Oraciones de Relativo Especificativas: Identificando Personas y Cosas
qué persona o qué cosa estamos mencionando.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Defining relative clauses give essential information to identify exactly which person or thing you are talking about.
- Use 'who' or 'that' for people (e.g., The man who called).
- Use 'which' or 'that' for things (e.g., The car that I bought).
- Never use commas before or after a defining relative clause.
Overview
The manager is calling you.The manager who leads the marketing department is calling you, la identidad queda clara.que para casi todo, el inglés nos exige ser un poco más específicos y nos ofrece una flexibilidad que el español no tiene: la posibilidad de omitir el pronombre en ciertos contextos. Estas cláusulas funcionan como etiquetas identificativas que responden a la pregunta Which one? (¿Cuál?) o What kind of? (¿De qué tipo?).que es nuestro gran aliado, ya que sirve tanto para personas como para objetos. En inglés, debemos elegir el pronombre adecuado según el antecedente (el sustantivo al que nos referimos):Who(para personas): Se utiliza exclusivamente para referirse a seres humanos. En contextos muy formales podrías verwhomcuando funciona como objeto, pero en el nivel B1 y en el inglés moderno cotidiano,whoes el estándar aceptado para ambos casos.- Ejemplo:
The architect who designed this building is famous.
Which(para cosas, animales e ideas): Es el equivalente a nuestroqueoel cual/la cual
cuando hablamos de objetos inanimados o animales.- Ejemplo:
The report which I submitted yesterday contains all the data.
That(para personas y cosas): Este es el pronombre más versátil y común en el inglés hablado. Es el equivalente directo a nuestroque. En las defining clauses,thatpuede sustituir tanto awhocomo awhich. Es una opción segura y muy natural.- Ejemplo (personas):
The girl that works at the front desk is very helpful. - Ejemplo (cosas):
The car that I want to buy is electric.
- 1Si el pronombre es el sujeto, va seguido inmediatamente por un verbo:
The man who lives next door. Aquí,whorealiza la acción de vivir. - 2Si el pronombre es el objeto, va seguido por otro sujeto y un verbo:
The man (who) I met yesterday. Aquí, el sujeto esIy el hombre (who) es el objeto de la acción de conocer.
who / that | Sustantivo + Pron. + Verbo | The employee who speaks German is on vacation. |which / that | Sustantivo + Pron. + Verbo | A laptop which costs less than $500 is hard to find. |(who / that) | Sustantivo + (Pron.) + Sujeto + Verbo | The client (that) we visited was very satisfied. |(which / that) | Sustantivo + (Pron.) + Sujeto + Verbo | The software (which) they use is outdated. |La empresa para la que trabajo). En inglés, tenemos dos opciones: una formal (similar al español) y una informal/natural (típica de conversaciones y correos electrónicos).- Estructura Natural (Preposición al final):
The company (that) I work for is expanding.(Nota que el pronombre se puede omitir). - Estructura Formal (Preposición al inicio):
The company for which I work is expanding.(Aquí no se puede usarthatni omitir el pronombre).
- Para diferenciar entre varios elementos de un grupo:
Please bring me the box that has the red label. Sin la cláusula, la instrucción es imposible de seguir.- Para definir perfiles profesionales o requisitos:
We are looking for a candidate who has experience in sales. Aquí, la cláusula define el tipo de persona que se necesita.- Para explicar el funcionamiento de herramientas o procesos:
This is the application which generates the monthly reports. La cláusula identifica la herramienta por su función específica.- Para evitar repeticiones innecesarias:
I saw a movie. The movie was about space, decimos: I saw a movie that was about space. Esto conecta tus ideas de forma lógica, elevando tu discurso de un nivel básico (A2) a uno intermedio (B1).- En definiciones generales:
A vegetarian is a person who doesn't eat meat. Las definiciones de diccionario o técnicas dependen casi siempre de estas estructuras.- 1Añadir un pronombre de sujeto redundante:
El hombre que vive allí, él es mi jefe. En inglés, muchos estudiantes dicen:
*The man who he lives there is my boss.who ya es el sujeto. No necesitas añadir he.- Correcto:
The man who lives there is my boss.
