Relative Clauses

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Relative Clauses
Relative Pronouns
who(m)/that to refer to people
which/that to refer to things
whose with people, animals and objects to show possession (instead of a possessive adjective)
Relative adverbs
when/that to refer to a time
where to refer a place
why to give a reason

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Relative Pronouns
Who, which and that can be omitted when they are the object of the relative clause. He’s the person (who) I am going to cooperate with.
Whom can be used instead of who or that after preposition. That’s the boy to whom Stella was talking yesterday.
Who, which, or that is not omitted when the subject of relative clause. The man who owns that shop is Italian.
Whose is never omitted. That’s the woman whose husband is our new boss.

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Relative adverbs
When/that can be omitted. That was the year (when/that) we graduated from university.
Where cannot be omitted. The restaurant where we first met is going to be pulled down.
Why can be omitted and usually used after the word reason. The reason (why) she left is still unclear.

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Relative Clauses
Defining
A defining relative clause gives necessary information essential to the meaning of the main sentence. It is not put in commas and is introduced with who, which, whose, where, when, or the reason (why).
Non-defining
A non-defining relative clause gives extra information and is not essential to the meaning of the main sentence. It is put in commas and is introduced with who, whom, which, whose, where, or when.

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Relative Clauses
The man who sold me the car said it had never broken down.
The man, who was very persuasive, sold me the car for $7000.
The dress which I bought last month doesn't fit me.
The dress, which was cost a fortune, is my favourite one.