B1 Relative Clauses 17 min read Medium

Dropping Relative Pronouns (the 'that' shortcut)

Sound more natural by dropping 'that' when it's the object of your relative clause. Easy!
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

You can often delete 'that', 'who', or 'which' if they are the object of the following verb.

  • Drop it if a new subject follows: 'The movie (that) I saw' is perfect.
  • Keep it if it acts as the subject: 'The man who lives here' (cannot drop).
  • Keep it in non-defining clauses (extra info with commas): 'My car, which is blue, is old.'
Noun + [that/who/which] + Subject + Verb ➔ Noun + Subject + Verb

Overview

You can leave out words like that, which, or who. This makes you sound more natural.

This helps you talk about things quickly and clearly. Use it when talking with friends.

How This Grammar Works

Some words give more information. For example, that I am reading tells us about the book.
Words like that help join two parts of a sentence together.
You can remove that if a person or thing comes next. In that I read, I comes next.
You can say: The book I am reading is great. This is a short and easy way to speak.
Do not remove that if an action word comes next. Example: The computer that broke.
The sentence The computer broke needs fixing is wrong. You must keep the word that.
Look at the next word to know if you can remove that.

Formation Pattern

1
Use this shortcut when that is before a person and an action.
2
Look at these two ways to write sentences:
3
| Sentence Type | Example | Can you remove the word? |
4
| :--------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :----------------- |
5
| Thing + that + Person + Action | The story that I read. | Yes |
6
| Thing + that + Action | The car that broke. | No |
7
When you remove the word, the sentence looks like this:
8
Thing + Person + Action Word
9
For example:
10
Full: The email that you sent was perfectly worded.
11
In that you sent, you is the person. You can remove that.
12
Dropped: The email you sent was perfectly worded.
13
Full: I finally watched the movie which everyone recommended.
14
In which everyone liked, everyone is the person. You can remove which.
15
Dropped: I finally watched the movie everyone recommended.
16
Full: She's the colleague who I mentioned yesterday.
17
In who I saw, I is the person. You can remove who.
18
Dropped: She's the colleague I mentioned yesterday.
19
If the word that does the action, you must keep it.
20
Thing + that + Action Word
21
For example:
22
Full: The team that won the championship trained rigorously.
23
Within that won the championship, that is the subject of won. It is performing the action.
24
Wrong: The team won the game worked hard. This is not clear.
25
Full: We need to fix the bug which appeared in the latest update.
26
Within which appeared in the latest update, which is the subject of appeared. It is performing the action.
27
Wrong: Fix the bug appeared today. You need the word that.
28
Removing these words makes sentences short. This is good for easy talk.

When To Use It

Short sentences sound like a native speaker. They are simple and very clear.
People talk fast. They skip small words like 'that'. It sounds friendly.
  • This is the report I was talking about. (Instead of ...that I was talking about.) The speaker focuses directly on the report and the action.
  • Did you get the message she sent? (Instead of ...that she sent?) The question feels more immediate and direct.
In texts or emails, skip these words. It sounds like talking.
  • Text: The concert we went to was amazing! This is a typical, concise way to share information with friends.
  • Social Media: Loving the new café my friend recommended. A short, impactful statement common in captions.
News and rules use fewer words. They skip words to save space.
  • Headline: Company CEO fired over scandal. (Implied: that was fired) This structure packs more news into limited space.
  • Instruction: Connect the cable you were provided. (Implied: that you were provided) This is a clear, concise directive in a technical manual.
In quick work chats, skip words. Do not skip in big reports.
  • Email: Regarding the feedback I shared earlier... This sounds more collaborative than explicitly including that.
  • Chat: Let's discuss the issue you raised in the meeting. Directness is often preferred in quick team exchanges.
Sometimes you must keep the word. Do not skip it every time.
  • Highly Formal Writing: Academic essays, legal documents, and official reports typically retain the relative pronoun for maximum precision and adherence to traditional grammatical standards. The slight increase in formality can enhance the gravitas and unambiguous clarity of the writing.
  • When Ambiguity Might Arise: Although rare, if omitting the pronoun could momentarily confuse the reader or listener about the sentence's structure or meaning, it is always better to include it. Clarity always takes precedence over conciseness. This is especially true when complex clauses are involved.
  • Non-Defining Relative Clauses: As a strict rule, you never drop relative pronouns in non-defining relative clauses. These clauses provide extra, non-essential information and are always separated from the main sentence by commas. The pronoun is required to explicitly introduce this supplementary information, which is grammatically distinct from identifying information. For example, My brother, who lives in Berlin, is visiting next week. (You cannot say: My brother, lives in Berlin, is visiting next week.) This is a critical distinction that learners must internalize.
Know when to skip words. It helps you sound natural and good.

