Intermediate › Grammar
Intermediate 📝 Grammar
Relative clauses
Relative clauses join two ideas about the same person or thing using who, which, that, where, whose..
1What is it?
Relative clauses join two ideas about the same person or thing using who, which, that, where, whose.
2Why do we use it?
They stop you speaking in short, choppy sentences. Instead of “I have a friend. He lives in Dubai.” you say “I have a friend who lives in Dubai.”
3The simple rule
Who → people. Which / that → things. Where → places. Whose → possession. That can replace who or which in everyday speech.
4Formula
noun + who / which / that / where / whose + clause
5Easy examples
The man who called is my uncle.
This is the book that I told you about.
That’s the café where we met.
A doctor is a person who treats patients.
6Everyday examples
I have a colleague who speaks five languages.
The phone which I bought last year is already slow.
She’s the girl whose father owns the shop.
Is this the road that goes to the airport?
7Kerala and India examples
Kochi is a city that never sleeps.
My aunt, who lives in Palakkad, is visiting.
This is the beach where they shot that film.
I know a guy whose brother works at Technopark.
8Common mistakes
The people which came were nice.
The people who came were nice.
Why: People → who.
The film who I watched was good.
The film that I watched was good.
Why: Things → that / which.
That’s the place which I grew up.
That’s the place where I grew up.
Why: Places → where.
9Practice quiz
Question 1 of 4Multiple choice
She is the teacher ___ taught me English.
10Speaking challenge
Speaking challenge
Describe 5 people or places in your life in one sentence each: “My best friend is someone who…”, “Kollam is a town where…”.
0:30
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.