- 1Uso de comas innecesarias:
- Incorrecto:
*The book, that I bought, is good. - Correcto:
The book that I bought is good.(Sin pausas, porque la información es esencial).
- 1Usar
thatdespués de una preposición:
en que.- Incorrecto:
*The house in that I live... - Correcto:
The house in which I live...o mejor aún:The house I live in....
- 1Confundir
whoywhich:
que para todo, en inglés usar which para una persona suena muy poco natural o incluso deshumanizante.- Incorrecto:
*The doctor which treated me was kind. - Correcto:
The doctor who treated me was kind.
that | Muy común. | Nunca se usa that. |- Defining:
My brother who lives in New York is a doctor.(Tengo varios hermanos; el que vive en NY es el médico). - Non-defining:
My brother, who lives in New York, is a doctor.(Solo tengo un hermano; por cierto, vive en NY y es médico).
that en lugar de who o which?that. Es la opción más segura en el inglés hablado. Sin embargo, en textos académicos o muy formales, se prefiere who para personas y which para cosas. Además, recuerda que that nunca puede ir inmediatamente después de una preposición.I, you, he, she, we, they), entonces el pronombre relativo es el objeto y puedes omitirlo para sonar más natural.whom todavía necesario?whom es opcional y generalmente se reserva para el inglés escrito muy formal o después de preposiciones (ej. To whom it may concern). En el día a día, utiliza who o simplemente omite el pronombre si funciona como objeto.whom hasta que alcances niveles más avanzados (C1/C2).who o which?which o that. Sin embargo, si el animal es una mascota con nombre propio y lo consideras parte de la familia, es muy común y aceptable usar who. Por ejemplo: This is Max, the dog who saved my life.Relative Pronoun Selection
| Target | Subject Form | Object Form | Possessive Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
People
|
who / that
|
who / whom / that / (omitted)
|
whose
|
|
Things
|
which / that
|
which / that / (omitted)
|
whose / of which
|
|
Places
|
which / that
|
where
|
n/a
|
|
Times
|
that
|
when
|
n/a
|
Meanings
A defining relative clause provides information that is necessary to identify the noun it follows. Without this clause, the sentence would be incomplete or the meaning would change significantly.
Identifying People
Using 'who' or 'that' to specify which person is being discussed.
“The woman who lives next door is a doctor.”
“I know a girl that speaks five languages.”
Identifying Things
Using 'which' or 'that' to specify which object or concept is being discussed.
“The book which I borrowed is excellent.”
“This is the phone that has the best camera.”
Possession
Using 'whose' to show who something belongs to within the identifying clause.
“The boy whose father is a pilot is my friend.”
“I met a woman whose car had broken down.”
Reference Table
| Pronombre Relativo | Se Refiere A | Uso | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
who
|
Personas
|
Sujeto u Objeto
|
`The friend who called.`
|
|
which
|
Cosas / Animales
|
Sujeto u Objeto
|
`The phone which rang.`
|
|
that
|
Personas / Cosas / Animales
|
Sujeto u Objeto
|
`The idea that succeeded.`
|
Espectro de formalidad
The gentleman whom I encountered this morning. (social_interaction)
The man who I met this morning. (social_interaction)
The guy I met this morning. (social_interaction)
The dude I linked with earlier. (social_interaction)
Cláusulas Relativas Definitorias: Lo Esencial
Pronombres
- who para personas
- which para cosas/animales
- that para personas y cosas (informal)
Función
- Identificar Especificar '¿cuál?'
- Clarificar Prevenir ambigüedad
Estructura
- Sin comas Parte del significado esencial
- Sigue al sustantivo Directamente después del sustantivo que describe
Who vs. Which vs. That en Cláusulas Definitorias
Diagrama de Flujo: Elige tu Pronombre Relativo (Cláusulas Definitorias)
¿Es la información esencial para identificar el sustantivo?