Common Mistakes

Students make mistakes. Do not skip the word if it acts.
Mistake 1: Skipping the word when it does the action.
  • Error Pattern: Omitting that, which, or who when it is performing the action (the subject) of the verb in the relative clause.
  • Why it's wrong: The verb in the relative clause is left without a subject, making the sentence syntactically ill-formed and difficult to parse. English verbs almost always require an explicit subject, especially in finite clauses. The sentence sounds abrupt and often requires re-reading to understand, creating a significant barrier to communication.
  • Incorrect Example: I spoke to the engineer designed the new system.
  • Analysis: designed is the main verb in the relative clause. the engineer is the noun being described. The missing word (who or that) should be the subject of designed. Without it, designed lacks an actor.
  • Correct Form: I spoke to the engineer who designed the new system. or I spoke to the engineer that designed the new system. The pronoun explicitly takes on the subject role.
  • Incorrect Example: The software provides real-time data is very expensive.
  • Analysis: provides is the main verb in the relative clause. The software is the noun being described. The missing word (which or that) should be the subject of provides. The sentence becomes a run-on without the pronoun to introduce the embedded clause clearly.
  • Correct Form: The software that provides real-time data is very expensive. or The software which provides real-time data is very expensive.
Mistake 2: Mixing up the word order. It is very confusing.
  • Error Pattern: Misinterpreting the order of words in complex relative clauses, leading to incorrect omission. This often happens when there are multiple potential subjects or verbs.
  • Why it's wrong: You might incorrectly assume the relative pronoun is the object when another noun or pronoun is the actual subject performing the action. This can lead to ambiguity or a complete misunderstanding of the sentence's intended meaning, as the grammatical roles are misassigned.
  • Consider (Correct Omission): The report the CEO approved was submitted. (the CEO is the subject of approved; that is the object and can be dropped.) Here, the structure Subject + Verb is clearly present after the noun report.
  • Don't confuse with (No Omission): The CEO who approved the report is retiring. (who is the subject of approved; it cannot be dropped.) In this case, the verb approved immediately follows the relative pronoun, signaling the pronoun's subject function.
Mistake 3: Skipping words when you add extra details.
  • Error Pattern: Attempting to drop a relative pronoun in a non-defining relative clause (those providing extra, non-essential information, typically set off by commas).
  • Why it's wrong: Non-defining relative clauses require the relative pronoun to explicitly introduce the additional information. Omitting it creates an ungrammatical and often unreadable sentence, as the comma alone is insufficient to mark the beginning of a modifying clause that requires a subject. The pronoun serves as a critical structural marker.
  • Incorrect Example: My old car, cost a lot to maintain, finally broke down.
  • Analysis: cost a lot to maintain is non-essential information about My old car. This is a non-defining clause, indicated by commas. The pronoun which is the subject of cost and cannot be dropped here because it introduces supplementary information in a distinct grammatical unit.
  • Correct Form: My old car, which cost a lot to maintain, finally broke down.
Check the next word. See if a person or thing follows.
  • If the next word is a verb, the relative pronoun is the subject and must stay.
  • If the next word is a noun or pronoun (acting as a subject), the relative pronoun is the object and can be dropped.
Check your sentences. This helps you write well and avoid mistakes.

Real Conversations

Observing how native speakers use the zero relative pronoun in authentic contexts highlights its practical value in modern communication. This reflects a fundamental aspect of language evolution towards efficiency and naturalness, particularly in contexts where shared understanding minimizes the need for explicit grammatical markers. It's not limited to specific demographics but is a common feature across various registers, from casual chat to more structured, yet informal, professional settings.

Digital Communication (Texting/Messaging): Conciseness is highly valued in quick digital exchanges, making pronoun omission very common. This reflects a drive to communicate information quickly and efficiently.

