2015-08-21
702
A. There are two types of relative clause. In these examples, the relative clauses are underlined. Compare:
#1 Type 1
* The woman _who lives next door_ is a doctor.
* Barbara works for a company _that makes washing machines._
* We stayed at the hotel _(that) Ann recommended to us._
In these examples, the relative clause tells you which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means:
'The woman who lives next door' tells us which woman.
'A company that makes washing machines' tells us what kind of company.
'The hotel (that) Ann recommended tells us which hotel.
We do not use commas (,) with these clauses:
* We know a lot of people _who live in London._ (what kind of people)
#2 Type 2
* My brother Jim, _who lives in London_, is a doctor.
* Colin told me about his new job, _which he's enjoying very much._
* We stayed at the Grand Hotel, _which Ann recommended to us._
In these examples, the relative clauses do not tell you which person or thing the speaker means. We already know which thing or person is meant: 'My brother Jim', 'Colin's new job' and 'the Grand Hotel'. The relative clauses in these sentences give us extra information about the person or thing.
We use commas (,) in these clauses:
* My brother Jim, _who lives in London_, is a doctor. (extra information about Jim)
B. In both types of relative clause we use who for people and which for things. But:
#1 Type 1
You can use that:
* Do you know anyone who/that speaks French and Italian?
* Barbara works for a company which/that makes washing machines.
You can leave out that/who/which when it is the object (see Unit 92):
* We stayed at the hotel (that/which) Ann recommended.
* This morning I met somebody (that/who) I hadn't seen for ages.
We do not often use whom in this type of clause (see Unit 93B).
#2 Type 2
You cannot use that:
* John, who (not 'that') speaks French and Italian, works as a tourist guide.
* Colin told me about his new job, which (not 'that') he's enjoying very much.
You cannot leave out who or which:
* We stayed at the Grand Hotel, which Ann recommended to us.
You can use whom (when it is the object):
* This morning I met Diane, whom (or who) I hadn't seen for ages.
In both types of relative clause you can use whose and where:
* We met some people whose car had broken down.
* What's the name of the place where you spent your holiday?
* Amy, whose car had broken down, was in a very bad mood.
* Mrs Bond is going to spend a few weeks in Sweden, where her daughter lives.