¿Es el sustantivo una persona?
¿Es el sustantivo una cosa o un animal?
Cuando las Cláusulas Definitorias Ayudan
Identificando Personas
- • The friend who lent me money.
- • The teacher that graded my essay.
- • The actor who won the Oscar.
Especificando Cosas
- • The book which I finished.
- • The phone that rang loudly.
- • The movie which everyone saw.
Aclarando Contexto
- • The coffee that has oat milk.
- • The app which tracks my steps.
- • The meme that went viral.
Ejemplos por nivel
The man who is happy is my dad.
The man who is happy is my dad.
The dog which is big is mine.
The dog which is big is mine.
I like the girl who is nice.
I like the girl who is nice.
This is the house which is blue.
This is the house which is blue.
The phone that I have is new.
The phone that I have is new.
The people that live here are kind.
The people that live here are kind.
Where is the cake that I bought?
Where is the cake that I bought?
I saw the movie that you liked.
I saw the movie that you liked.
The woman whose car broke down is waiting.
The woman whose car broke down is waiting.
The hotel where we stayed was cheap.
The hotel where we stayed was cheap.
The reason why I called is important.
The reason why I called is important.
Is that the man you were talking about?
Is that the man you were talking about?
The candidate whom we interviewed yesterday was impressive.
The candidate whom we interviewed yesterday was impressive.
The city in which he was born is very small.
The city in which he was born is very small.
The students failing the test will need to retake it.
The students failing the test will need to retake it.
It was the atmosphere that made the restaurant special.
It was the atmosphere that made the restaurant special.
The speed at which the virus spread was alarming.
The speed at which the virus spread was alarming.
Any person found trespassing will be prosecuted.
Any person found trespassing will be prosecuted.
The extent to which he went to help was amazing.
The extent to which he went to help was amazing.
He is a man for whom I have great respect.
He is a man for whom I have great respect.
The manner in which the data was manipulated suggests fraud.
The manner in which the data was manipulated suggests fraud.
Such was the intensity with which she studied that she fell ill.
Such was the intensity with which she studied that she fell ill.
The person to whom the letter was addressed has moved.
The person to whom the letter was addressed has moved.
The criteria by which we judge art are subjective.
The criteria by which we judge art are subjective.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often use commas in defining clauses or use 'that' in non-defining clauses.
Using 'what' to mean 'the thing that'.
Mixing up the person with their possessions.
Errores comunes
The man what lives here.
The man who lives here.
The car who I like.
The car that I like.
The boy he is my friend.
The boy who is my friend.
I like the book is red.
I like the book that is red.
The man, who is tall, is my uncle.
The man who is tall is my uncle.
The girl who she called me.
The girl who called me.
The house that I live.
The house where I live.
The man whose his car is red.
The man whose car is red.
The reason because I came.
The reason why I came.
The book I read it was good.
The book I read was good.
The person that I gave the book.
The person to whom I gave the book.
Patrones de oraciones
The ___ who ___ is ___.
I'm looking for a ___ that ___.
That is the ___ where ___.
He is the kind of person whose ___ is always ___.
Real World Usage
I am looking for a role that allows me to use my coding skills.
Show me the laptops that are under $500.
I want to meet someone who loves hiking and travel.
The suspect is a man who was wearing a blue hoodie.
Did you see the video I sent you?
Take the bus that stops in front of the library.
Que sea esencial
Sin comas para cláusulas definitorias
Seriously, resist the urge!
Si dudas, usa 'that'
Formalidad con 'whom'
Smart Tips
You can probably omit the relative pronoun entirely to sound more like a native speaker.
Avoid using 'that' for people; use 'who' or 'whom' instead to maintain a professional tone.
Try removing the clause. If the sentence becomes confusing or 'The [Noun]' doesn't refer to anyone specific anymore, don't use commas.
Remember that 'whose' replaces 'his/her/their' + the noun. Don't keep the possessive adjective!
Pronunciación
Relative Pronoun Reduction
In fast speech, 'that' is often pronounced with a schwa /ðət/.
