
Omit a word where possible: The café that we visited was quiet.
Compare a model and explanation
The café we visited was quiet.
That is the object of visited.
Self-check 2
Can who be removed here: The woman who called is Jo?
Compare a model and explanation
No; keep who.
Who is the relative subject.
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 person ___ called is my neighbour.
who: Who is the subject of called and refers to a person.
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The book ___ I bought is on the desk.
that: That introduces a defining object relative about a thing.
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Choose a valid omission.
The film I watched was funny.: An object relative word may be omitted; a subject relative word cannot be dropped this way.
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In “the person who called”, who is ___.
the subject of called: Who performs the action of calling inside the relative clause.
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Choose a correct defining relative about a thing.
The chair which broke is outside.: Which can be the relative subject referring to a thing.
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Correct “The song that I heard it was beautiful.”
The song that I heard was beautiful.: The object is already represented by the relative construction; remove it.
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What does a defining relative clause help the listener do?
Identify which person or thing is meant: Its role is to narrow or identify the reference.
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Which person does the speaker want?
The person who has the blue folder: The subject relative identifies the person by the folder.
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Can that refer to people in a defining relative clause?
Yes: That can refer to people in defining clauses, though who is also common.
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What should you check before omitting a relative word?
Whether it is the object rather than the subject: Only the object omission practised here is available in the basic finite relative pattern.
Take it with you
I can identify a person or thing and know when an object relative word can be omitted.