Relative Clauses: who, which, that, whose, where

Defining (restrictive)

Identifies which one. No commas. Essential to the meaning.

The book that won the Nobel Prize was controversial.

Remove the clause and the sentence becomes unclear: The book was controversial. Which book?

You can use that or which for things, who for people. Commas are not used.

Non-defining (non-restrictive)

Adds extra information. Enclosed in commas. The sentence works without it.

The book, which won the Nobel Prize, was controversial.

The main claim ("was controversial") stands alone. The clause just adds context.

Use which (not that) for things. Commas are required.

Without relative clauses:

The car is red. I bought it last year. It was cheap. (three short sentences — band 5)

With relative clauses:

The car that I bought last year, which was cheap, is red. (one complex sentence — band 7)

Examiners explicitly look for this ability to combine ideas.

Mistake 1: "Who" vs "which" > ❌ The scientist which discovered the vaccine... > ✅ The scientist who discovered the vaccine...

Mistake 2: Missing commas on non-defining clauses > ❌ My brother who lives in Canada is visiting. (implies I have more than one brother) > ✅ My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting. (extra info about my one brother)

Mistake 3: Double subject > ❌ The book which it won the prize is popular. > ✅ The book which won the prize is popular.

Mistake 4: Wrong relative pronoun > ❌ The house what I bought... > ✅ The house that / which I bought...

You can often shorten a relative clause:

• People who are working from home... → People working from home...
• Decisions that were made quickly... → Decisions made quickly...
• Policies that are designed to reduce emissions... → Policies designed to reduce emissions...

This structure is called a reduced relative clause and is a strong band-8 signal.

Informal:

The company that I work for.

Formal (Writing):

The company for which I work.

In Academic Writing, the formal version is acceptable and sometimes preferable. In Speaking, the informal version is natural.

Starting point: I grew up in a city. It is now one of the fastest-growing cities in Asia. My parents still live there.

Combined (band 7):

I grew up in a city, which is now one of the fastest-growing cities in Asia, and where my parents still live.

That's three facts, one fluid sentence, two relative clauses — classic Writing Task 2 style.

Combine each pair of sentences using a relative clause.

1. The film won an Oscar. I watched it yesterday.
2. The restaurant is new. It opened last month.
3. She is an artist. Her work is exhibited internationally.
4. That is the school. I studied there for 10 years.
5. 1989 was the year. The Berlin Wall fell then.

Answers: > 1. The film that I watched yesterday won an Oscar.
2. The restaurant, which opened last month, is new.
3. She is an artist whose work is exhibited internationally.
4. That is the school where I studied for 10 years.
5. 1989 was the year when the Berlin Wall fell.