- "Did you finish the assignment I sent you?" (Instead of ...that I sent you?) The focus is directly on the task and the sender, making the sentence feel immediate.

- "That's the meme we talked about yesterday." (Instead of ...that we talked about...) This creates a more casual and familiar tone, typical of peer-to-peer digital communication.

- "The restaurant you recommended was fully booked." (Instead of ...that you recommended...) This phrasing is direct and to the point, which is efficient in a text message.

Workplace Dialogue (Casual): In internal team meetings, informal discussions, or quick exchanges, this shortcut helps speed up communication and fosters a less rigid, more collaborative environment.

- Manager: "Can you send me the figures we discussed?" (Implied: that we discussed) This is a common way for managers to make requests, sounding efficient and professional without being overly formal.

- Colleague: "The presentation I prepared needs a final review." (Implied: that I prepared) This statement is clear and concise, suitable for team updates.

- Team Lead: "That's the solution we've been looking for." (Implied: that we've been looking for) Expressing a discovery or achievement in a direct, enthusiastic manner.

Social Media Captions/Posts: Short, impactful statements benefit from the omission, making captions punchy and easily digestible, which is crucial for engagement on platforms where attention spans are often short.

- "Loving the view I woke up to this morning!" (Implied: that I woke up to) A personal and immediate expression of enjoyment.

- "Best concert I've been to all year!" (Implied: that I've been to) A strong, declarative statement common in reviews or personal recommendations.

- "The book everyone's reading right now." (Implied: that everyone's reading) A concise way to refer to a popular item, encouraging engagement.

News Reporting (Headlines/Summaries): In environments prioritizing brevity, such as newspaper headlines or news ticker text, the omission helps condense information without losing meaning. This demonstrates the rule's utility in high-density communication.

- Headline: New policy government plans to introduce. (Implied: that the government plans) This provides essential information economically.

- News Flash: Artist police sought finally apprehended. (Implied: whom police sought) Here, whom as the object is omitted for journalistic conciseness.

These examples demonstrate that the "that shortcut" is not merely a grammatical curiosity but a fundamental aspect of how English speakers achieve efficiency and naturalness in diverse communication settings. It's a linguistic observation that allows for a smoother flow of information, relying on context for clarity and showcasing the dynamic nature of English syntax.

Quick FAQ

Here are common questions and answers. They help you learn.
  • Q: Can I always drop that?
  • A: No, you can only drop that (or which/who) when it functions as the object of the verb in the defining relative clause. If it is the subject (performing the action), you must keep it. Always use the "Subject Test" described in the Common Mistakes section to determine the pronoun's role.
  • The idea that I proposed was accepted. (I is the subject of proposed, so that is the object and can be dropped.)
  • The idea that won the award was innovative. (that is the subject of won, so that cannot be dropped.)
  • Q: Does this rule apply to who and which too?
  • A: Yes, absolutely. The same principle of subject-object function applies to who (for people) and which (for things). If who or which is the object of the relative clause, it can be dropped.
  • The person who I met was very kind. -> The person I met was very kind. (Here I is the subject of met, making who the object.)
  • The car which I bought is reliable. -> The car I bought is reliable. (Here I is the subject of bought, making which the object.)
  • Q: Is dropping the relative pronoun more formal or informal?
  • A: Generally, omitting the relative pronoun is more common and sounds more natural in informal speech and writing. It contributes to conciseness, which is highly valued in everyday communication. In very formal contexts (e.g., academic papers, legal documents, official reports), it is often preferred to keep the pronoun for maximum precision and to adhere to traditional grammatical standards, though omitting it is not strictly incorrect if the grammatical conditions are met. It's a stylistic choice that signals a particular register.
  • Q: How do I easily identify if the pronoun is a subject or object?
  • A: The simplest method is to examine the words immediately following where the relative pronoun would be, within the relative clause itself:
  • If you see another subject (a noun or pronoun like I, you, he, she, we, they, or a proper noun) followed by a verb, the relative pronoun is the object and can be dropped. (The film [that] we watched was good. Here, we is the subject of watched.)
  • If you see a verb immediately after the relative pronoun (or its imagined position), then the relative pronoun itself is the subject of that verb and must stay. (The film that won the award was good. Here, won is immediately after that.)
  • Q: What happens if I keep the pronoun when I could have dropped it? Is it wrong?
  • A: No, it is never grammatically incorrect to keep the relative pronoun in a defining relative clause, even when it could be omitted. Keeping it simply makes your sentence slightly more formal or explicit, but it remains grammatically correct. It is a stylistic choice, not a grammatical obligation, to drop it.
  • Q: Does this rule apply to non-defining relative clauses (with commas)?
  • A: Absolutely not. This is a critical distinction. You can never drop relative pronouns in non-defining relative clauses. These clauses provide extra, non-essential information and are always separated from the main sentence by commas. The pronoun is required to introduce this supplementary information, and its omission in such clauses renders the sentence ungrammatical and confusing.
  • My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor. (Correct. who cannot be dropped.)
  • My brother, lives in London, is a doctor. (Incorrect. Grammatically flawed.)
  • Q: Can I drop where or when in relative clauses?
  • A: The rules for where (indicating place) and when (indicating time) are different and do not follow the same subject/object omission pattern as that, which, or who. While you can sometimes omit where or when or replace them with that (e.g., the year [that] I was born, the place [that] we met), this involves different grammatical principles, often related to prepositions and adverbial clauses, and should be studied separately. Focus on that, which, and who for the specific rule of relative pronoun drop as an object.

