Relative pronouns: Subject vs. Object
I have some friends that they weren’t very good students = incorrect
that they = 2 words = incorrect

I have some friends that weren’t good students = correct
that = 1 word = correct

Some friends weren’t …
Subject: Some friends + Verb: weren’t
Some friends that weren’t …
Subject: Some friends + Relative pronoun: that + Verb: weren’t…

Not: that they
Only: that

Relative pronoun as the subject of the verb here in this constructions above.

Below, we see the OBJECT case. 

I have some friends that they (police) arrested. 

This is the team that he (a fan) don’t like.

Relative pronoun subject case 

Talk about someone who/that scared you as a joke? 

Tell me about someone who/that inspires you. 

Talk about a hobby which/that is fun. 

Talk about someone who/that helps you.

Do we use a subject after the relative pronoun?

Is the relative pronoun the subject?

Relative pronoun 

Where vs. In/to which 

Talk about a city where you have lots of nice restaurants.

Vs.

Talk about a city which has the worst food. 

Talk about a place to which you would like to go to for your holiday. 

Vs

Talk about a place which is really popular. 

Tell me about a place where people can surf. 

Vs.

Tell me about a place which offers the best surfing. 

Tell me about a good gym to which people go to do exercise.

Vs.

Tell me about a gym which has the best facilities? 

Do we have to use a preposition with WHICH to make it a synonym for WHERE in the object case?

Relative pronouns 

Who/Whom 

Talk about someone who sends you emails. 

Talk about someone who/whom you send emails. 

Talk about someone who/whom you love. 

Talk about someone who loves you. 

Can we use who/whom as the object?

Can we only use Who as the subject?

A

1: Is there a film on at the moment which you really want to see?

2: Do you know any restaurants where they serve vegetarian dishes?

3: Can you remember the person who taught you how to ride a bike?

4: Have you seen any movies which star the most famous actors of today?

5: Have you met anyone whose family member is famous?

6: How long has Antonio Banderas, who is originally from Spain, lived in the USA?

7: Why are many people whose parents are from the Subcontinent born in the UK?

8: Do you have any photos of the last hotel where you stayed?

B

1: What was the kid who sat next to you in class during the third year of primary school called?

2: Why is Don Quixte, which I started reading last week, really funny?

3: What would you say to my friend Maria, whose mother wants her to be a doctor, about life as a medical professional?

4: How did your parents, who have been/were together for years, meet?

5: Where did you buy your clothes from which you have in your wardrobe?

C

To comma or not to comma; that is the question. 

Commas: Can you identify the person without the information between the commas? Yes/No

Is it just additional information or essential to identify the person/thing/place we are talking about? Yes/No

Can you replace the word ‘who/which/where’ with the word ‘that’? Yes/No

No commas: Can you identify the person without the information that comes with the relative pronoun? Yes/No

Is it just additional information or essential to identify the person/thing/place we are talking about? Yes/No

Can you replace the word ‘who/which/where’ with the word ‘that’? Yes/No

1: What did your grandfather on your dad’s side of the family do for a living, who must be retired by now?

1a: What can a grandparent who/that is retired do for his kids and grandchildren?

2: What do you think about Friends, which is a comedy set in The Big Apple?

2a: Do you like to watch comedies which/that are set in New York/America?

3: What do you think my friend Mark, who doesn’t have any brothers or sisters, do on his birthdays?

3a: How would someone feel who/that hasn’t got any brothers or sisters?

4: What do you think about the Queen of England, who loves wearing hats and keeping Corgis as pets?

4a: What do you think about people who/that love wearing hats and keeping dogs as pets?

5: What is it like to live in a city like New York, which is enormous?

5a: What is it like to live in cities which/that are quite small?

6: What would you do if your mobile phone, which you have on you, wasn’t working?

6a: What can someone who has two phones do if the phone which/that is older stops working?

7: What do you think of Princess Diana, who had a great taste in clothes?

7a: What would you think about a princess who/that helped a lot of people?

8: Have you ever invited your best friend for a meal with your family, who have/don’t have a lot in common?

8a: Would you invite a friend who/that you have just met recently to meet your family?

D

1: Have you seen the movie which/that won the last Oscars?

1a: Have you seen the movie which/that they gave the last Oscars to?

2: Do you have a friend who/that gives a lot of gifts?

2a: Do you have a friend who/that people give a lot of gifts to?

3: What should happen to a student who/that bullies other kids at school?

3a: What should a student do who/that other people bully at school?

4: Can you please describe the computer which/that is in your house/office?

4a: How much did you pay for the computer which/that you bought last?

5: Can you name some cars which/that are really expensive?

5a: Can you describe the car which/that you like the most?

Does the verb after the relative pronoun have its subject? Yes/No

If yes, can the relative pronoun be omitted? Yes/No

If no, can the relative pronoun be omitted? Yes/No

E

1: Talk about the type of music which/that is listened to the most.

2: Describe the people who/that are depended on the most in companies.

3: Tell us about the things which/that you are interested in.

4:  Mention the things which/that you are proud about/of.

5: Let’s talk about the stuff which/that parents think about all the time.

6: We want to hear about the person who/that you like talking to. 

Can you omit the dependant preposition? Yes/No

Can you omit the relative pronoun? Yes/No