Relative Pronouns: Using 'Who' for People
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'who' to connect two sentences about a person and avoid repeating their name or a pronoun like 'he' or 'she'.
- Use 'who' only for people, never for objects or animals. Example: 'The man who called.'
- Place 'who' immediately after the person you are describing. Example: 'The doctor who treated me.'
- In the relative clause, 'who' acts as the subject, so it is followed by a verb. Example: 'The girl who sings.'
Overview
Use the word who to talk about people. It helps you say more.
Who helps you make better sentences. It shows which person you mean.
Who answers the question: Which person? For example, The man fixed the car.
Say: The man who lives here fixed it. Now we know him.
Who makes sentences short. You do not need two sentences.
Say: I met a girl who is nice. This is good English.
How This Grammar Works
The manager approved the project.She is on vacation this week.
Formation Pattern
The woman | who | I | met on the train | is a famous scientist. | The woman who I met on the train is a famous scientist. |
The candidate | who | the committee | chose | has accepted the offer. | The candidate who the committee chose has accepted the offer. |
The clients | who | we | spoke to yesterday | were very happy. | The clients who we spoke to yesterday were very happy. |
When To Use It
My sister is a doctor.(This is fine if you only have one sister. The listener knows who you mean.)My sister who lives in Australia is a doctor.(This is necessary if you have multiple sisters. The clausewho lives in Australiadefines which sister you're referring to.)
who vs. that and whichwho: Use for people.The person who called is waiting.which: Use for things and animals.The report which is on your desk needs to be signed.You never usewhichfor people.that: Can be used for both people and things in defining relative clauses.The person that called is waiting.is also correct.
Common Mistakes
who, several classic errors persist. Being aware of these will help you avoid them in your own speaking and writing.- 1Using
whofor Objects or Companies. This is perhaps the most frequent mistake.Whois reserved for human beings. Companies, organizations, and teams, even though they are made up of people, are treated as entities and takethatorwhich.
- Incorrect:
I work for a company who values its employees. - Correct:
I work for a company that values its employees. - Correct:
I work for a company which values its employees.
- 1Subject-Verb Agreement Errors in the Relative Clause. The verb in the
whoclause must agree with the antecedent (the noun that came beforewho), notwhoitself. Learners often default to a singular verb form.
- Incorrect:
The students who is waiting for the bus are getting wet. - Correct:
The students who are waiting for the bus are getting wet.(The antecedentstudentsis plural, so the verb isare.) - Incorrect:
It's always the one person who don't want to participate. - Correct:
It's always the one person who doesn't want to participate.(The antecedentpersonis singular, so the verb isdoesn't.)
- 1Dropping
whoWhen It's the Subject. The relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted, but NEVER when it is the subject of the relative clause. This creates a "run-on" sentence structure that is grammatically incorrect.
- Incorrect:
The man lives next door is very friendly. - Correct:
The man who lives next door is very friendly. - Incorrect:
We hired a programmer is an expert in Python. - Correct:
We hired a programmer who is an expert in Python.
- 1Confusing
whowithwhose(Possessive).Whoidentifies a person, whilewhoseindicates possession or a relationship (that something belongs to the person).
- Incorrect:
That's the artist who paintings are famous. - Correct:
That's the artist whose paintings are famous. - Incorrect:
I have a friend who brother is a pilot. - Correct:
I have a friend whose brother is a pilot.
- 1Incorrect Comma Usage. For the defining clauses you are learning at the B1 level, you must not use a comma before
who. Adding a comma changes the meaning entirely, turning it into a non-defining clause (which provides extra, non-essential information).
My brother who lives in Canada is a teacher.(This is a defining clause. It implies I have more than one brother, and I'm specifying the one in Canada.)My brother, who lives in Canada, is a teacher.(This is a non-defining clause. The commas signal that the information is extra. It implies I have only one brother, and I'm just adding a fact about him.)
Real Conversations
Textbook examples are useful, but seeing who in its natural habitat shows how integral it is to everyday communication. Notice how it appears in informal, professional, and digital contexts.
1. At the Office (Email)
Here, who is used to clarify roles and responsibilities in a professional setting. It's direct and efficient.
> "Hi team,
>
> Please direct all questions about the new software update to Anya, the engineer who led the development phase. She's the one who will have the most up-to-date information."
2. Casual Conversation
In spoken English, you'll hear the informal object pattern with who constantly. Using whom here would sound unnaturally formal.
> Alex: "I finally met that new manager who everyone's been talking about."
> Ben: "Oh, the one who transferred from the Berlin office? What's he like?"
> Alex: "Actually really nice. Not at all the serious guy who people described."
3. Texting / Social Media
In digital communication, language is concise. Who is essential for providing context quickly without writing long, separate sentences.
> (On a group chat)
> Chloe: Does anyone remember the name of that professor who gave the guest lecture on AI ethics?
> Liam: Prof. Evans? The one who wrote that book on machine learning?
> Chloe: Yes! That's the one. Thanks!
In all these examples, who is doing the heavy lifting of identification. It seamlessly connects a person to their actions, roles, or the descriptions other people have given them, making the conversation flow smoothly.
