B1Relative Clauses

Dropping the Relative Pronoun

What is it?

In English, the relative pronoun (who, which, that) can sometimes be left out. This is called a "contact clause". You can drop the relative pronoun only in defining relative clauses, and only when it is the object of the relative clause (not the subject). If the relative pronoun is the subject, it cannot be dropped.

How to form it

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
Pronoun = subject → CANNOT drop	The man who called was angry. (who = subject of "called")
Pronoun = object → CAN drop	The film (that) I watched was great. (that = object of "watched")	The news (which) I heard wasn't good.	Is this the jacket (that) you wanted?
With preposition at end → CAN drop	The town (that) she grew up in is small.	The person (who) I spoke to was helpful.	Is this the issue (which) you were referring to?
Non-defining → CANNOT drop	My sister, who is a nurse, works nights. (cannot drop)

• Drop the pronoun only when it is the OBJECT of the relative clause (the subject comes directly after it).
• If the relative pronoun is the SUBJECT, you CANNOT drop it: "The man who phoned" — "who" is the subject of "phoned".
• The dropped pronoun is sometimes shown in brackets: "The man (that) I met".
• You can NEVER drop the relative pronoun in non-defining relative clauses.
• Prepositions: in everyday English, the preposition goes to the end when the pronoun is dropped: "the chair I was sitting on".
• "Whose" can never be dropped.

When to use it

1
Object pronoun in defining clause → can drop
The book I'm reading is fascinating. (= the book that I'm reading)
2
Subject pronoun → cannot drop
The letter that arrived this morning is important. ("that" is the subject of "arrived" — cannot drop)
3
Non-defining clause → cannot drop
His wife, who is a lawyer, handled the case. (cannot drop "who")
4
"Whose" → never drop
The student whose essay I marked got top marks. (never drop "whose")

Common mistakes

The man called me is my cousin.

The man who called me is my cousin.

"Who" is the subject of "called" — it cannot be dropped.

My car, I bought last year, is already broken.

My car, which I bought last year, is already broken.

Relative pronouns in non-defining clauses (with commas) can never be dropped.

The job I applied was very competitive.

The job I applied for was very competitive.

When the pronoun is dropped, the preposition must remain at the end of the clause.

Quick reference

Can drop: relative pronoun is the OBJECT of the defining clause.
Cannot drop: relative pronoun is the SUBJECT of the clause.
Cannot drop: non-defining clauses (commas present).
Cannot drop: "whose".
Keep the preposition at the end when the pronoun is dropped.
Contact clauses are common and natural in everyday English.

Natural conversation example

Two flatmates discuss online shopping.

Tom

Did you see the jacket I ordered online?

Bea

The brown one you showed me last week? Yes, it looks great.

Tom

I found the website my colleague recommended.

Bea

Is that the one you were talking about at dinner?

Tom

Yes! And the prices are much lower than the shops I usually go to.

Bea

I might look for those boots I've been trying to find.

Tom

The ones you saw at the market last month?

Bea

Exactly. The seller I bought from before only had them in black.

Practice Exercises

Write "CAN drop" or "CANNOT drop" for each sentence.

1.
The woman who lives next door is a vet.
2.
The song that I heard yesterday is still in my head.
3.
My dog, which I've had for ten years, is very old.
4.
The film that she recommended was excellent.
5.
The man that called the office was very rude.
6.
Is this the book that you were looking for?
7.
The student whose work won the prize is in Year 11.
8.
The café that we went to is closing down.

Compound Relative Pronouns All Topics Which or That

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