When to Drop vs. When to Keep

Type Relative Pronoun Role Rule Example
Defining
Object
Can Drop
The car (that) I bought.
Defining
Subject
Must Keep
The car that hit me.
Non-Defining
Object
Must Keep
My car, which I bought last year, is red.
Non-Defining
Subject
Must Keep
My car, which was expensive, is red.

Meanings

In English, relative pronouns (who, whom, which, that) can be omitted in defining relative clauses when they function as the object of the clause, making the sentence more concise and natural in speech.

1

Object Omission

Dropping the pronoun when it represents the person or thing receiving the action in the relative clause.

“The person (who) I met was nice.”

“The book (which) she wrote is a bestseller.”

2

Prepositional Omission

Dropping the pronoun when it is the object of a preposition, usually moving the preposition to the end of the clause.

“The house (that) we live in is small.”

“The girl (who) I was talking to is my sister.”

3

Formal Retention

Keeping the pronoun to sound more precise, professional, or academic.

“The individuals whom we interviewed were highly qualified.”

“The data that the study produced is significant.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Dropping Relative Pronouns (the 'that' shortcut)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative (Dropped)
Noun + Subject + Verb
The cake I made is good.
Affirmative (Full)
Noun + That + Subject + Verb
The cake that I made is good.
Negative
Noun + Subject + Negative Verb
The people I didn't invite showed up.
Question
Auxiliary + Noun + Subject + Verb?
Is this the book you wanted?
With Preposition
Noun + Subject + Verb + Prep
The house we live in is old.
Formal Preposition
Noun + Prep + Whom/Which + Verb
The house in which we live is old.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Is this the document to which you were referring?

Is this the document to which you were referring? (Workplace/Office)

Neutral
Is this the document that you were talking about?

Is this the document that you were talking about? (Workplace/Office)

Informal
Is this the document you were talking about?

Is this the document you were talking about? (Workplace/Office)

Slang
This the one you meant?

This the one you meant? (Workplace/Office)

The 'That' Shortcut Map

Relative Pronoun

Can Drop

  • Object position The man (who) I saw

Cannot Drop

  • Subject position The man who saw me

Cannot Drop

  • Non-defining My boss, who is nice,

Subject vs Object Pronouns

Subject (Keep It)
The dog that barked Verb follows immediately
Object (Drop It)
The dog (that) I fed Noun/Pronoun follows

Should I drop 'that'?

1

Is there a comma before it?

YES
Keep it!
NO
Next question...
2

Is the next word a verb?

YES
Keep it!
NO
Drop it!

Common Droppable Pronouns

👤

People

  • • who
  • • whom
  • • that
📦

Things

  • • which
  • • that
📍

Places/Times

  • • where (sometimes)
  • • when
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Examples by Level

1

The book I have is red.

2

The man I see is tall.

3

The apple you eat is sweet.

