Intermediate English · 20 min
Defining relative clauses
The point
A defining clause tells you which person or thing. Who is for people. Which is for things. That can be either. Whose shows possession, and a noun follows it.
Form and use
A defining relative clause says which person or thing. It is necessary, so there is no comma. Who is for people. Which is for things. That can be either. The person who owns the date replies. The note which arrived is here.
Read the full set. The person who owns the date replies. The note which arrived late is here. The file that you need is on the desk. The woman whose note was late called. The office where she works is small. The day when we met was Friday. The file you need is on the desk. The person I called is Mina.
Whose shows possession, and a noun follows it: whose note. Do not use who for possession. Where is for a place. When is for a time. The office where she works. The day when we met.
If the relative word is the object, you may omit it. The file that you need becomes the file you need. Do not omit it when it is the subject. The person owns the date replies is broken. Keep who, which, or that there, and still use no comma.
Don't translate it like this
Don't say
The person which owns the date replies.
Say
The person who owns the date replies.
날짜를 맡은 사람이 답합니다.
Who for a person. Which would be a thing.
Short examples
The person who owns the date replies.
날짜를 맡은 사람이 답합니다.
The note which arrived late is here.
늦게 도착한 메모가 여기 있습니다.
The woman who owns the key replies.
열쇠를 가진 여자가 답합니다.
The train which leaves at six is full.
여섯 시에 떠나는 기차는 만석입니다.
The file that you sent is open.
당신이 보낸 파일이 열려 있습니다.
The man whose desk is by the door called.
책상이 문 옆에 있는 남자가 전화했습니다.
The room where we met is free.
우리가 만난 방이 비어 있습니다.
The morning when she arrived was cold.
그녀가 도착한 아침은 추웠습니다.
The report you need is on the desk.
필요한 보고서가 책상 위에 있습니다.
The client I emailed is Mina.
내가 이메일을 보낸 고객은 Mina입니다.
Questions
Every question has to be right to close this point.
Answer every question, then check.