Practice
That, which, and who in relative clauses
Sign in to saveThe files that need signatures are in this folder. The annual report, which is already signed, is on the desk. Commas change the job of the clause.
Choose that, which, or who in a relative clause, and use commas only when the clause adds extra rather than identifying information.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The woman who works there knows which train to take. /ðə ˈwʊmən huː wɜːks ðeə nəʊz wɪtʃ treɪn tə teɪk/
The short answer
Use who for people and which for things in non-defining clauses. In a defining clause, that can refer to people or things, and who or which can also be possible. Do not use that after commas.
The colleague who manages payroll will join the call.
Why it works: The clause identifies which colleague will join, so it is defining and has no commas. Who refers to a person.
5 more examples
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The visitor who left a blue umbrella has called the reception desk.
The clause identifies which visitor, so it is defining. Who is the subject of left and refers to a person.
Not this:
Maya, who lefta blue umbrella, has called the reception desk. What changes: Maya is already identified by name. The commas show that the clause adds extra information about her. -
The bicycle that needs a new chain is in the garage.
The clause identifies one bicycle from others. That refers to a thing in a defining clause.
Not this:My
bicycle, which needsa new chain, is in the garage. What changes: The speaker means one known bicycle and adds the detail about its chain. Use which, not that, after commas. -
The proposal which the team discussed needs a final cost estimate.
Which is the object of discussed in a defining clause. That or no relative word is also possible here.
Not this:The
proposal, which the team discussedon Monday, needs a final cost estimate. What changes: The commas present the discussion as added information. The relative word cannot be omitted in this non-defining clause. -
The technician that I met yesterday repaired the scanner.
That is the object of met and identifies which technician. In this defining clause, who is also possible for the person.
Not this:Our
technician, who I metyesterday, repaired the scanner. What changes: Our technician is already identified. The clause adds a detail, so it uses commas and who rather than that. -
The café that opens earliest serves breakfast from seven.
That is the subject of opens, so it cannot be left out. The clause identifies one café.
Not this:The
café, which opensearliest, serves breakfast from seven. What changes: With commas, the speaker treats the café as already known and gives its early opening time as extra information.
Read the full guide
Read the noun before the relative clause, then ask whether the clause is needed to identify it. If the answer is yes, write a defining clause without commas. If the noun is already clear and the clause only adds a detail, put the clause between commas and choose who for people or which for things. That is not used in this comma pattern.
Decide whether the clause identifies the noun
A defining relative clause tells the listener exactly which person or thing you mean. It is part of the noun phrase, so do not put commas around it.
The guests who arrived early helped set the tables.
The clause identifies a group of guests: the early arrivals, not every guest.
The keys that open the storage room are on this hook.
The clause identifies which keys are meant.
Is the clause needed to identify the noun?
If it is needed, write it without commas.
Use commas for extra information
A non-defining relative clause gives extra information about a person or thing that is already clear. Put commas before and after the clause when it comes in the middle of a sentence.
Our new office, which is near the station, opens next month.
The speaker expects the listener to know which office is meant. Its location is added information.
Mr. Ali, who leads the training team, will introduce the session.
Mr. Ali is already identified by name, so the clause adds a fact about him.
Does the clause merely add a detail about a known noun?
If it does, put the clause between commas.
Choose who for people and which for things
In non-defining clauses, use who for people and which for things, places, ideas, and animals when the reference is not personal. These choices make the link to the noun clear.
Lena, who works in accounts, will answer your question.
Who refers to Lena, a person, and the commas mark extra information.
The invoice, which arrived this morning, is missing a page.
Which refers to invoice, a thing, and adds a detail about when it arrived.
In a defining clause, who is still common for people and which is possible for things. The noun before the clause tells you what the word refers to.
Use that only in defining clauses
That can refer to a person or a thing when the clause identifies the noun. It is useful in many everyday defining clauses, but it does not introduce extra information after commas.
The person that answers the phone can help you.
That identifies one person, so it is possible without commas. Who is also natural here.
The form that you completed is in your file.
That identifies one form. Which is also grammatically possible in this defining clause.
Write The form, which you completed, is in your file if the form is already clear. Do not write that after the comma.
Check whether the relative word is a subject or object
A relative word is the subject when it performs the action in its clause. It is the object when another subject performs the action to it. You may omit an object relative word in a defining clause, but not a subject relative word.
The email that arrived this morning needs a reply.
That is the subject of arrived, so it must stay in the sentence.
The email that I sent this morning needs a reply.
I is the subject of sent. That is the object, so The email I sent this morning is also possible.
Can you omit the word in The manager who called?
No. Who is the subject of called, so the clause needs a relative word.
Let the commas change the meaning
Commas can change which people or things a sentence includes. Read the sentence both ways before you edit it, especially when a group contains more than one possible noun.
Employees who work weekends receive an extra day off.
Only employees who work weekends receive the extra day off.
The employees, who work weekends, receive an extra day off.
The commas present working weekends as a detail about all the employees already under discussion.
Use commas only when that second meaning matches the situation. Punctuation should show the information you mean, not decorate the sentence.
Before you go
Remember this
Ask whether the clause identifies the noun or adds a detail. Use no commas for a defining clause; who, which, or that may fit according to the noun and the clause role. Put a non-defining clause between commas and use who for people or which for things. Do not use that or omit the relative word in that comma pattern.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "That, which, and who in relative clauses"
What is the difference between a defining and a non-defining relative clause?
A defining clause identifies which person or thing you mean, so it has no commas: The files that need signatures are here. A non-defining clause adds information about a noun that is already clear, so it has commas: The annual report, which is signed, is here.
The visitor who left a blue umbrella has called the reception desk.
Why can I not use that after commas?
That is used in defining relative clauses, where the clause identifies the noun. After commas, use who for a person or which for a thing. Write My manager, who works remotely, is visiting tomorrow, rather than using that after the first comma.
Maya, who left a blue umbrella, has called the reception desk.
When can I leave out that, who, or which?
You can omit a relative word when it is the object in a defining clause. The proposal that we discussed and The proposal we discussed are both possible. Do not omit the word when it is the subject, as in The proposal that arrived, or in a non-defining clause with commas.
The bicycle that needs a new chain is in the garage.
Can that refer to people as well as things?
Yes. In a defining clause, that can refer to a person or a thing: The person that called and The package that arrived. Who is also common for people, and which is possible for things. In a non-defining clause, use who for people and which for things instead of that.
My bicycle, which needs a new chain, is in the garage.
Do commas change the meaning of a relative clause?
Yes. Employees who work weekends receive an extra day off means only that group receives it. The employees, who work weekends, receive an extra day off treats working weekends as added information about employees already identified. Use the punctuation that matches the group you mean.
The proposal which the team discussed needs a final cost estimate.