Lesson
Grammar: Relative clauses for longer sentences
Who, which, that, where, whose: join ideas into the complex sentences examiners look for at Band 6–7, and learn when commas change the meaning.
Joining two ideas
→ Students who work part-time often have less time to study.
| Pronoun | Used for |
|---|---|
| who | people |
| which | things and animals |
| that | people or things (only in defining clauses, no commas) |
| where | places |
| whose | possession: a country whose economy depends on tourism |
Commas matter
- Defining (no commas): the information tells us which one.
- Non-defining (commas): extra information about something already clear.
Never use that in a non-defining clause.
Don't repeat the pronoun
Questions 1–7
Choose the correct relative pronoun.
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People ___ exercise regularly tend to sleep better.
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This is the café ___ we first met.
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Countries ___ economies depend on tourism suffered during the pandemic.
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The laptop, ___ I bought last year, has already broken.
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I have a friend ___ father is a pilot.
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Dhaka, ___ is the capital of Bangladesh, has a population of over 20 million.
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Teachers ___ give clear feedback help students improve faster.
Questions 8–11
Is each sentence correct or incorrect?
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My father, that works in a bank, is retiring next year.
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The essay which I wrote it last night was too short.
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Students who live on campus save money on transport.
-
The town where I grew up has changed a lot.
Your turn: combine the sentences
Join each pair into one sentence using a relative clause.
- Some people work from home. They often feel isolated.
- Sylhet is famous for its tea gardens. It is in the north-east of Bangladesh.
- I met a student. Her brother studies in Canada.
Check your answer
Model answer
- People who work from home often feel isolated.
- Sylhet, which is in the north-east of Bangladesh, is famous for its tea gardens.
- I met a student whose brother studies in Canada.
