Das Subjekt nicht weglassen: Relativpronomen (who, which, that)
who, which oder that darfst du nicht weglassen, wenn sie das Subjekt im Relativsatz sind! Das ist super wichtig!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In English, you can never delete a relative pronoun (who, which, that) if it acts as the subject of the following verb.
- Use 'who' for people and 'which' for things; 'that' works for both in informal speech.
- If the pronoun is followed immediately by a verb, it is the subject: 'The man who lives here.'
- Never omit the subject pronoun: 'The man lives here' is wrong if you mean 'The man who lives here.'
Overview
who, which und that. Sie fungieren als der Kleber zwischen zwei Gedanken. Stell dir vor, du hast zwei separate Sätze: „I saw a guy“ und „The guy was wearing a Pikachu onesie.“ Anstatt wie ein der Roboter zu klingen, kombinierst du sie: „I saw a guy who was wearing a Pikachu onesie.“ In diesem neuen, kombinierten der Satz erledigt who zwei Jobs.was wearing. Weil es das Subjekt ist, ist es unverzichtbar. Du kannst nicht einfach sagen: „I saw a guy was wearing a Pikachu onesie.“ Das klingt, als hättest du einen der Glitch.that works well.“ Das eine ist für Kleinkinder, das andere für jemanden, der bereit ist, ein Zoom-das Interview zu rocken.How This Grammar Works
that crashed my phone is annoying.“ Hier ist that das Subjekt des Verbs crashed. Wenn du that entfernst, wird der der Satz zu: „The app crashed my phone is annoying.“ Jetzt hast du zwei Verben (crashed und is), die um dasselbe das Substantiv („the app“) kämpfen.that behältst, markierst du deutlich den Beginn der Beschreibung.
Formation Pattern
who für Menschen, which für Dinge oder that für beides).
who/which/that] + [Verb] + [Extra Info].
who) (lives) (next door) (is a DJ).“
When To Use It
who brought the extra pizza“, versteht jeder perfekt (und stimmt wahrscheinlich zu). Benutze es, wenn du Amazon-die Bewertungen schreibst: „The headphones that arrived yesterday are broken.“ Benutze es, wenn du dich über Netflix beschwerst: „The show which everyone is talking about is actually boring.“ Es ist die die Grammatik der Spezifität. Ohne sie ist die die Welt nur ein verschwommenes Etwas aus vagen Substantiven.who specializes in Python.“ Es lässt dich professionell und kompetent klingen und wie jemand, der tatsächlich weiß, wo seine Subjekte sind.
Common Mistakes
who lives in Tokyo.“ Ein weiterer der Fehler ist die Verwendung des falschen Pronomens, wie z. B. which für deine die Oma zu verwenden. Es sei denn, deine die Oma ist ein der Roboter (was cool wäre, aber unwahrscheinlich), bleib bei who. Ein dritter der Fehler ist das Hinzufügen eines zusätzlichen Pronomens nach dem Relativpronomen. Sag nicht: „The car that it is parked outside is mine.“ Du hast bereits that, das als Subjekt fungiert! it hinzuzufügen ist, als würde man zwei Hüte gleichzeitig tragen. Einer ist genug, und zwei lassen dich nur so aussehen, als würdest du dich zu sehr anstrengen.Contrast With Similar Patterns
that) I read was great.“ In diesem Fall ist I das Subjekt und that (das Buch) ist das Objekt.read bereits ein Subjekt (I) hat, ist das Pronomen that nur eine Extra-Info, ohne die wir leben können. Aber in unserer B1-Regel *ist* das Pronomen das Subjekt. „The book that is on the table is great.“ Hier ist that das Subjekt von is.who is, that crashed, which works), MUSST du das Pronomen behalten.that I read, who you met), kannst du es wahrscheinlich weglassen. Es ist wie ein das Sicherheitspersonal – wenn das Verb allein ist, bleibt das Pronomen, um es zu schützen. Wenn das Verb bereits ein Subjekt hat, kann das Pronomen eine die Pause machen.Quick FAQ
Kann ich that für Personen verwenden?
