Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #117203: Relative Pronouns - That or Who

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Relative Pronouns - That or Who - English lesson

A relative pronoun connects a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun.

Relative pronouns are usually seen in sentences at the beginning of an adjectival clause.

An adjectival clause functions as an adjective, modifying nouns and pronouns.

An adjective clause starts with either a relative adverb:where, when, and why or a relative pronoun such as that, who, whom, whose, or which.

Alright! We are discussing 'that' and 'who'.

There are many conflicting online sources when it comes to determining whether to use 'who' or 'that' in a sentence.* 'who' refers to people. * 'that' refers to people, places, animals, things, etc.

However, one rule is absolutely clear:*. 'who' should be used ONLY when referring to people.*. 'that' should be used when referring to other things.

Examples:

(1) Mary loves the chocolate that I bought.

(2) The police arrested a man who Jill worked with.

(3) We went to the village that Lucy recommended.

In this test, let's stick to the one rule. Are you ready?

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️This test is about formal English. ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

who is generally preferred when referring to people. It sounds slightly more formal and more natural in careful written English.

That can also refer to people in everyday English, especially in informal speech and writing.

So:

who → more standard/formal for people
that → also correct, but slightly more informal

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️This test is about formal English. ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

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1. We broke the computer belonged to my father.

2. I love books have happy endings.

3. I sent an email to my sister lives in Australia.

4. She worked for a man used to be an athlete.

5. Mr. Dania now lives in a city is in the north of England.

6. The company called a lawyer lived nearby.

7. Mother always discards fruits aren't fresh.

8. The man stole my backpack has been arrested.

9. The weather we had this summer was very beautiful.

10. Everyone visited me in the hospital was very kind.

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