person + who/that + clauseUse who after people. That is also possible in defining clauses.
Who, Which, and That
A2Use who for people, which for things, and that for both in defining clauses. These clauses identify exactly which person or thing you mean.
What you'll learn
- Choose who after person nouns.
- Choose which after thing nouns.
- Use that with people or things in defining clauses.
- Put the clause right after the noun it describes.
- Leave out commas when the clause identifies the noun.
Structure
thing + which/that + clauseUse which after things and animals. That is also possible in defining clauses.
noun + who/which/that + identifying clausePut the clause directly after the noun it describes. Do not repeat the noun with another subject inside the clause.
Build a sentence
Noun
Link word
The teacherwho lives next door
The teacher who lives next door is Anna.
Use who after a person noun.
When to use
Identify a person
Use the clause when one noun is not enough. The teacher who teaches at night is absent today.
Identify a thing
Use the clause to show exactly which object you mean. The phone that has a cracked screen is mine.
Give exact reference
Use it in everyday instructions and choices. Take the bus that stops near the station.
Markers
the personthe manthe bookthe carthe one
Common mistakes
Wrong
The woman which works here is Maria.
Correct
The woman who works here is Maria.
After a person noun, use who in this pattern.
Wrong
I need the book who has the map.
Correct
I need the book which has the map.
After a thing noun, use which or that, not who.
Wrong
The man who he called is Tom.
Correct
The man who called is Tom.
Who already connects the noun to the clause. Do not add a second subject.
Wrong
The car, that Lisa bought, is electric.
Correct
The car that Lisa bought is electric.
This clause identifies which car, so do not use commas.
Common misconceptions
❝ I can use that only for things, not for people. ❞
In defining clauses, that can refer to people or things. Who is common for people, but that is also correct here.
❝ A relative clause always needs commas around it. ❞
Defining relative clauses do not take commas because they identify which person or thing you mean.
Skills in this rule (6)
WHO_FOR_PEOPLEw5Use who for people in defining relative clauses
Use who after a person noun when the extra clause identifies which person you mean. The clause comes right after the noun.
WHICH_FOR_THINGSw5Use which for things and animals in defining relative clauses
Use which after a thing or animal noun when the clause identifies it. Put the clause directly after the noun it describes.
THAT_FOR_PEOPLE_OR_THINGSw4Use that for people or things in defining relative clauses
That can replace who or which in defining clauses when the clause is necessary to identify the noun. It works with people, things, and animals.
PUT_CLAUSE_AFTER_NOUNw4Place the relative clause right after the noun it describes
The identifying clause must follow the noun with no extra subject repeated before it. This keeps the meaning clear.
USE_DEFINING_CLAUSE_TO_IDENTIFYw3Use defining relative clauses to identify exactly which person or thing you mean
Use the clause when the listener needs it to know the exact person or thing. Without the clause, the meaning stays incomplete or changes.
SKIP_COMMA_IN_DEFINING_CLAUSEw4Leave out commas in defining relative clauses
Do not use commas when the clause is essential to identify the noun. The noun and the clause stay together as one unit.