Ne supprimez pas le sujet : Pronoms relatifs (who, which, that)
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 et that. Ils servent de colle entre deux idées. Imagine que tu as deux phrases séparées : I saw a guyet
The guy was wearing a Pikachu onesie.Au lieu de parler comme un robot, tu les combines :
I saw a guy who was wearing a Pikachu onesie. Dans cette nouvelle phrase combinée, who fait deux boulots.was wearing. Comme c'est le sujet, il est essentiel. Tu ne peux pas juste dire : I saw a guy was wearing a Pikachu onesie.On dirait que tu bugues.
I have a phone. It works wellet
I have a phone that works well. L'une est pour les tout-petits ; l'autre est pour quelqu'un prêt à gérer un entretien sur Zoom.How This Grammar Works
sans abri. Regardons la phrase : The app that crashed my phone is annoying. Ici, that est le sujet du verbe crashed. Si tu enlèves that, la phrase devient The app crashed my phone is annoying.Maintenant, tu as deux verbes (
crashed et is) qui se battent pour le même nom (the app).that, tu marques clairement le début de la description.
Formation Pattern
who pour les personnes, which pour les choses, ou that pour les deux).
who/which/that] + [Verb] + [Extra Info].
The girl (who) (lives) (next door) (is a DJ).
When To Use It
Defining Relative Clauses. Si tu es à une soirée et que tu dis I like the guy, personne ne sait de qui tu parles.
I like the guy who brought the extra pizza, tout le monde comprend parfaitement (et est probablement d'accord). Utilise-le quand tu écris des avis sur Amazon : The headphones that arrived yesterday are broken. Utilise-le quand tu te plains de Netflix : The show which everyone is talking about is actually boring. C'est la grammaire de la spécificité. Sans elle, le monde n'est qu'un flou de noms vagues.I am a developer who specializes in Python. Ça te donne l'air pro, compétent, et comme quelqu'un qui sait vraiment où sont ses sujets.
Common Mistakes
I have a friend lives in Tokyo.Pour un natif, ça sonne comme deux phrases qui se sont rentrées dedans. Tu dois dire
I have a friend who lives in Tokyo. Une autre erreur est d'utiliser le mauvais pronom, comme utiliser which pour ta grand-mère. À moins que ta grand-mère soit un robot (ce qui serait cool, mais peu probable), reste sur who. Une troisième erreur est d'ajouter un pronom supplémentaire après le pronom relatif. Ne dis pas The car that it is parked outside is mine. Tu as déjà that qui agit comme sujet ! Ajouter it, c'est comme porter deux chapeaux en même temps. Un seul suffit, et deux te donnent juste l'air d'en faire trop.Contrast With Similar Patterns
The book (that) I read was great. Dans ce cas, I est le sujet, et that (le livre) est l'objet.read a déjà un sujet (I), le pronom that est juste une info supplémentaire dont on peut se passer. Mais dans notre règle B1, le pronom *est* le sujet. The book that is on the table is great. Ici, that est le sujet de is.who is, that crashed, which works), tu DOIS garder le pronom.that I read, who you met), tu peux probablement l'enlever. C'est comme un garde du corps : si le verbe est seul, le pronom reste pour le protéger. Si le verbe a déjà un sujet, le pronom peut prendre une pause.Quick FAQ
Can I use that for people?
Oui, en anglais familier !
The guy that lives here, ça passe totalement. Mais who est plus courant et sonne un peu mieux.
Is which only for things?
Ouaip. N'utilise pas which pour les gens à moins que tu essaies d'être méchant ou que tu parles d'un fantôme.
What happens if I forget the pronoun?
Les gens te comprendront généralement, mais tu auras l'air de parler un anglais cassé. Ça casse la fluidité de la conversation.
Does this apply to past tense too?
Absolument.
The movie that started at 8:00 est tout aussi strict que The movie that starts at 8:00.
Is this rule formal or informal?
Les deux ! C'est une règle fondamentale de la langue. Que tu envoies un texto à un pote ou que tu écrives une thèse, garde ce pronom sujet à sa place.
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
| Pronom | Fait référence à | Rôle dans la proposition | Peut-il être omis ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
`who`
|
People
|
Subject
|
Non
|
|
`which`
|
Things, animals
|
Subject
|
Non
|
|
`that`
|
People, things
|
Subject
|
Non
|
|
`who`
|
People
|
Object
|
Oui
|
|
`which`
|
Things, animals
|
Object
|
Oui
|
|
`that`
|
People, things
|
Object
|
Oui
|
Spectre de formalité
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)
Pronoms Relatifs (Rôle Sujet)
Who
- Personnes Person, student, colleague
- Exemple The student WHO studies hard.
Which
- Choses Book, idea, car
- Animaux Dog, cat, bird
- Exemple The car WHICH broke down.
That
- Personnes Person, friend
- Choses App, phone
- Exemple The app THAT helps me.
Pronoms Relatifs Sujet vs. Objet
Dois-je Omettre le Pronom Relatif ?
Le pronom relatif est-il immédiatement suivi d'un verbe ?
Guide d'Utilisation : Who, Which, That
Pour les Personnes (Sujet)
- • `who` (common, formal)
- • `that` (common, informal)
Pour les Choses/Animaux (Sujet)
- • `which` (common, formal)
- • `that` (common, informal)
Quand NE PAS Omettre (Sujet)
- • Relative pronoun + verb
- • Defining clauses for clarity
Exemples par 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.
Facile à confondre
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.
Erreurs courantes
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.
Structures de phrases
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...
Repère la Paire Sujet-Verbe
The girl who smiles is happy.
N'utilise pas 'Which' pour les Personnes
The dog which barks is mine.
Teste avec 'He/She/It'
He studies hard. (pour 'who studies hard')Le Contexte Compte pour 'That'
The student who passed the exam.
Évite les Pronoms en Trop
The man who came.
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.
Prononciation
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.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
S.O.S. — Subject Or Stay! If the pronoun is the Subject, it must Stay.
Association visuelle
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
Défi
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!
Notes culturelles
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.
Amorces de conversation
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?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
The painter ___ lives next door is very famous.
Find and fix the mistake:
The book which was missing found its way back.
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
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.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Combine these sentences:
Match the nouns with the correct relative pronoun:
Which sentence is correct?
The company ___ manufactures these parts is based in Germany.
I met a person was very kind.
Combine the sentences:
The documentary ___ explores space travel is fascinating.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
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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