Intermediate Relative clauses I

Table of Contents

  • Who & That
  • Prepositions
  • What

Who and That

When who or that are the subjects of the verb in a relative clause, they cannot be left out.

Examples:

  • The patient who was sitting in the corner, has gone to fetch some coffee.
  • The chairs that are in the waiting room need replacing.

When who or that are the objects of the verb in the relative clause, you can leave them out.

Examples:

  • The chemist that I wanted to go to is shut.
  • The chemist I wanted to go to is shut.
  • The nurse who I saw in the waiting room has gone.
  • The nurse I saw in the waiting room has gone.

Prepositions

If, in a relative clause, the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition, it normally goes at the end of the sentence.

Examples:

  • That person that John is talking to, is the Vice Chancellor.
  • That’s a subject that I don’t know anything about.
  • Are these the pyjamas you were looking for?

What

What cannot be used instead of that. The meaning of what in the middle of a sentence is the thing(s) that

Examples:

  • She won’t tell anyone what happened.(She won’t tell anyone the thing that happened.)
  • I listened to what you said, and I don’t believe you. (I listened to the things you said……..)
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