Who, which and that

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • relative clauses

Relative clauses that tell us which person or thing: who for people (a nurse who works at a hospital), which or that for things (a plane that leaves at six). No extra he, she or it, and a verb that matches its noun. From a teenager's big modern family to the people in your life.

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whowhichthat

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: Leo's modern familyReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Find who, which and thatGrammar exercise
  5. 5How relative clauses workGrammar rule
  6. 6Complete the sentencesGrammar exercise
  7. 7Choose the right clauseGrammar exercise
  8. 8Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  9. 9Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  10. 10People in my lifeSpeaking practice
  11. 11About youGrammar exercise
  12. 12Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: join the sentencesGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: my peopleDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

Let's talk about families.

  1. How many people live in your home?
  2. Who in your family do you talk to the most?
  3. Who is the oldest person in your family?

Grammar rule

How relative clauses work

who, which, that + verb

Example
People: who (or that)Mark is a nurse who works at a hospital.
Things: which or thatMy mom has a bakery that sells cinnamon rolls. We have a group chat which never stops.
QuestionsIs your best friend someone who likes surprises? Is there a pharmacy that stays open late?

The relative clause comes after the noun, usually right after it, and it tells us which person or thing, or what kind.

Here, who, which or that is the subject of its verb, so don't add he, she, it or they: not a nurse who he works, not a pharmacy that it stays open late.

The verb matches the noun before who: a kid who wants · kids who want. anyone and someone take -s: someone who sings.

who or that? which or that?

People: who is the usual word; that is fine in conversation (the one that always borrows my hoodies). Things: in American English, that is the most common; which is fine too, and a little more formal.

Never use what here: not a bakery what sells bread.
For animals, use that or which: a cat that sleeps all day. For a pet, who is fine too.

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