Defining relative clauses

Defining relative clauses

We use defining relative clauses to give essential information about someone or something – information that we need in order to understand what or who is being referred to. A defining relative clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes.

We usually use a relative pronoun (e.g. who, that, which, whose and whom) to introduce a defining relative clause (In the examples, the relative clause is in bold, and the person or thing being referred to is underlined.):

They’re the people who want to buy our house.

Here are some cells which have been affected.

They should give the money to somebody who they think needs the treatment most.

[talking about an actress]

She’s now playing a woman whose son was killed in the First World War.

Spoken English:

In defining relative clauses we often use that instead of who, whom or which. This is very common in informal speaking:

They’re the people that want to buy our house.

Here are some cells that have been affected.

See also:

• Relative pronouns

Subject or object

The relative pronoun can define the subject or the object of the verb:

They’re the people who/that bought our house. (The people bought our house. The people is the subject.)

They’re the people who/that she met at Jon’s party. (She met the people. The people is the object.)

Here are some cells which/that show abnormality. (Some cells show abnormality. Some cells is the subject.)

Here are some cells which/that the researcher has identified. (The researcher has identified some cells. Some cells is the object.)