4

The car he drives is fast.

1

The phone I bought yesterday is broken.

2

Is this the song you like?

3

The people we met were very friendly.

4

I lost the pen you gave me.

1

The hotel we stayed at was beautiful.

2

The reason I called is to ask for help.

3

The doctor I talked to was very helpful.

4

Everything you said is true.

1

The challenges we face are significant.

2

The candidate I voted for didn't win.

3

The apartment they're looking at is too expensive.

4

The advice she's giving you is quite sound.

1

The assumptions the author makes are questionable.

2

The speed with which he works is impressive.

3

The ease I felt during the presentation surprised me.

4

The level of detail the report provides is sufficient.

1

The sheer audacity the plan required was its undoing.

2

Any concerns you might have should be addressed now.

3

The nuanced approach the team took saved the project.

4

The very fabric the universe is made of remains a mystery.

Easily Confused

Dropping Relative Pronouns (the 'that' shortcut) vs Subject vs Object Relative Pronouns

Learners often try to drop the pronoun even when it's the subject of the clause.

Dropping Relative Pronouns (the 'that' shortcut) vs That as a Conjunction

Learners confuse 'that' in 'I know that he is coming' with 'that' in 'The book that I bought'.

Dropping Relative Pronouns (the 'that' shortcut) vs Non-defining Clauses

Learners try to drop pronouns in clauses with commas.

Common Mistakes

✗

The girl lives here is my friend.

✓

The girl who lives here is my friend.

You cannot drop 'who' when it is the subject (followed by a verb).
✗

The book I like it.

✓

The book I like.

Don't add 'it' at the end; the relative pronoun (even if dropped) already represents the book.
✗

I see man I know.

✓

I see the man I know.

Dropping the pronoun doesn't mean you can drop the article 'the'.
✗

The car that I bought it is blue.

✓

The car I bought is blue.

Redundant pronoun 'it' is a very common error.
✗

The man I talked is nice.

✓

The man I talked to is nice.

If you drop the pronoun, you must keep the preposition.
✗

This is the house which we live.

✓

This is the house we live in.

Missing preposition 'in'.
✗

The movie was good I saw.

✓

The movie I saw was good.

Word order error; the relative clause must follow the noun it describes.
✗

My mother, I love, is a teacher.

✓

My mother, whom I love, is a teacher.

You cannot drop pronouns in non-defining clauses (with commas).
✗

The reason why I'm here for is...

✓

The reason I'm here is...

Using 'why' and 'for' together is redundant.
✗

The person who I gave the book is gone.

✓

The person I gave the book to is gone.

Missing the indirect object preposition.
✗

The speed I drove at was safe.

✓

The speed at which I drove was safe.

In very formal C1 writing, dropping the pronoun and stranding the preposition can be seen as too informal.
✗

The way in that he spoke was odd.

✓

The way he spoke was odd.

Incorrect combination of 'in' and 'that'.

Sentence Patterns

The ___ I ___ is ___.

Is this the ___ you ___?

I've never seen the ___ she ___.

The ___ we're ___ is ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

The link I sent you is dead.

Job Interview very common

The skills I developed at Google are relevant here.

Ordering Food common

Is this the pizza I ordered?

Academic Essay occasional

The data that the researchers collected was flawed.

Social Media Caption constant

Best day I've had in a while!

Legal Contract rare

The property which the tenant occupies...

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🎯

The 'Two Noun' Rule

If you see two nouns or a noun and a pronoun next to each other (e.g., 'The **book I**...'), a 'that' has probably been dropped. This is a great way to identify relative clauses in reading.
⚠️

The Verb Trap

Never drop the pronoun if a verb comes next. 'The man lives here' is a sentence, but 'The man who lives here' is a description. You need 'who' to make it a description!
💡

Clarity First

If your sentence is already very long, keep 'that'. It acts as a signpost to help the listener understand where the description starts.
💬

Sounding Natural

Native speakers drop 'that' about 70% of the time in speech. If you always say 'that', you might sound a bit like a robot or a very formal textbook.

Smart Tips

This is a 99% signal that you can drop the relative pronoun.

The gift that I bought you. → The gift I bought you.

Keep the 'that'. It makes your writing look more organized and professional.

