Relative Clauses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Relative clauses

Een uitbreidende betrekkelijke bijzin, afgescheiden door komma’s, geeft extra informatie. 

In dit geval kan WHICH NIET vervangen worden door THAT of weggelaten worden omdat het anders een beperkende bijzin wordt:

Our office building, which was renovated last year, does not meet the safety requirements.

Our office building that was renovated last year does not meet the safety requirements (we hebben meerdere kantoorgebouwen waarvan er één vorig jaar gerenoveerd is).

How to use who and whom correctly: sentence examples (with an explanation)

If you can replace a word with “he” or “she” then use "who". However, if you can replace it with “him” or “her,” use "whom". See the following sentences.

This is who warned me. (It is He/she warned me. Not “him/her” warned me)

Jack is the one who wants to go. (He/she wants to go. Not “him/her” wants to go)

With whom am I speaking? (I am speaking with him/her. Not I am speaking with he/she)

To whom this may concern. (This concerns him/her. Not this concerns he/she)

Practice

Who/Whom is paying for this?

1. Who
2. Whom

This is the lady who/whom I told you about.

1. who
2. whom

At the porch he met two of the landed gentry, one of who/whom he knew.

1. who
2. whom

She likes hamburgers ___ are hot.

1. which
2. that
3. both
4. x

Mandy is the girl ____ I met on Friday.

1. who
2. that
3. x
4. all correct

I haven't seen Frank, ____ brother is now five, for a long time now.

1. who
2. whom
3. whose

The men, four of ___ were present, were sentenced to prison.

1. who
2. whose
3. whom
4. x

Cataract surgery, ____ is very common, usually takes no more than 30 minutes.

1. which
2. that
3. both
4. x

Exercise

Complete the sentence with the correct relative pronoun.

Don't use that

Type only the missing word

That is the man .....
helped me when I fell down in the street.

Is that your car? No, mine is the one .....
is parked just opposite the bank.

That is the woman ....
complained about the room service.

So, James is the man ....
son came on the school trip with us? I didn't know.

If you have any question, ask the girl ....
is standing at the desk. She'll help you

They had to put away the dog ....
bit the boy. It was too dangerous.

I'm looking for a person ....
surname begins with a "k".

Do you still go to that pub ....
we used to go to as students?

Combine the sentences into one using the Relative Pronouns.

I gave you a book. It had many pictures

I watched a film last night. It was very interesting.

We ate chicken at that new restaurant. It was delicious.

That boy is very nice. I know him from school.

These shoes are too big. My grandmother bought them for me.

Peter is my new boyfriend. His sister works at KFC.