Ja, in lockerem Englisch! „The guy that lives here“ ist völlig okay. Aber who ist gebräuchlicher und klingt ein bisschen besser.
Ist which nur für Dinge?
Jap. Benutze which nicht für Menschen, es sei denn, du versuchst gemein zu sein oder du sprichst über einen Geist.
Was passiert, wenn ich das Pronomen vergesse?
Die Leute werden dich normalerweise verstehen, aber du wirst so klingen, als würdest du „gebrochenes“ Englisch sprechen. Es unterbricht den der Fluss der Unterhaltung.
Gilt das auch für die die Vergangenheit?
Absolut. „The movie that started at 8:00“ ist genauso streng wie „The movie that starts at 8:00.“
Ist diese Regel formell oder informell?
Beides! Es ist eine grundlegende Regel der die Sprache. Egal, ob du einem Freund simst oder eine die Abschlussarbeit schreibst, behalte dieses Subjekt-Pronomen an seinem der Platz.
Choosing the Correct Subject Relative Pronoun
| Antecedent (The Noun) | Relative Pronoun | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
People (Formal)
|
Who
|
Subject
|
The man who knows...
|
|
People (Informal)
|
That
|
Subject
|
The girl that lives...
|
|
Things/Animals
|
Which
|
Subject
|
The cat which barks...
|
|
Things/Animals
|
That
|
Subject
|
The car that broke...
|
|
Possession
|
Whose
|
Subject/Determiner
|
The boy whose dog...
|
Meanings
A relative pronoun connects a main clause to a relative clause. When that pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, it provides essential information about the noun it follows.
Identifying People
Using 'who' or 'that' to specify exactly which person we are talking about.
“The woman who won the lottery is my aunt.”
“Students that study hard usually pass.”
Identifying Things
Using 'which' or 'that' to specify exactly which object or concept we are discussing.
“The car which crashed was red.”
“I bought a phone that has a great camera.”
Defining Essential Information
Providing information that is necessary to understand which specific noun is being referred to.
“I don't like movies that have sad endings.”
“Where is the key which opens this door?”
Reference Table
| Pronomen | Bezieht sich auf | Rolle im Satz | Kann es weggelassen werden? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
`who`
|
Personen
|
Subjekt
|
Nein
|
|
`which`
|
Dinge, Tiere
|
Subjekt
|
Nein
|
|
`that`
|
Personen, Dinge
|
Subjekt
|
Nein
|
|
`who`
|
Personen
|
Objekt
|
Ja
|
|
`which`
|
Dinge, Tiere
|
Objekt
|
Ja
|
|
`that`
|
Personen, Dinge
|
Objekt
|
Ja
|
Formalitätsspektrum
There is a gentleman who is inquiring after you. (Workplace/Street)
There is a man who is looking for you. (Workplace/Street)
There's a guy that's looking for you. (Workplace/Street)
Some dude's lookin' for ya. (Workplace/Street)
Relativpronomen (Rolle als Subjekt)
Who
- Personen Person, student, colleague
- Beispiel The student WHO studies hard.
Which
- Dinge Book, idea, car
- Tiere Dog, cat, bird
- Beispiel The car WHICH broke down.
That
- Personen Person, friend
- Dinge App, phone
- Beispiel The app THAT helps me.
Subjekt vs. Objekt Relativpronomen
Soll ich das Relativpronomen weglassen?
Folgt dem Relativpronomen unmittelbar ein Verb?
Nutzungsanleitung: Who, Which, That
Für Personen (Subjekt)
- • `who` (üblich, formell)
- • `that` (üblich, informell)
Für Dinge/Tiere (Subjekt)
- • `which` (üblich, formell)
- • `that` (üblich, informell)
Wann NICHT weglassen (Subjekt)
- • Relativpronomen + Verb
- • Definierende Sätze zur Klarheit
Beispiele nach Niveau
The boy who is happy.
The boy who is happy.
The car that is red.
The car that is red.
A teacher who is nice.
A teacher who is nice.
A book that is big.
