Defining relative clauses: who, which, that, where

• We use defining relative clauses to give essential information about a person, thing, or place. They help us explain exactly who or what we mean without starting a new sentence.
• Relative Pronoun
• Use
• Example
• who / that
• for people
• This is the man who works in Seattle.
• which / that
• for things
• That is the car which belongs to my uncle.
• where
• for places
• This is the office where Sarah works.
• Remember
• Use 'who' or 'that' for people.
• Use 'which' or 'that' for things and animals.
• Use 'where' for places.
• Do not use commas in defining relative clauses.
• Examples
• I have a cousin who lives in Boston.
• She wears a jacket which costs a lot of money.
• We visit the park where the children play every Sunday.
• Common mistakes
• This is the woman which helps me.
• This is the woman who helps me.
• That is the house who we rent in Chicago.
• That is the house where we rent in Chicago.

Complete the sentences

• She is the woman ___ (person pronoun) ____ lives in New York.
• This is the laptop ___ (thing pronoun) ____ costs a lot.
• That is the restaurant ___ (place pronoun) ____ we eat lunch.
• He is the boy ___ (person pronoun) ____ plays guitar in Austin.
• Here is the book ___ (thing pronoun) ____ teaches English.
• Look at the city ___ (place pronoun) ____ my parents live.

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