Stress on the Noun
The stress usually falls on the noun being defined, not the relative pronoun.
Continuous Flow
The girl who lives next door ↗ is a doctor.
There is no pause between the noun and the defining clause.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
WHO is for humans, WHICH is for things, and THAT is the friend that fits both strings.
Asociación visual
Imagine a giant magnifying glass hovering over a crowd of people. The glass highlights one person wearing a 'WHO' t-shirt. This represents how the clause 'defines' or 'zooms in' on one specific person.
Rhyme
If the info is a must, no commas you shall trust.
Story
A detective is looking for a thief. He says, 'I need the man WHO has the red bag.' There are ten men, but only one has the red bag. The 'who' clause is the detective's tool to find the right person.
Word Web
Desafío
Look around your room. Pick three objects and describe them using 'that' or 'which' (e.g., 'The lamp that is on my desk is black').
Notas culturales
American English speakers strongly prefer 'that' over 'which' for defining clauses. Using 'which' can sometimes sound overly formal or even British to American ears.
British English is more accepting of 'which' in defining clauses, though 'that' is still very common in speech.
In formal academic papers, 'whom' is still expected when the person is the object of the clause, whereas it has almost disappeared from spoken English.
Relative pronouns in English evolved from interrogative pronouns (who/which) and demonstrative pronouns (that).
Inicios de conversación
Tell me about a person who has influenced your life.
What is a gadget that you can't live without?
Describe the kind of house where you would like to live.
Think of a movie that made you cry. Why was it so sad?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
The person ___ helps me with tech is very patient.
Find and fix the mistake:
The film, that I saw, was fantastic.
Elige la frase correcta:
El restaurante que tiene la mejor pizza siempre está lleno.
Answer starts with: ["T...
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /5
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesThe woman ___ lives next door is a famous singer.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Find and fix the mistake:
The man who he called me is my boss.
I have a friend. Her father is a doctor.
You can use 'that' instead of 'who' for people in defining clauses.
A: Which book do you want? B: I want the one ___ is on the top shelf.
The movie that we saw last night was great.
1. The person... 2. The car... 3. The girl... 4. The house...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesI read the article ___ was recommended by my professor.
The architect ___ designed this building won an award.
Is this the laptop ___ you want to buy?
The doctor which I saw was very kind.
The book, that was on the table, is mine.
Which sentence is correct?
Which sentence is correct?
El coche que está aparcado allí es nuevo.
No me gusta la gente que se queja mucho.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Put the words in the correct order:
Match the relative pronouns with their usual referents:
Match the sentence parts:
Score: /13
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
You can leave it out only if it is the **object** of the clause. For example, in 'The man [that] I saw', 'I' is the subject and 'that' is the object, so you can omit it. In 'The man who called', 'who' is the subject, so you must keep it.
Neither is 'better', but 'who' is more common in formal writing, while 'that' is very common in everyday speech.
No, 'which' is strictly for things and animals. For people, use 'who' or 'that'.
Commas in English indicate that the information is 'extra'. In defining clauses, the information is essential to identify the noun, so we don't use commas.
'Who' is for subjects and 'whom' is for objects. However, 'whom' is very formal and rarely used in spoken English today.
Yes! You can say 'The tree whose leaves are falling' instead of the more clunky 'The tree of which the leaves are falling'.
In American English, 'that' is preferred for defining clauses. In British English, both 'that' and 'which' are used frequently.
Yes, 'where' is much more natural in conversation. 'The house where I live' is better than 'The house in which I live'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que
English has different pronouns for people vs. things, whereas Spanish often uses 'que' for both.
qui / que
French never omits the relative pronoun, while English often does.
der / die / das
German relative clauses always require commas, even if they are defining.
None (Adnominal clause)
Japanese uses word order instead of pronouns like 'who' or 'which'.
al-ladhi (الذي)
English does not use resumptive pronouns (e.g., we don't say 'the man who I saw him').
de (的)
The relative clause precedes the noun in Chinese but follows it in English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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