095 : Relative clauses 4: extra information clauses (1)

   A   

There are two types of relative clause. In these examples, the relative clauses are underlined.
Compare:

 

Type 1 The woman who lives next door is a doctor. Grace works for a company that makes furniture. We stayed at the hotel (that) you recommended.	Type 2 My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect. Anna told me about her new job, which she's enjoying a lot. We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended.
In these examples, the relative clauses tell you which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means: 'The woman who lives next door' tells us which woman. 'A company that makes furniture' tells us what kind of company. 'The hotel (that) you recommended' tells us which hotel.	In these examples, the relative clauses do not tell you which person or thing the speaker means. We already know which thing or person is meant: 'My brother Ben', 'Anna's new job' and 'the Park Hotel'. The relative clauses in these sentences give us extra information about the person or thing.
We do not use commas (,) with these clauses: We know a lot of people who live in London.	We use commas (,) with these clauses: My brother Ben, who lives in Hong Kong, is an architect.

 

 

   B   

In both types of relative clause we use who for people and which for things. But:

 

Type 1 You can use that: Do you know anyone who/that speaks French and Italian? Grace works for a company which/that makes furniture.	Type 2 You cannot use that: John, who (not that) speaks French and Italian, works as a tour guide. Anna told me about her new job, which (not that) she's enjoying a lot.
You can leave out who/which/that when it is the object (see Unit 93): We stayed at the hotel (that/which) you recommended. This morning I met somebody (who/ that) I hadn't seen for ages.	You cannot leave out who or which: We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended. This morning I met Chris, who I hadn't seen for ages.
We do not often use whom in this type of clause (see Unit 94B).	You can use whom for people (when it is the object): This morning I met Chris, whom I hadn't seen for ages.

 

 

   C   

In both types of relative clause you can use whose and where:

 

We met some people whose car had broken down. What's the name of the place where you went on holiday?

Lisa, whose car had broken down, was in a very bad mood. Kate has just been to Sweden, where her daughter lives.