Yes, in an object restrictive relative clause, you can use that, which, who, or whom—and you may often omit the pronoun entirely. The clause directly follows the noun it modifies and provides essential information that identifies which person or thing you mean, with no commas around it.
What Is a Restrictive Relative Clause?
A restrictive relative clause (also called a defining clause) gives information that is necessary to identify the noun it modifies. If you remove it, the sentence changes meaning or becomes unclear. For example:
- The book that I borrowed is on the table. (Which book? The one I borrowed.)
- The woman who called you left a message. (Which woman? The one who called.)
In contrast, a non-restrictive clause adds extra, non-essential information and is set off by commas: The book, which I borrowed, is on the table. Here the clause is just an aside; the book is already identified.
The Object Role in the Clause
When the relative pronoun functions as the object of the verb (or preposition) inside the clause, it refers back to the noun but receives the action. Consider:
- The movie that we watched was boring. (We watched the movie—movie is the object of “watched.”)
- The colleague whom I met is friendly. (I met the colleague.)
In object position, the pronoun is not the subject of the clause; the subject comes after it (e.g., “we,” “I”). This is different from a subject relative clause, where the pronoun itself is the subject: The person who called is my brother.
Choosing Between That, Which, Who, and Whom
In modern English, the choice depends on formality and whether the antecedent is a person or a thing.
- That – Used for both people and things in restrictive clauses. It is the most common and natural choice in everyday speech and writing.
- Which – Used for things, but in American English it is often reserved for non-restrictive clauses. In British English, which is acceptable in restrictive clauses too.
- Who – Used for people (and sometimes pets) in subject or object position. In object position, who is increasingly accepted, especially in informal contexts.
- Whom – The formal object form for people. It is often omitted in speech and informal writing, but still preferred in formal grammar.
Example with a person: The doctor who/whom/that I visited was kind. All three are possible; who is informal, whom is formal, and that is neutral.
Omitting the Relative Pronoun (Zero Relative)
In object restrictive clauses, you can often drop the relative pronoun entirely. This is called a “zero relative” or “contact clause.” The sentence remains grammatical because the object position is clear.
- The song (that) she sang was beautiful.
- The man (whom) you saw is my neighbor.
You cannot omit the pronoun if it is the subject of the clause: The woman who lives next door is a teacher (not “The woman lives next door is a teacher”).
Prepositions in Object Relative Clauses
When the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition, you have two main structures:
- Formal: Preposition + whom/which – The person to whom I spoke was helpful.
- Informal: whom/who/that at the start, preposition at the end – The person who/that I spoke to was helpful.
In informal speech, the pronoun is often omitted: The person I spoke to was helpful. With which, the formal pattern is the chair on which I sat, but everyday English prefers the chair (that) I sat on.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
One frequent error is using what instead of that or which in restrictive clauses. What means “the thing that” and does not refer back to a specific noun. So you cannot say “The book what I read” – it must be “The book that I read.”
Another misconception is that which is always wrong in restrictive clauses. In British English, it is perfectly standard: The car which I bought is red. In American English, style guides often recommend that for restrictive clauses to avoid ambiguity, but which is not grammatically incorrect.
Also, do not confuse restrictive clauses with non-restrictive ones. Using commas changes the meaning: The students, who studied, passed implies all students studied; The students who studied passed implies only those who studied passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use “who” instead of “whom” in object clauses?
Yes, in informal English who is widely used in object position. For example, “The person who I met” is common in speech. In formal writing, whom is still preferred, but many grammarians now accept who in object clauses, especially when the pronoun is not directly after a preposition.
Is it ever wrong to omit the relative pronoun?
It is wrong to omit it when the pronoun is the subject of the clause. For example, “The man called me” cannot become “The man called me is my uncle” because the clause “called me” needs a subject. In object position, omission is almost always fine, but in very formal writing some style guides prefer to keep the pronoun for clarity.
What is the difference between “that” and “which” in restrictive clauses?
In American English, that is the standard choice for restrictive clauses, while which is reserved for non-restrictive clauses. In British English, which is also used in restrictive clauses. Using which with commas makes the clause non-restrictive, so “The book, which I read, was good” means the book was already identified.
Can I use “that” for people?
Yes, that is perfectly acceptable for people in restrictive clauses. For example, “The woman that called you” is grammatically correct, though some style guides prefer who for people in formal contexts. In everyday English, that is common and natural.
Why do we sometimes say “the house I live in” without a relative pronoun?
This is a zero relative in an object clause with a preposition. The full form is “the house that/which I live in.” Because the pronoun is the object of the preposition “in,” it can be omitted. This is very common in informal English and is perfectly acceptable in most writing.
Summary of Key Rules
- Use that for both people and things in restrictive clauses.
- Use which for things, especially in non-restrictive clauses (American) or as an alternative in restrictive (British).
- Use who for people in both subject and object positions; whom is the formal object form.
- Omit the pronoun when it is the object of the clause, but not when it is the subject.
- With prepositions, either place the preposition before whom/which (formal) or at the end of the clause (informal).
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