There are two types of relative clauses. In these examples, the relative clauses are underlined. Compare:
Type 1
* The woman _who lives next door_ is a doctor.
* Barbara works for a company _that makes washing machines._
* We stayed at the hotel _(that) Ann recommended to us._
In these examples, the relative clause tells 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 washing machines' tells us what kind of company.
'The hotel (that) Ann recommended tells us which hotel.
We do not use commas (,) with these clauses:
* We know a lot of people _who live in London._ (what kind of people)
Type 2
* My brother Jim, _who lives in London_, is a doctor.
* Colin told me about his new job, _which he's enjoying very much._
* We stayed at the Grand Hotel, _which Ann recommended to us._
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 Jim', 'Colin's new job' and 'the Grand Hotel'. The relative clauses in these sentences give us extra information about the person or thing.
We use commas (,) in these clauses:
* My brother Jim, _who lives in London_, is a doctor. (extra information about Jim)
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?
* Barbara works for a company which/that makes washing machines.
You can leave out that/who/which when it is the object:
* We stayed at the hotel (that/which) Ann recommended.
* This morning I met somebody (that/who) I hadn't seen for ages.
We do not often use whom in this type of clause.
Type 2
You cannot use that:
* John, who (not 'that') speaks French and Italian, works as a tourist guide.
* Colin told me about his new job, which (not 'that') he's enjoying very much.
You cannot leave out who or which:
* We stayed at the Grand Hotel, which Ann recommended to us.
You can use whom (when it is the object):
* This morning I met Diane, whom (or who) I hadn't seen for ages.
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 spent your holiday?
* Amy, whose car had broken down, was in a very bad mood.
* Mrs Bond is going to spend a few weeks in Sweden, where her daughter lives.
EXERCISES
94.1 Make one sentence from two. Use the sentence in brackets to make a relative clause (Type 2). Sometimes the clause goes in the middle of the sentence, sometimes at the end. You will need to use who(m)/whose/which/where.
1. Ann is very friendly. (She lives next door.) _Ann, who lives next door, is very friendly._
2. We stayed at the Grand Hotel. (Ann recommended it to us.) _We stayed at the Grand Hotel, which Ann recommended to us._
3. We went to Sandra's party. (We enjoyed it very much.) We went to Sandra's party ---.
4. 1 went to see the doctor. (He told me to rest for a few days.) ---.
5. John is one of my closest friends. (I have known him for a very long time.) John ---.
6. Sheila is away from home a lot. (Her job involves a lot of travelling.) ---.
7. The new stadium will be opened next month. (It can hold 90,000 people.) The ---.
8. We often go to visit our friends in Bristol. (It is only 30 miles away.) ---.
9. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. (My brother lives there.) ---.
94.2 Read the information and complete the sentences. Use a relative clause. Sometimes the clause tells us which thing or person (Type 1); sometimes it only gives us extra information (Type 2). Use commas where necessary.
1. There's a woman living next door. She's a doctor.
The woman _who lives next door is a doctor._
2. I've got a brother called Jim. He lives in London. He's a doctor.
My brother Jim, _who lives in London, is a doctor._
3. There was a strike at the car factory. It lasted ten days. It is now over.
The strike at the car factory ---.
4. I was looking for a book this morning. I've found it now.
I've found ---.
5. London was once the largest city in the world, but the population is now falling.
The population of London ---.
6. A job was advertised. A lot of people applied for it. Few of them had the necessary qualifications. Few of ---.
7. Margaret has a son. She showed me a photograph of him. He's a policeman.
Margaret showed me ---.
94.3 In some of these sentences you can use which or that; in others, only which is possible. Cross out that if only which is possible. Also, put commas(,) where necessary.
1. Jane works for a company _which/that_ makes shoes. (both possible, no commas)
2. Colin told me about his new job, _which/that_ he's enjoying very much. (only which is possible; comma necessary)
3. My office _which/that_ is on the second floor of the building is very small.
4. The office _which/that_ I'm using at the moment is very small.
5. She told me her address _which/that_ I wrote down on a piece of paper.
6. There are some words _which/that_ are very difficult to translate.
7. The sun _which/that_ is one of millions of stars in the universe provides us with heat and light.
94.1
3 which we enjoyed very much.
4 I went to see the doctor, who told me to rest for a few days.
5 John, who/whom I have known for a very long time, is one of my closest friends.
6 Sheila, whose job involves a lot of travelling, is away from home a lot.
7 The new stadium, which can hold 90,000 people, will be opened next month.
8 We often go to visit our friends in Bristol, which is only 30 miles away.
9 Glasgow, where my brother lives, is the largest city in Scotland.
94.2
3 The strike at the car factory, which lasted ten days, is now over.
4 I've found the book I was looking for. or ... the book that/which I was looking for.
5 The population of London, which was once the largest city in the world, is now falling.
6 Few of the people who/that applied for the job had the necessary qualifications.
7 Margaret showed me a photograph of her son, who is a policeman.
94.3
3 My office, which ... the building is ... (commas)
4 The office that/which ... (no commas)
5 She told me her address, which ... (comma)
6 There are some words that/which ... (no commas)
7 The sun, which ... in the universe, provides ... (commas)
