B2 | Grammar | 12 min

Relative clauses: describing films, books and events

1. Defining clauses (no commas)

They say which person or thing we mean. Use who or that for people, which or that for things, whose for possession, where for places and when for times.

Examples:

"The actress who plays the queen is my neighbor."

"This is the theater where my parents met."

Note: You can leave out who, which or that when it is the object of the clause: "The book (that) I borrowed from the library was excellent."

2. Non-defining clauses (with commas)

They add extra information. Use who, which, whose, where or when. Never use that, and never leave the pronoun out.

Example:

"The writer, whose new book is about travel, is visiting our school."

3. Referring to a whole clause

After a comma, which can refer to the idea of the whole clause before it.

Example:

"The festival was moved indoors, which disappointed many visitors."

4. Reduced relative clauses

An -ing form can replace who or which plus an active verb.

Example:

"The man standing next to the stage is the festival organizer." (= who is standing next to the stage)

Common mistakes

"The book what I read" -> "The book I read"

"The book which I read it" -> "The book which I read"

"The play, that lasts two hours," -> "The play, which lasts two hours,"

Choose the correct option.

1. The actor ___ plays the detective is a former teacher.

____ a) who ____ b) which ____ c) whose

2. The director, ___ latest film opens next week, is giving interviews.

____ a) who ____ b) whose ____ c) which

3. That is the movie theater ___ we first met.

____ a) which ____ b) who ____ c) where

4. The film, ___ lasts three hours, never feels long.

____ a) that ____ b) which ____ c) who

5. Which sentence is correct?

____ a) The song what I heard on the radio was brilliant. ____ b) The song I heard it on the radio was brilliant. ____ c) The song I heard on the radio was brilliant.

6. The concert was canceled on Friday, ___ upset hundreds of fans.

____ a) that ____ b) what ____ c) which

7. The museum, ___ you can see a free exhibition on Sundays, is near the river.

____ a) where ____ b) which ____ c) whose

8. The woman ___ the lead role is my cousin.

____ a) plays ____ b) playing ____ c) who playing

Complete each sentence with a relative word or phrase: who, which, whose, where or when (or that, if it is possible).

1. Mira is the volunteer ____ organizes our film club.

2. The cafe ____ the film club meets every Thursday is small.

3. Her brother, ____ works as a sound engineer, helped us with the speakers.

4. The documentary, ____ is only forty minutes long, is free to watch.

5. People ____ phones ring during the film will be asked to leave.

6. We watched a comedy ____ made all of us laugh.

7. The tickets sold out in an hour, ____ surprised the organizers.

8. The night ____ we saw the play was very cold.

Relative Clauses: Talking about Films and Festivals

Relative clauses: describing films, books and events

1. Defining clauses (no commas)

2. Non-defining clauses (with commas)

3. Referring to a whole clause

4. Reduced relative clauses

Common mistakes

Related lessons

Grammar: Relative Clauses in Film

Passive Voice and Causative in Technology

Reported Speech: Renting a Flat

Grammar: Science in Everyday Life

Grammar: Hedging with Technology and Social Media

Work and Careers: Grammar Practice