A book that is big.
I know a girl who speaks English.
I know a girl who speaks English.
This is the phone that works well.
This is the phone that works well.
The man who lives here is old.
The man who lives here is old.
I like movies that are funny.
I like movies that are funny.
The company which produces these cars is Japanese.
The company which produces these cars is Japanese.
People who want to join the club must pay a fee.
People who want to join the club must pay a fee.
Is there a restaurant that serves vegetarian food?
Is there a restaurant that serves vegetarian food?
The software which was installed yesterday is crashing.
The software which was installed yesterday is crashing.
The candidates who were interviewed yesterday were all excellent.
The candidates who were interviewed yesterday were all excellent.
The law, which was passed last year, has caused many problems.
The law, which was passed last year, has caused many problems.
Anyone who believes that story is very gullible.
Anyone who believes that story is very gullible.
The evidence that was presented in court was convincing.
The evidence that was presented in court was convincing.
The factors which contribute to climate change are multifaceted.
The factors which contribute to climate change are multifaceted.
It was my brother who eventually convinced me to move.
It was my brother who eventually convinced me to move.
The individual who is found responsible will be prosecuted.
The individual who is found responsible will be prosecuted.
The theories that underpin this research are quite complex.
The theories that underpin this research are quite complex.
The nuances that characterize his later work are often overlooked.
The nuances that characterize his later work are often overlooked.
He is a man who, despite his flaws, remains deeply respected.
He is a man who, despite his flaws, remains deeply respected.
The mechanisms which facilitate this biological process are still being studied.
The mechanisms which facilitate this biological process are still being studied.
Such are the challenges that await any newcomer to the field.
Such are the challenges that await any newcomer to the field.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often use 'whom' as a subject because it sounds more formal.
Learners don't know when to use commas.
Using 'what' as a relative pronoun.
Häufige Fehler
I have a friend lives in London.
I have a friend who lives in London.
The car is red is mine.
The car that is red is mine.
A person which works here.
A person who works here.
The man who he lives here.
The man who lives here.
The book who I bought.
The book that I bought.
Is this the bus goes to the city?
Is this the bus that goes to the city?
The people lives in this house.
The people who live in this house.
The man I met him was nice.
The man who I met was nice.
Everything what happened was my fault.
Everything that happened was my fault.
The lady who she called you is my boss.
The lady who called you is my boss.
The person whom called you is waiting.
The person who called you is waiting.
Satzmuster
I know a person who ___.
The ___ that ___ is ___.
Is there anything which ___?
Anyone who ___ must ___.
Real World Usage
The girl that lives next door is having a party.
I am a person who takes initiative.
I want to return the item which arrived damaged.
Take the bus that goes to the museum.
A traveler who loves coffee.
The party who signs this contract...
Subjekt-Verb-Paar erkennen
Kein 'Which' für Personen
Mit 'He/She/It' testen
Der Kontext für 'That'
Zusätzliche Pronomen vermeiden
Smart Tips
Stop! You need a relative pronoun. Don't jump straight to the verb.
Use 'who' for people and 'which' for things. Avoid 'that' to sound more academic.
Try to replace the pronoun with 'He' or 'It'. If the sentence works, it's a subject!
Contract 'that is' to 'that's' and 'who is' to 'who's'. It sounds much more natural.
Aussprache
Contraction of 'that is'
In spoken English, 'that' and 'is' are almost always contracted to 'that's'.
Weak form of 'who'
The 'h' in 'who' is often very soft, and the vowel becomes a schwa-like sound in fast speech.
Relative Clause Rise-Fall
The man who LIVES here (slight rise) is NICE (fall).
The rise on the relative clause indicates it is descriptive information.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
S.O.S. — Subject Or Stay! If the pronoun is the Subject, it must Stay.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a bridge connecting two islands. If the bridge (the pronoun) is missing, the cars (the verbs) fall into the water because they have no road (subject) to drive on.
Rhyme
If a verb comes next in line, keep the pronoun every time!
