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English grammar

who, which and that

A2 · Elementary Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

These join two sentences about the same thing. who is for a person, which is for a thing, and that can replace either: The woman who lives upstairs. The bus which goes to the station. English never repeats the noun with a pronoun afterwards — not the man who he lives here.

Pattern

person → who / that · thing → which / that · never: the man who he …

Examples

  1. The woman who lives upstairs is a nurse.

  2. This is the bus that goes to the station.

  3. I have a friend who works at the hospital.

  4. The letter which came this morning was from the bank.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: The man who he lives here is my neighbour.

    Right: The man who lives here is my neighbour.

    who is already the subject; do not add he.

  • Wrong: The bus who goes to the station.

    Right: The bus which goes to the station.

    who is for people, which for things.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    The doctor _____ saw me was very kind.

    1. who
    2. where
    3. what
    4. which
    Show answer

    Answer: A The doctor who saw me was very kind.

    A person takes who.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    The train _____ leaves at six is faster.

    1. what
    2. whose
    3. which
    4. who
    Show answer

    Answer: C The train which leaves at six is faster.

    A thing takes which.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    This is the form _____ you have to sign.

    1. that
    2. who
    3. what
    4. where
    Show answer

    Answer: A This is the form that you have to sign.

    that works for a thing.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    I know somebody _____ can help you.

    1. where
    2. which
    3. what
    4. who
    Show answer

    Answer: D I know somebody who can help you.

    A person takes who.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    The flat _____ we saw yesterday was too small.

    1. who
    2. whose
    3. what
    4. that
    Show answer

    Answer: D The flat that we saw yesterday was too small.

    A thing takes that or which.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The man which lives next door is a plumber.
    2. The man who lives next door is a plumber.
    3. The man who he lives next door is a plumber.
    4. The man what lives next door is a plumber.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The man who lives next door is a plumber.

    A person takes who and no extra pronoun.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The book that I borrowed was very good.
    2. The book that I borrowed it was very good.
    3. The book who I borrowed was very good.
    4. The book what I borrowed was very good.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The book that I borrowed was very good.

    that for a thing, and no it afterwards.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I have a colleague which speaks Arabic.
    2. I have a phone which takes good photos.
    3. I have a colleague who speaks Arabic.
    4. I have a colleague that speaks Arabic.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I have a colleague which speaks Arabic.

    A person never takes which.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. The bus goes to town.
    2. The bus that goes to town is the 14.
    3. The bus that it goes to town is the 14.
    4. The bus which goes to town is the 14.
    Show answer

    Answer: C The bus that it goes to town is the 14.

    Do not repeat the subject with it.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    The woman who answered was very helpful

    Show answer

    Answer: The woman who answered was very helpful.

    who joins the two parts.

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