Quick FAQ
- Can I use
thatinstead ofwho?
who is generally the better choice.- Do I always need
who? When can I drop it?
- What's the real difference between
whoandwhom?
Who is now used as both the subject and the object in most situations. Unless you are writing a formal academic paper, you can safely use who.- Do I need a comma before
who?
- Is it okay to end a sentence with a preposition like
withorfor?
Structure of Relative Clauses with 'Who'
| Antecedent (Person) | Relative Pronoun | Verb/Rest of Clause | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The man
|
who
|
lives here
|
Subject of clause
|
|
The woman
|
who
|
I met
|
Object of clause (Informal)
|
|
The children
|
who
|
are playing
|
Plural subject
|
|
Someone
|
who
|
can help
|
Indefinite subject
|
|
The doctor
|
who
|
treated me
|
Past tense action
|
|
The people
|
who
|
don't smoke
|
Negative clause
|
Common Contractions with 'Who'
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Who is
|
Who's
|
The girl who's (who is) singing.
|
|
Who has
|
Who's
|
The man who's (who has) been waiting.
|
|
Who will
|
Who'll
|
The person who'll (who will) help us.
|
|
Who would
|
Who'd
|
The one who'd (who would) know.
|
Meanings
A relative pronoun used to introduce a relative clause that provides more information about a person mentioned previously in the sentence.
Subject of the Clause
When 'who' replaces the subject (he, she, they) of the second sentence to join it to the first.
“I know a boy who speaks five languages.”
“The students who studied hard passed the exam.”
Object of the Clause (Informal)
In modern spoken English, 'who' is frequently used instead of 'whom' when the person is the object of the verb.
“The man who I met yesterday was very kind.”
“She is the person who I was telling you about.”
Generic/Universal Reference
Using 'who' with words like 'anyone', 'those', or 'someone' to make general statements about groups of people.
“Those who arrive late will not be admitted.”
“Someone who loves animals would enjoy this job.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Person + who + verb
|
The boy who runs fast.
|
|
Negative
|
Person + who + auxiliary + not + verb
|
The man who doesn't eat meat.
|
|
Question
|
Do you know + person + who + verb?
|
Do you know the girl who won?
|
|
Plural
|
People + who + plural verb
|
The students who study hard.
|
|
Past Tense
|
Person + who + past verb
|
The woman who called yesterday.
|
|
With Modal
|
Person + who + modal + verb
|
Someone who can speak French.
|
|
Object (Informal)
|
Person + who + subject + verb
|
The person who I saw.
|
|
Defining
|
No commas (essential info)
|
The man who is my boss.
|
Formality Spectrum
The individual who resides in the adjacent property is a musician. (Neighborhood talk)
The man who lives next door is a musician. (Neighborhood talk)
The guy who lives next door plays in a band. (Neighborhood talk)
The dude who lives next door is a total shredder. (Neighborhood talk)
The 'Who' Connection
Used For
- People Humans only
- Groups Teams/Committees
Replaces
- He/She Subject pronouns
- They Plural pronouns
Who vs. Which
Choosing the Right Pronoun
Is the subject a person?
Is it an object or animal?
Common Antecedents for 'Who'
Occupations
- • Doctor
- • Engineer
- • Artist
Relationships
- • Brother
- • Friend
- • Neighbor
Indefinite
- • Anyone
- • Someone
- • Everyone
Examples by Level
The boy who is happy.
I know a girl who likes cats.
The teacher who is nice.
A man who speaks English.
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
I saw the man who stole the bag.
The students who are in my class are friendly.
Do you know the person who called me?
The candidate who has the most experience will get the job.
People who exercise regularly tend to be healthier.
I'm looking for someone who can fix my computer.
The artist who painted this mural is very talented.
My sister, who is a lawyer, lives in New York.
Anyone who wishes to participate must register by Friday.
The witnesses who were questioned by police gave conflicting stories.
It was my father who taught me how to drive.
The individual who, despite numerous setbacks, persevered is now a CEO.
There are those who argue that technology is isolating us.
The professor, who many consider to be a genius, resigned yesterday.
He is a man who is not easily intimidated by authority.
The protagonist, who embodies the existential dread of the era, remains nameless.
Whosoever believes in the cause, let them stand with us.
The committee, who were unable to reach a consensus, adjourned the meeting.
It is not the critic who counts, but the man in the arena.
Easily Confused
Learners struggle to know when to use the object form 'whom'.
They sound similar but have different meanings (identity vs. possession).
Learners don't know if they are interchangeable.
Common Mistakes
The girl which is tall.
The girl who is tall.
The man who he lives here.
The man who lives here.
I know a boy who like pizza.
I know a boy who likes pizza.
The people who is here.
The people who are here.
The doctor who I saw him.
The doctor who I saw.
The woman who's car is red.
The woman whose car is red.
Anyone which wants to go.
Anyone who wants to go.
My friend who lives in Paris he is a chef.
My friend who lives in Paris is a chef.
The man who I gave the book.