The report I sent yesterday... → The report that I sent yesterday...

Try to put the noun at the end of the clause. If it fits, it's an object! (e.g., 'The book I read' -> 'I read the book' - Works!)

The man who lives here (Lives here the man? No.) → The man I saw (I saw the man. Yes!)

Native speakers almost ALWAYS drop 'that' after these words.

Everything that you need is here. → Everything you need is here.

Pronunciation

the BOOK I BOUGHT

Rhythm and Stress

When the pronoun is dropped, the stress falls more heavily on the noun and the following subject, creating a faster, more rhythmic 'da-DA da-DA' sound.

the book tha' I bought

Glottal Stop

In some British dialects, if 'that' is kept, the 't' might be replaced by a glottal stop, but dropping it entirely is often preferred for flow.

Rising-Falling

The cake ↗ I made ↘ was good.

Standard declarative statement with a dropped pronoun.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

If a Noun or Pronoun is next in line, dropping 'that' is totally fine!

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge (the word 'that') connecting two islands. If the islands are close enough to touch (Noun + Pronoun), you can remove the bridge and just step across.

Rhyme

When 'that' is the object, don't be a fool, dropping it out is the golden rule.

Story

A busy businessman is running to a meeting. He doesn't have time for extra words. He says 'The report I wrote' instead of 'The report that I wrote' because he is in a hurry. He only keeps 'who' when he talks about 'The man who hired me' because without 'who', the sentence falls apart.

Word Web

thatwhowhichwhomdefiningobjectomissioncontact clause

Challenge

Look at the last 5 text messages you sent. Could you have dropped a 'that' or 'who' in any of them? Rewrite them in your head.

Cultural Notes

Americans are very likely to drop 'that' in almost all informal and semi-formal speech. Keeping it can sometimes sound slightly 'stiff' or overly emphatic.

While also common, some formal British registers still prefer keeping 'that' or 'which' in written correspondence more than American English does.

In scientific papers globally, keeping the relative pronoun is preferred to ensure there is no ambiguity about what the subject of the sentence is.

In Old English, relative clauses were often formed with the indeclinable particle 'þe'. Over time, 'that' (from the demonstrative 'þæt') took over.

Conversation Starters

“

What's the best movie you've seen this year?

“

Tell me about a person you admire.

“

Is there a place you've always wanted to visit?

“

What's the most difficult thing you've ever done?

Journal Prompts

Write about a gift you received that you will never forget.
Describe a mistake you made and what you learned from it.
Discuss a book you read recently that changed your perspective.
Reflect on a piece of advice you were given that you didn't follow.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Can you drop the relative pronoun in this sentence? Multiple Choice

The man who I saw yesterday is a doctor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yes, you can drop 'who'.
'Who' is the object because 'I' (a pronoun) follows it.
Correct the error in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The car I bought it is very fast.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The car I bought is very fast.
You must remove the redundant pronoun 'it'.
Fill in the blank with 'who' or leave it empty (Ø) if possible.

The woman ___ lives next door is a pilot.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: who
You must keep 'who' because it is the subject (followed by the verb 'lives').
Combine these two sentences without using 'that', 'who', or 'which'. Sentence Transformation

I liked the movie. You recommended it.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I liked the movie you recommended.
The object 'it' is replaced by the (dropped) relative pronoun.
Match the sentence to its formality level. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Informal, 2-Formal, 3-Neutral
Dropping is informal/neutral; 'whom' is strictly formal.
Is this rule true or false? True False Rule

You can drop the relative pronoun in a non-defining relative clause (with commas).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Non-defining clauses always require a relative pronoun.
Complete the dialogue naturally. Dialogue Completion

A: Is this the book you were looking for? B: Yes, it's the one ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I lost
'I lost' is the most natural way to complete the contact clause.
In which sentence can you drop the pronoun? Grammar Sorting

A: The girl who is singing. B: The song she is singing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Only B
In A, 'who' is the subject. In B, 'that' (dropped) is the object.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Can you drop the relative pronoun in this sentence? Multiple Choice

The man who I saw yesterday is a doctor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yes, you can drop 'who'.
'Who' is the object because 'I' (a pronoun) follows it.
Correct the error in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The car I bought it is very fast.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The car I bought is very fast.
You must remove the redundant pronoun 'it'.
Fill in the blank with 'who' or leave it empty (Ø) if possible.

