I don’t know about you, but the person who really changed my life years ago was my high school science teacher. At first, I hated the class because she gave us homework assignments that seemed impossible to do. I almost dropped her class because I struggled to understand her lessons, and one day, I was so bored in the class, and I started to watch videos on my phone about space travel, which completely distracted me from the lesson.

When she noticed, she called me over and asked me about the videos that I was watching. I told her I was curious about how rockets worked, which led to a long conversation about science careers. She showed me some experiments that students could try at home and even recommended books that explained complex concepts in a simple way. She was the kind of teacher who didn’t just teach from a textbook but inspired curiosity in every student who walked into her classroom.

By the end of the year, I understood so much more than I expected, thanks to a teacher who believed in me and the power of learning.

Adjective Clauses: who, which, that, whom (Defining & Non-Defining)

Adjective clauses add more information about a noun. They begin with relative pronouns like who, which, that, or whom. These clauses can help combine ideas, describe people or things more precisely, and make your speech and writing sound more fluent.

Relative Pronouns:

• who → for people (as the subject of the clause)
• whom → for people (as the object; formal)
• which → for animals and things
• that → for people or things in defining clauses (never in non-defining clauses)

Types of Adjective Clauses:

1. Defining (Restrictive) Clauses

These give essential information that identifies which person or thing you’re talking about. Without this clause, the sentence could lose its meaning.

Do NOT use commas.

You can use: who, whom, that, or which (although “that” is more common in speaking).

Examples:

• “The student who won the scholarship studies engineering.”
• “The laptop that I borrowed from the library is fast.”
• “The man whom I met yesterday is my cousin.”
• “The novel which inspired the film won several awards.”

2. Non-Defining (Non-Restrictive) Clauses

These add extra information that is not essential. You’re already clear about the person or thing, but the clause gives more detail.

Do NOT use “that” in non-defining clauses. Only who, whom, or which are acceptable.

Examples:

• “My sister, who lives in Germany, is a violinist.” (I only have one sister, and everyone knows that fact.)
• “This painting, which was created in 1920, is very valuable.”
• “Professor Lee, whom I admire, is retiring next year.”

Summary of Differences:

🗣️Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking

Being able to use and understand both defining and non-defining adjective clauses improves how clearly and naturally you describe people, things, and ideas in conversations.

Common Speaking Situations:

• Introducing someone in detail:
  
  • “This is my aunt who works at NASA.” → Defining (identifies which aunt)
    • ➤ You probably have more than one aunt, and you’re identifying the specific one who works at NASA.
  • “My aunt, who works at NASA, is visiting.” → Non-defining (extra info about the aunt, but not needed to identify her)
    • ➤ You only have one aunt (or the listener already knows which aunt you mean), and you’re simply adding an interesting fact — she happens to work at NASA.
• Giving clear descriptions:
  
  • “I want the shoes that are on sale.” → Defining
  • “These shoes, which I bought yesterday, are very comfortable.” → Non-defining
• Explaining or adding comments:
  
  • “We stayed at a hotel, which had a great view.” → Defining
  • “She called a friend whom she hadn’t seen in years.” → Non-defining

Now, practice your language skills with this interactive game.

These questions help you use adjective clauses in real situations. Try to connect two ideas in your answers. Use “who,” “that,” “which,” or “whom” when you describe people or things.

1. Describe People You Know
   
   • Can you describe a teacher who helped you a lot?
     ➤ For example: “I had a teacher who always encouraged me.”
2. Talk About a Gift
   
   • What’s something that someone gave you that you really liked?
     ➤ “My sister gave me a watch that I wear every day.”
3. Describe a Place
   
   • What is a place which you enjoy visiting? Why?
     ➤ “There’s a park that/which has beautiful flowers.”
4. Describe a Job
   
   • Can you describe a person who has an interesting job?
     ➤ “I know a man who trains guide dogs.”
5. Talk About a Family Member
   
   • Do you have a family member whom you admire? Why?
     ➤ “My grandmother, whom I respect a lot, raised five children.”
6. Favorite Movie or Book
   
   • Can you tell me about a movie or book that made you think?
     ➤ “I watched a documentary that changed my opinion.”
7. Describe a Tool or Object
   
   • What is something that you use every day?
     ➤ “This is the app that helps me learn English.”