The man who I gave the book to.
The team who won the game.
The team that/which won the game.
The person who I am indebted.
The person to whom I am indebted.
Sentence Patterns
I know someone who ___.
The person who ___ is my ___.
People who ___ usually ___.
It was ___ who ___.
Real World Usage
Tag the friend who always forgets their wallet!
I am looking for a role that allows me to work with people who are passionate about tech.
The police are looking for a man who was seen leaving the building at 10 PM.
I want to meet someone who loves hiking and dogs.
The party who signs this contract agrees to the terms.
I'll put you through to the agent who handled your case.
The 'He' Test
No Double Subjects
Humanize Your Writing
Pets are People too
Smart Tips
Always choose 'who' over 'that' when referring to people to sound more professional.
Look for the contraction 'who's' in informal writing, but avoid it in formal essays.
Use 'who' if you want to emphasize the individual members and their actions.
Ask yourself: 'If I remove this part, do I still know exactly who the person is?' If no, don't use a comma.
Pronunciation
The 'Who' Link
In natural speech, 'who' often links to the following verb. 'Who is' becomes 'Who-w-is'.
Reduced 'Who'
In fast speech, the 'h' in 'who' can be very soft, almost disappearing after a consonant.
Relative Clause Dip
The man (lower pitch) who lives next door (lower pitch) is my friend.
The relative clause is often spoken at a slightly lower pitch and faster pace than the main clause.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
WHO is for YOU and ME (people). WHICH is for the WITCH'S broom (objects).
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge shaped like the letter 'W' connecting a person on one side to an action on the other. The bridge only allows humans to cross.
Rhyme
When a person is the one you view, the pronoun that you need is WHO.
Story
A detective is looking for a suspect. He asks everyone: 'The man WHO stole the gold, where did he go?' He doesn't ask 'The man WHICH stole,' because a man is not a thing!
Word Web
Challenge
Look around you right now. Identify three people and describe them using 'who'. (e.g., 'The person who is sitting next to me is reading.')
Cultural Notes
Using 'who' for pets is very common if the owner considers the pet a family member with a personality. Using 'which' for a pet can seem cold.
In British English, collective nouns like 'team' or 'government' can take 'who' and a plural verb because they are seen as a group of people.
In academic or legal English, 'who' is strictly for people, and 'whom' is still used for objects, though this is fading in other dialects.
From Old English 'hwā', which was originally only used as an interrogative pronoun (to ask questions).
Conversation Starters
Tell me about a teacher who inspired you.
Do you know anyone who speaks more than three languages?
What kind of people do you like to work with?
Describe a famous person who has changed the world.
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
The woman ___ lives next door is a doctor.
Find and fix the mistake:
The boy who he won the race is my friend.
I don't like movies ___ are too violent, but I like actors ___ perform their own stunts.
I have a sister. She works in London.
The car who I bought is fast.
A: Who is that? B: That's the man ___.
Anyone wanting to join should call us.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesThe woman ___ lives next door is a doctor.
Find and fix the mistake:
The boy who he won the race is my friend.
I don't like movies ___ are too violent, but I like actors ___ perform their own stunts.
I have a sister. She works in London.
The car who I bought is fast.
A: Who is that? B: That's the man ___.
Anyone wanting to join should call us.
1. A chef... 2. A pilot... 3. A dentist...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesI met a student ___ speaks five languages.
The singer which performed last night was amazing.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'El chico que ganó la carrera es mi amigo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the words on the left with the correct relative pronoun on the right.
She's the person ___ I admire most.
The student that studies every night gets good grades.
Which of these sentences is grammatically sound?
Translate into English: 'Ella es la artista que pintó ese cuadro.'
Form a sentence from these words:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
Yes, in informal English, `that` is very common for people. However, in formal writing or exams, `who` is preferred.
Use `who` for the subject (the person doing the action) and `whom` for the object (the person receiving the action). In modern speech, `who` is used for both.
Only if the information is 'extra' (non-defining). If the information is necessary to identify the person, do not use a comma.
Yes! If your cat has a name and a personality, most English speakers use `who`.
Because `who` already acts as the subject. Adding `he` is redundant and grammatically incorrect.
Yes, `who` works for both singular and plural. Just make sure the verb matches: 'The man who is...' vs 'The men who are...'
Usually, we use `which` or `that` for companies. However, if you are thinking of the company as a group of people, you can use `who` (common in British English).
It is a part of a sentence that starts with a word like `who` and gives more information about a noun.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que / quien
English requires 'who' for people in defining clauses, whereas Spanish usually uses 'que'.
qui
French 'qui' can also refer to objects, while English 'who' is strictly for humans.
der / die / das
English 'who' is gender-neutral, while German relative pronouns must match the gender of the person.
None (Pre-nominal modifier)
Japanese has no word for 'who' in this context; the verb comes before the person.
al-ladhi (الذي)
English 'who' replaces the pronoun, while Arabic often keeps a trace of it (e.g., 'the man who I saw him').
de (的)
The word order is reversed: 'lives next door DE person' vs 'the person WHO lives next door'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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