Relative Clauses — Subject & Object Pronouns (B1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The chef cooked this meal trained in Paris. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes straight before the verb "cooked", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a person: use "who" or "that". A subject pronoun can never be left out. "Which" is wrong for a person.

The song I am listening to is from the 1980s. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

After the gap comes a new subject ("I") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "listening to" and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". (As an object, it could even be left out in speech.) "Who" is wrong for a song.

The lift goes to the roof is out of order. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes straight before the verb "goes", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". A subject pronoun cannot be omitted. "Who" is only for people.

The author we invited to the festival could not come. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

After the gap comes a new subject ("we") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "invited" and refers to a person: "who", "that" or formal "whom". "Which" is wrong for a person.

The volunteers helped at the shelter were thanked by the mayor. (one relative word, for people)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes before the verb "helped", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to people: use "who" or "that". "Which" cannot refer to people, even when the noun is plural.

The photos she took on holiday are beautiful. (one relative word, for things)

Correct answer: which

After the gap comes a new subject ("she") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "took" and refers to things: use "which" or "that". "Who" is only for people.

I usually order food is not too spicy. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes before the verb "is", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". A subject pronoun cannot be left out, so this gap must be filled.

The player the coach chose for the final scored twice. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

After the gap comes a new subject ("the coach") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "chose" and refers to a person: "who", "that" or formal "whom". "Which" is wrong for a person.

Anyone wants a refund should keep the receipt. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes before the verb "wants", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a person ("anyone"): use "who" or "that". "Which" cannot refer to a person.

The advice you gave me last week really helped. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

After the gap comes a new subject ("you") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "gave" and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". "Who" is only for people.

It's a small machine makes fresh coffee in seconds. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes before the verb "makes", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". A subject pronoun is required and cannot be dropped.

She is the one person I trust completely. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

After the gap comes a new subject ("I") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "trust" and refers to a person: "who", "that" or formal "whom". "Which" is wrong because the antecedent is a person.

The doctor treated me at the clinic was very kind. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes before the verb "treated", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a person: use "who" or "that". "Which" cannot refer to a person, and this subject pronoun cannot be omitted.

The car they bought last month has already broken down. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

After the gap comes a new subject ("they") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "bought" and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". Compare Q3/Q11, where the relative word sat before the verb as the subject; here it is the object.

The app won the design award is completely free to download. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes before the verb "won", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". Because it is the subject, it cannot be left out — unlike an object pronoun.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The chef cooked this meal trained in Paris. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The song I am listening to is from the 1980s. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The lift goes to the roof is out of order. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes straight before the verb "goes", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". A subject pronoun cannot be omitted. "Who" is only for people.

The author we invited to the festival could not come. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

After the gap comes a new subject ("we") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "invited" and refers to a person: "who", "that" or formal "whom". "Which" is wrong for a person.

The volunteers helped at the shelter were thanked by the mayor. (one relative word, for people)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes before the verb "helped", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to people: use "who" or "that". "Which" cannot refer to people, even when the noun is plural.

The photos she took on holiday are beautiful. (one relative word, for things)

Correct answer: which

After the gap comes a new subject ("she") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "took" and refers to things: use "which" or "that". "Who" is only for people.

I usually order food is not too spicy. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes before the verb "is", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". A subject pronoun cannot be left out, so this gap must be filled.

The player the coach chose for the final scored twice. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

After the gap comes a new subject ("the coach") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "chose" and refers to a person: "who", "that" or formal "whom". "Which" is wrong for a person.

Anyone wants a refund should keep the receipt. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes before the verb "wants", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a person ("anyone"): use "who" or "that". "Which" cannot refer to a person.

The advice you gave me last week really helped. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

After the gap comes a new subject ("you") and verb, so the relative word is the OBJECT of "gave" and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". "Who" is only for people.

It's a small machine makes fresh coffee in seconds. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes before the verb "makes", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". A subject pronoun is required and cannot be dropped.

She is the one person I trust completely. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The doctor treated me at the clinic was very kind. (one relative word, for a person)

Correct answer: who

The gap comes before the verb "treated", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a person: use "who" or "that". "Which" cannot refer to a person, and this subject pronoun cannot be omitted.

The car they bought last month has already broken down. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The app won the design award is completely free to download. (one relative word, for a thing)

Correct answer: which

The gap comes before the verb "won", so the relative word is the SUBJECT and refers to a thing: use "which" or "that". Because it is the subject, it cannot be left out — unlike an object pronoun.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.