The woman ___ lives next door is a pilot.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: who
You must keep 'who' because it is the subject (followed by the verb 'lives').
Combine these two sentences without using 'that', 'who', or 'which'. Sentence Transformation

I liked the movie. You recommended it.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I liked the movie you recommended.
The object 'it' is replaced by the (dropped) relative pronoun.
Match the sentence to its formality level. Match Pairs

1. The man I saw. 2. The man whom I saw. 3. The man that I saw.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Informal, 2-Formal, 3-Neutral
Dropping is informal/neutral; 'whom' is strictly formal.
Is this rule true or false? True False Rule

You can drop the relative pronoun in a non-defining relative clause (with commas).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Non-defining clauses always require a relative pronoun.
Complete the dialogue naturally. Dialogue Completion

A: Is this the book you were looking for? B: Yes, it's the one ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I lost
'I lost' is the most natural way to complete the contact clause.
In which sentence can you drop the pronoun? Grammar Sorting

A: The girl who is singing. B: The song she is singing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Only B
In A, 'who' is the subject. In B, 'that' (dropped) is the object.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the sentence, omitting 'that' if possible. Fill in the Blank

The concert ___ we saw last night was incredible.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Complete the sentence with the most natural option, dropping 'that' if grammatically correct. Fill in the Blank

This is the phone ___ has the best camera.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: that
Identify and correct the grammatical error. Error Correction

The email arrived this morning contained important news.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The email that arrived this morning contained important news.
Select the grammatically correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The person I called answered immediately.
Translate the sentence into natural English, using the 'that' shortcut if appropriate. Translation

Translate into English: 'El problema que resolvimos era muy complejo.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The problem we solved was very complex.","The problem that we solved was very complex."]
Put the words in the correct order to form a grammatically correct sentence, dropping 'that' where possible. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The movie I watched last night was amazing.
Match the relative clause to whether 'that' can be dropped or not. Match Pairs

Match the clauses:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option, dropping 'that' if possible. Fill in the Blank

She's the only student ___ understood the complex theory.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: who
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

The solution proposed by the team was innovative.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The solution that was proposed by the team was innovative.
Pick the sentence with correct relative pronoun usage. Multiple Choice

Select the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the project I'm working on.
Translate into English, using the 'that' shortcut. Translation

Translate: 'La información que necesito está en ese documento.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The information I need is in that document.","The information that I need is in that document."]
Rearrange the words to form a correct sentence, dropping 'that' if possible. Sentence Reorder

Put the words in order:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the cake my mom made.

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No. You can only drop it in defining relative clauses when it is the object. You cannot drop it if it's the subject or in a non-defining clause.

Never! Keeping the pronoun is always grammatically correct. Dropping it is just a way to sound more natural and less formal.

Yes, if 'who' is the object (e.g., 'The man I met'), you can drop it. However, many people prefer to keep 'who' more often than 'that'.

No. You can never drop 'whose' because it shows possession and the sentence would lose its meaning without it.

For writing, it's often better to keep it to show clear structure. For the speaking test, dropping it can help you sound more fluent and natural.

The preposition moves to the end of the relative clause. For example: 'The house (that) I live in'.

English tends toward 'economy of language'. If a word doesn't add new meaning and the sentence is clear without it, we usually remove it.

You can often drop 'when' (The day I met you), but dropping 'where' is much rarer and usually requires adding a preposition (The place I live in).

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish low

que

Spanish never allows the omission of the relative pronoun.

French low

que / qui

French relative pronouns are strictly mandatory.

German none

der / die / das

German pronouns are inflected and mandatory.

Japanese moderate

Attributive form

Japanese uses word order instead of pronouns to link ideas.

Arabic partial

aladhi (الذي)

Omission depends on the definiteness of the noun, not its role as subject/object.

Chinese low

de (的)

Chinese uses a post-positional linker rather than a relative pronoun.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Don't Drop the Subject: Relative Pronouns (who, which, that)

Learn These First

B1 Builds On

Defining Relative Clauses: Identifying People & Things

Overview Defining relative clauses are essential grammatical structures in English that provide crucial, identifying inf...

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