Grammar 5 | Intermediate | CEFR B2

Adjective Clause

Listen to three conversations using adjective clauses.

Conversation #1

Man: Who is this party for?
Woman: Tim. He's the guy who I was telling you about.
Man: Refresh my memory. Is he the guy who opened the new cafe.
Woman: No, that's Larry. He's the guy who just moved in the house down the street.
Man: Oh, the house that has that huge garage.
Woman: Yes, that's the house and that's the guy.

Conversation #2

Man: So, where do you work?
Woman: I work for a tech company that makes business software.
Man: Really, what kind of software do you make?
Woman: We build tools that help companies manage their money.
Man: Really. My company, which deals with that sort of thing, might be interested.
Woman: Great. Let me give you my card.

Conversation #3

Man: Do you know whose desk this is?
Woman: I think that is Joan's desk.
Man: No, that's Joan's desk. The one that has two monitors is Joan's desk.
Woman: Hmm! Well then, I don't know whose it is then.
Man: Well, someone must know who sits here.
Woman: Right, someone. Just not us.

Adjective Clause

Point 1: A defining relative clause is like an adjective, for it describes the noun or person by giving details about it.
  1. This is the shirt that I got on sale.
  2. This is the house that had the party.
  3. The class that I took is no longer offered at the school.
  4. Do you know someone who speaks French.
Point 2: We use that and which in defining clauses with nouns.
  1. The car that I just bought is really fast.
  2. The cafe that I usually go to is closd today.
  3. The town that I grew up in is not the same anymore.
  4. The dog which lives over there is very scary.
Point 3: We use that and who in defining clauses with people. No subject is needed in these cases.
  1. I know a guy that owns his own island.
  2. I know a guy who owns his own island.
  3. I only date people that don't smoke.
  4. I only date people who don't smoke.
Point 4: If the noun and the subject of the relative clause are the same thing, then you cannot omit the subject in the relative clause.
  1. I bought a car that runs on solar power.
  2. She lives in a house that is over 200 years old.
  3. He has a last name that is very hard to pronounce.
  4. We have a old TV which only get three channels.
Answer the following questions about the interview.