Defining Relative Clauses: Who, Which, That, Where — Explanation

Free A2 English test with exercises and answers. Use who, which, that, and where to practice defining relative clauses. Great for A2 students and tests!

Defining Relative Clauses: Who, which, that, where - Exercises

Relative clauses give us more information about a person, thing, or place. We need this information because it tells us exactly who or what we are talking about. The sentence isn't clear without this clause.

These words are used to start the clause:

who → for people
which → for things or animals
that → for people OR things (you can almost always use “that” instead of “who” or “which”)
where → for places

Examples

The man lives next door. → The man who lives next door is very kind.
(“who lives next door” tells us which man)
I lost my phone yesterday. → The phone which I lost yesterday was new.
(or: The phone that I lost yesterday was new.)
This is my school. → This is the school where I study English.
(“where I study English” tells us which school)
She is the teacher. She helped me. → She is the teacher who helped me.

Important Rules

In defining clauses, we do NOT put a comma before who, which, that, or where.
We can leave out who, which, or that if it is the subject of the clause.

Examples (object – can omit):

The book (which/that) I read was interesting. → The book I read was interesting.
The girl (who/that) I met is my cousin. → The girl I met is my cousin.

But we cannot omit when it is the subject:

The dog that barks every night is big. (Correct – “that” is subject)
The dog barks every night is big. (Wrong)

Table of Quick Summaries

Word	Used for	Example
who	people	The boy who plays football is my friend.
which	things / animals	I like the cake which you made.
that	people or things	This is the bag that I bought yesterday.
where	places	This is the park where we play.

Avoid These Common A2 Mistakes

Wrong: My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor. (This is non-defining → needs commas → B1/B2)
Correct for A2: My brother who lives in London is a doctor. (We have only one brother)
Wrong: The movie where I watched was scary.
Correct: The movie which I watched was scary. (or that)