Page 202 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
95 Relative clauses 4: extra information clauses (1)

A There are two types of relative clause. In these examples, the relative clauses are underlined.
Compare:
Type 1 Type 2
The woman who lives next door to me My brother Ben, who lives in Hong
is a doctor. Kong, is an architect.
Grace works for a company that makes Anna told me about her new job, which
furniture. she’s enjoying a lot.
We stayed at the hotel (that) you We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a
recommended. friend of ours recommended.
In these examples, the relative clauses tell you In these examples, the relative clauses do not
which person or thing (or what kind of person tell you which person or thing the speaker
or thing) the speaker means: means. We already know which thing or
‘The woman who lives next door to me’ person is meant: ‘My brother Ben’, ‘Anna’s new
tells us which woman. job’ and ‘the Park Hotel’.
‘A company that makes furniture’ tells us The relative clauses in these sentences give us
what kind of company. extra information about the person or thing.
‘The hotel (that) you recommended’ tells
us which hotel.
We do not use commas (,) with these clauses: We use commas (,) with these clauses:
We know a lot of people who live in My brother Ben, who lives in Hong
London. Kong, is an architect.

B In both types of relative clause we use who for people and which for things. But:
Type 1 Type 2
You can use that: You cannot use that:
Do you know anyone who/that speaks John, who speaks French and Italian,
French and Italian? works as a tour guide. (not that speaks)
Grace works for a company which/that Anna told me about her new job, which
makes furniture. she’s enjoying a lot.
You can leave out who/which/that when it is
the object (see Unit 93): You cannot leave out who or which:
We stayed at the hotel (that/which) We stayed at the Park Hotel, which
you recommended. a friend of ours recommended.
This morning I met somebody (who/that) This morning I met Chris, who I hadn’t
I hadn’t seen for ages. seen for ages.

We do not often use whom in this type of You can use whom for people (when it is the
clause (see Unit 94B). object):
This morning I met Chris, whom I hadn’t
seen for ages.

C In both types of relative clause you can use whose and where:
We helped some people whose car had Lisa, whose car had broken down, was
broken down. in a very bad mood.
What’s the name of the place where Kate has just been to Sweden, where
you went on holiday? her daughter lives.

190 Relative clauses (Type 1) ➜ Units 92–94 Relative clauses (Type 2) ➜ Unit 96