Story
A king (the noun) has a messenger (the relative pronoun) who carries a message (the verb). If the king sends the message without the messenger, the message never arrives. The messenger is the subject of the journey.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around the room. Describe 5 things using 'that' or 'which' followed by a verb (e.g., 'The lamp that sits on the desk'). Ensure you don't drop the pronoun!
Kulturelle Hinweise
British speakers are slightly more likely to use 'which' in defining relative clauses than American speakers, though 'that' is still dominant in speech.
American English strictly prefers 'that' for defining clauses and 'which' for non-defining clauses (with commas).
In some rural dialects, 'as' was historically used as a relative pronoun, though this is now very rare and considered non-standard.
Relative pronouns in English evolved from interrogative pronouns (who/which) and demonstrative pronouns (that) in Old English.
Gesprächseinstiege
Tell me about a person who inspires you.
What kind of movies do you like?
Describe a piece of technology that you can't live without.
What are the qualities of a leader who succeeds?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
The painter ___ lives next door is very famous.
Painter ist eine Person, also ist who das korrekte Relativpronomen. Es ist auch das Subjekt von lives.Find and fix the mistake:
The book was missing found its way back.
That oder which sind hier notwendig, um den Relativsatz korrekt einzuleiten.Wähle den korrekten Satz:
Which ist das Subjekt von broke down und kann nicht weggelassen werden. Die anderen Optionen sind grammatikalisch falsch.Score: /3
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesThe man ___ lives next door is a doctor.
Find and fix the mistake:
The car is parked outside is mine.
I have a computer ___ works very fast.
Combine them using a relative pronoun.
'The book that is on the table is mine.'
Identify the 'Object' relative clause.
A: Which phone should I buy? B: Buy the one ___ has the best battery.
1. A pilot... 2. A key... 3. A student...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe new phone ___ has a great camera is very expensive.
The doctor she helped me was very kind.
Ordne diese Wörter zu einem Satz: the, movie, that, won, an, award, was, exciting
Ordne diese Wörter zu einem Satz:
Fasse diese Sätze zusammen: 'There's a new restaurant. It serves amazing sushi.'
Ordne die Nomen dem richtigen Relativpronomen zu:
Welcher Satz ist korrekt?
The company ___ manufactures these parts is based in Germany.
I met a person was very kind.
Fasse die Sätze zusammen: 'She has a brother. He lives in Canada.'
The documentary ___ explores space travel is fascinating.
Welcher Satz ist grammatikalisch korrekt?
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No. In standard English, if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, it must be included. Dropping it makes the sentence ungrammatical.
'Who' is more formal and preferred in writing. 'That' is very common in spoken, informal English. Both are grammatically correct.
In 'The book I read,' 'I' is the subject. In 'The book that is red,' 'that' is the subject. You can only drop the pronoun if it's NOT the subject.
Yes, 'which' is used for objects, animals, and ideas. Never use 'which' for people.
This is a 'double subject' error. 'The man who he lives here' is wrong. 'Who' already does the job of 'he'.
Not for these 'defining' clauses. These clauses are essential to know which noun you are talking about, so no commas are used.
'Whose' is a possessive relative pronoun. It is followed by a noun, and together they can be the subject: 'The boy whose dog barked.'
In American English, 'that' is much more common for defining clauses. In British English, 'which' is used more often than in the US, but 'that' is still very frequent.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que
English requires 'who' for people, whereas Spanish uses 'que' for both.
qui / que
In French, 'qui' is the subject pronoun regardless of whether it's a person or a thing.
der / die / das
German relative pronouns are much more complex due to case endings (nominative, accusative, etc.).
None (Pre-nominal modification)
Japanese has no words like 'who' or 'which' to connect clauses.
al-ladhi (الذي)
Arabic often requires a 'resumptive pronoun' later in the sentence, which English forbids.
de (的)
The word order is reversed compared to English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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RELATIVE PRONOUNS | RELATIVE CLAUSES | ADJECTIVE CLAUSES - who, which, that, whose, whom
Arnel's Everyday English
Relative Clauses - English Grammar Lesson (Upper Intermediate)
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