B1 – Relative Clauses

What level of knowledge is necessary to master a B1 level regarding the use of the Relative Clauses? Here you have a guide:

Defining Relative Clauses:

You can define people, things and places with a relative clause beginning with who, that, which, where or when. The information in the defining relative clause is important for the sense of the sentence and gives essential information about the subject or object of the sentence.

o You use who or that to define people:

§ As a subject pronoun.

The man who telephones me earlier was my husband.

In this sentence who refers to the subject = the man.

§ As an object pronoun.

The most interesting speaker who we met was Dr Fitouri.

In this sentence who refers to the object = Dr Fitouri.

o You use which or that to define things:

§ As a subject pronoun.

There is a large garage which/that belongs to the house.

§ As an object pronoun.

It is the nicest car which/that I have ever seen.

o You use where to define places:

The house where my parents live is near the city center.

o You use when for times:

The time when I get up is usually around 8 o’clock.

Non-defining Relative Clauses:

You use a non-defining relative clause who or which to give extra information about the subject or object of a sentence. Relative pronouns cannot be left out in non-defining relative clauses. Commas are necessary around non-defining relative clauses when written, and pauses are needed when spoken. You cannot use that in non-defining relative clauses.

o You use who for people:

William Boyd, who has written many books, is one of my favorite authors.

o You use which for things:

I gave him a glass of water, which he drank immediately.

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