Relative clauses
When can I leave out who, which, and that in relative clauses?
relative clauses
identifying relative clauses
non-identifying relative clauses
keeping who, which and that
leaving out who, which and that
relative clauses
Sentences can be divided into parts called clauses. A relative clause is a part of a sentence that describes the person or thing we are talking about and is connected to other clauses in the sentence via a ‘relative pronoun’, who, which or that. Relative pronouns replace the subject or object of the verb:
Where is the new boy? He was in class yesterday.
Where is the new boy that was in class yesterday?
Can I borrow the CD? You bought the CD.
Can I borrow the CD that you bought?
identifying relative clauses
The girl that I sit next to in class, gave me her phone number.
that I sit next to in class (the relative clause) identifies ‘which’ girl (there could be many girls in the class).
non-identifying relative clauses
This is my friend, Thomas, who came on holiday with me last year.
who came on holiday with me last year does not identify ‘which’ friend (we know ‘which’ friend - the friend is Thomas).
Note! In written English, non-identifying relative clauses are separated by commas, and in speech, by pauses.
keeping who, which and that
You cannot leave out who, which, that when:
it is the subject of the verb in the relative clause
Where is the new boy that was in class yesterday?
it is part of a non-identifying relative clause
The trees that at one time lined this road have all been cut down.
leaving out who, which and that
You can leave out who, which, that when:
it replaces the object of the verb in the relative clause
Can I borrow the CD (that) you bought?
Note! In identifying relative clauses, where which thing or person talked about is clear without the relative clause, it is very common in spoken English to leave out who, which, that.
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