Practice
Who, which, or that: relative pronouns in English
Sign in to saveThe colleague who booked the room is here. The room that she booked is upstairs. Our meeting room, which has large windows, is upstairs too. The word and the commas show how the clause relates to the noun.
Choose who, which, or that in a relative clause by identifying the noun and deciding whether the clause is essential or extra 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 chose the chair knows which train to take. /ðə ˈwʊmən huː tʃəʊz ðə tʃeə nəʊz wɪtʃ treɪn tə teɪk/
The short answer
Use who for people. Use which for things, especially when the clause is extra information between commas. Use that in many defining clauses about people or things, but never after a comma.
The volunteer who answered the phone found the lost bag.
Why it works: Who refers to volunteer, a person. The clause identifies which volunteer, so it has no commas.
5 more examples
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The applicant who speaks Spanish will meet the clients.
Who refers to applicant, a person. The clause identifies which applicant will meet the clients.
Not this:The
applicant, who speaksSpanish, will meet the clients. What changes: The applicant is already identified in the conversation. The commas show that speaking Spanish is extra information. -
The elevator that stops on every floor is out of service.
That refers to an elevator in a defining clause. It tells us which elevator is meant.
Not this:The main
elevator, which stopson every floor, is out of service. What changes: The speaker means one known elevator and adds a detail about it. Use which, not that, after commas. -
The recipe which we used needs less salt next time.
Which is the object of used and refers to a thing. In this defining clause, that or no relative pronoun is also possible.
Not this:The
recipe, which we usedlast night, needs less salt next time. What changes: The commas make the choice of recipe extra information, so the relative pronoun cannot be omitted. -
The neighbor that I called has a spare key.
That identifies one neighbor. It is the object of called, so who or no relative pronoun can also be possible here.
Not this:Our
neighbor, who I calledthis morning, has a spare key. What changes: Our neighbor is already clear. The clause adds a detail, so it uses commas and who. -
The message that arrived after lunch needs a reply.
That is the subject of arrived. The clause identifies one message, and the relative pronoun cannot be left out.
Not this:The
message, which arrivedafter lunch, needs a reply. What changes: The message is already known. The commas make its arrival time an added detail.
Read the full guide
Read the noun before the relative clause before you choose a word. If the clause tells the listener which person or thing you mean, it is defining and does not need commas. If the noun is already clear and the clause only adds a detail, put the clause between commas. In that pattern, use who for people and which for things.
Decide what the clause tells the listener
A defining relative clause identifies the person or thing you mean. It is necessary to the meaning, so do not put commas around it.
The students who submitted the form can join the trip.
The clause identifies one group of students, not every student.
The door that leads to the garden is locked.
The clause identifies which door is locked.
Does the clause tell the listener exactly which noun you mean?
If it does, use a defining clause without commas.
Use who when the noun is a person
Use who after a noun that names a person. Who works in both defining and non-defining relative clauses, but commas depend on whether the person is already identified.
The mechanic who fixed my bicycle works nearby.
Who refers to mechanic, and the clause identifies which mechanic.
Rina, who fixed my bicycle, works nearby.
Rina is identified by name, so the clause gives extra information and needs commas.
Choose the pronoun: The person ___ sent the invitation is waiting outside.
Use who because person is the noun before the clause.
Use which for extra information about things
Use which for a thing, place, or idea when a relative clause adds information after commas. The noun is already clear, and the clause gives the listener another detail.
The library, which opens at ten, is across the street.
The speaker expects the listener to know which library is meant. The opening time is extra information.
My passport, which expires in June, is in the drawer.
The passport is already identified by my. Which adds a detail about its expiry date.
Can that replace which after the comma in My passport, which expires in June?
No. A non-defining clause uses which for a thing after commas.
Use that in many defining clauses
That can refer to people or things in a defining relative clause. It is useful in everyday English when the clause is needed to identify the noun. It does not follow a comma.
The customer that needs help is at the counter.
That identifies one customer. Who is also possible because the noun is a person.
The device that measures the temperature is on the shelf.
That identifies one device. Which is also possible in many defining clauses about things.
Which word is not possible here: The device, ___ measures the temperature, is on the shelf?
That is not possible after a comma. Use which for the extra information.
Check whether you can omit the pronoun
You can omit a relative pronoun only when it is the object of a defining clause. Look for the subject inside the relative clause before you remove a word.
The report that Sam wrote is on the desk.
Sam is the subject of wrote, so that is the object. The report Sam wrote is also possible.
The report that arrived this morning is on the desk.
That is the subject of arrived, so it cannot be omitted.
Can you omit who in The guest who called has arrived?
No. Who is the subject of called, so the clause needs a relative pronoun.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the noun before the relative clause. Use who for a person and which for a thing when the clause adds extra information after commas. In a defining clause without commas, that can often refer to either a person or a thing. Check whether the pronoun is a subject or an object before you leave it out.
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
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Who, which, or that: relative pronouns in English"
What is the difference between who, which, and that?
Who normally refers to people, which refers to things, and that can refer to either in many defining relative clauses. Choose the word after you identify the noun before the clause. In clauses between commas, use who for people and which for things.
The applicant, who speaks Spanish, will meet the clients.
When can I use that instead of who or which?
Use that when a defining clause identifies the person or thing you mean: The neighbor that I called has a spare key. Who is also possible for a person, and which is possible for a thing in many defining clauses. Do not use that after a comma.
The elevator that stops on every floor is out of service.
Why do some relative clauses have commas?
Commas show that a relative clause adds information about a noun that is already clear. My passport, which expires in June, gives an extra detail about one known passport. Without commas, the clause identifies which person or thing is meant.
The main elevator, which stops on every floor, is out of service.
Can I leave out who, which, or that?
You can leave out a relative pronoun when it is the object of a defining clause. The report that Sam wrote can become The report Sam wrote. Keep the pronoun when it is the subject, as in The report that arrived, and keep it in a non-defining clause with commas.
The recipe which we used needs less salt next time.
Is which correct in a defining relative clause?
Yes, which is possible in many defining clauses about things, particularly in British English: The recipe which we used needs less salt. That is also common, and some North American style guides prefer it. After commas, use which rather than that for a thing.
The recipe, which we used last night, needs less salt next time.