Relative Clauses on TOEIC
Relative clauses using who, whom, which, that, and whose frequently appear in Part 5 and 6. Choosing the correct relative pronoun depends on whether the antecedent is a person or a thing, and its grammatical role in the clause.
Rules
- Use 'who' for people acting as the subject of the clause.
- Use 'whom' for people acting as the object of the clause.
- Use 'which' for things or animals.
- Use 'whose' to show possession for both people and things.
- Use 'that' for people or things in restrictive clauses (no commas).
Examples
"The manager who hired you will conduct the orientation."
'Who' is the subject of 'hired'.
"We received the report that was requested yesterday."
'That' refers to the report and acts as the subject of the clause.
"Employees whose badges are lost must report to security."
'Whose' indicates possession of the badges.
What TOEIC specifically tests
- Choosing 'who' instead of 'whom' when the pronoun is the object of a preposition.
- Using 'which' to refer to a person.
- Confusing 'whose' with 'who's' (who is).
Common questions
When should I use 'that' instead of 'which'?
'That' is used for essential information that restricts the meaning of the noun. 'Which' is often used for non-essential information separated by commas.
Can 'whose' be used for inanimate objects?
Yes, 'whose' can refer to things, e.g., 'The company whose profits doubled'.
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