relative clauses:
the people who live next door
Clauses beginning with question words (e.g. who, which, where) are often used to modify nouns and some pronouns – to identify people and things, or to give more information about them. Clauses used like this are called ‘relative clauses’.
Do you know the people who live next door?
Those who want tickets can get them from the office.
There’s a programme tonight which you might like.
He lives in a village where there are no shops.
relative pronouns: who, whom, which
When who, whom, and which introduce relative clauses, they are called ‘relative pronouns’. Who(m) refers to people and which to things.
What’s the name of the tall man who just came in? (NOT … the tall man which …)
It’s a book which will interest children of all ages, (NOT … a book-wbe-…)
subject and object
Who
and which can be the subjects of verbs in relative clauses.
I like people who smile a lot.
This is the key which opens the garage,
Wlio(m)
and which can also be the objects of verbs in relative clauses. Whom is unusual in an informal style (see who and whom).
Do you remember the people who we met in Italy? (Who is the object of met.)
I forget most of the films which I see. (Which is the object of see.)
that = who/which
We often use that instead of who or which, especially in an informal style.
I like people that smile a lot.
This is the key that opens the garage.
Do you remember the people that we met in Italy?
I forget most of the films that I see.
all that, only … that etc
That is especially common after quantifiers like all, every(thing), some(thing), any(thing), no(thing), none, little, few, much, only, and after superlatives.
Is this all that’s left? (More natural than … all which is left?)
Have you got anything that belongs to me? (More natural than … anything which …)
The only thing that matters is to find our way home.
I hope the little that I’ve done has been useful.
It’s the best film that’s ever been made about madness.
Note that what (see relatives 4: what) cannot be used in these cases.
All that you say is certainly true, (NOT All what you say …)
leaving out object pronouns: the people we met
Object pronouns can often be left out.
Do you remember the people we met in Italy?
I forget most of the films I see. All I want is your happiness.
This is not possible in all relative clauses: see relatives 2:.
one subject or object is enough
As subjects or objects, who(m), which and that replace words like she, him or it: one subject or object in a relative clause is enough. Compare:
He’s got a new girlfriend. She works in a garage.
He’s got a new girlfriend who works in a garage, (NOT … who she works in a garage.)
This is Mr Rogers. You met him last year.
This is Mr Rogers, whom you met last year, (NOT .. . -whom you met him last year:)
Here’s an article. It might interest you.
Here’s an article which might interest you. (NOT .. . -which-it might interest you:)
I’ve found the car keys. You were looking for them.
I’ve found the car keys that you were looking for. (NOT … that you were looking for them.)
whose: a girl whose hair…
Whose
is a possessive relative pronoun, used as a determiner before nouns. It replaces hislherlits. For more details, see relatives 3: whose.
I saw a girl whose hair came down to her waist, (NOT … whose her hair
which
referring to a whole clause
Which
can refer not only to a noun, but also to the whole of a previous clause. Note that what cannot be used in this way.
He got married again a year later, which surprised everybody, (NOT …, what surprised everybody:)
She cycled from London to Glasgow, which is pretty goocl for a woman of 75. (NOT She cycled … , whatis pretty goodr…)
relative when, where and why
When
and where can introduce relative clauses after nouns referring to time and place. They are used in the same way as preposition + which.
I’ll never forget the day when I first met you. (= … the day on which …) Do you know a shop where I can find sandals? (= … a shop at which …) Why is used in a similar way after reason.
Do you know the reason why she doesn’t like me? {_=… the reason for which …)
For more information consult a good dictionary like Langman, Oxford, Merriam Webster, or Collins.