🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

📚 Grammar Explanation

We use relative pronouns to give more information about a person or a thing without starting a new sentence. They help us connect our ideas.

Form/Structure:

Usage Rules:

🔑 Key Learning Tip: Think: WHO is for a person (like in "Who is he?"). WHICH is for a thing (like in "Which report?").

💼 Professional Contexts

🏢 Context Card 1: Relative Pronouns in Professional Contexts
Meetings: "Let's welcome Sarah, the new manager who will lead the marketing team."
Projects: "This is the final report which summarizes our project findings."
Hiring: "We need an applicant who has at least two years of experience."
Technical Support: "I need to fix the computer that is not connecting to the internet."
🤝 Context Card 2: Relative Pronouns in Daily Business
Emailing: "I am replying to the email that you sent this morning."
Networking: "I spoke to a consultant who works with international clients."
Office Life: "Could you pass me the folder which is on the shelf, please?"
Planning: "We need a marketing plan that will increase our sales by 10%."

🎧 Listening Exercise

0:00 / 2:00

Listening Questions

1. In the audio, Maria uses 'who' to talk about...
2. What is the main purpose of Maria's conversation with Leo?
3. Complete the sentence from the audio: "Our client is a company ______ sells sports equipment online."

🧠 Interactive Quiz

Choose the correct relative pronoun for each sentence.
1. The manager ______ approved the budget is on vacation this week.
2. Can you please send me the report ______ we discussed in the meeting?
3. We hired the applicant ______ had the best experience for the job.

📧 Exercise A: Multiple Choice Cloze

Read the email below and choose the correct word for each gap.
To: Team
From: Jin
Subject: New Coffee Machine

Hello everyone,

I have good news for all the coffee lovers in our office!

We have a new coffee machine, (1) ______ is in the kitchen. It's a special machine (2) ______ can make espresso and cappuccino.

Please read the instructions (3) ______ are next to the machine. If you have any problems, please speak to Maria. She is the person (4) ______ knows how to use it.

Thanks,
Jin
1. We have a new coffee machine, ______ is in the kitchen.
2. It's a special machine ______ can make espresso and cappuccino.
3. Please read the instructions ______ are next to the machine.
4. She is the person ______ knows how to use it.

✅ Exercise B: True/False Grammar Check

Read the sentences below. Are they grammatically correct? Choose True or False.
1. This is the new software who helps us organize our work.
2. I would like to speak to the person who is in charge of sales.
3. Where is the document which has the client's address?
4. Our CEO is the man which started the company 20 years ago.
5. I like the office that has a lot of natural light.

🔄 Exercise C: Transformation Exercise

Combine the two sentences into one sentence using 'who' or 'which'.
Example: I have a new manager. She is very friendly. → I have a new manager who is very friendly.
1. I received an email. The email was from a new client.
2. I work with a woman. She speaks three languages.
3. We have a problem with a printer. The printer doesn't work.
4. A man called this morning. He wanted to speak to the director.
5. I'm working on a presentation. It is for the meeting on Friday.

🗣️ Speaking Practice - Preparation for Class

⚠️ Preparation for Class Only
These tasks are for practice with your teacher. Prepare this topic for your next class.
Task 1: Describing a Colleague (Controlled Practice)
1 minute

Instructions: Imagine a new person has joined your team. Introduce one of your colleagues to them. Use the structure: "This is [Name]. He/She is the person who..."

Preparation Tips: Think of a real colleague. What is their main responsibility?

Example Response: "This is Sofia. She is the person who organizes all our team meetings and events."

📝 Prepare this topic for your next class

Task 2: Talking About Your Work (Guided Practice)
1 minute

Instructions: Your teacher will ask you about your job. Describe a tool, a document, or a project you work with. Use 'which' or 'that'.

Preparation Tips: Think about a specific thing at your work (e.g., a software program, a weekly report, a new project).

Framework: "I often use a [software/tool] which helps me to..." or "I am working on a [project/report] that is about..."

📝 Prepare this topic for your next class

Task 3: Networking Role-Play (Free Practice)
2 minutes

Instructions: You are at a business conference. Your teacher is another professional. Introduce yourself and ask questions to learn about them and their company. Try to use 'who', 'which', and 'that' naturally.

Preparation Tips: Think about questions you can ask:

  • "What's the name of the company which you work for?"
  • "Tell me about a project that you are proud of."
  • "Is there a person here who you think I should meet?"

📝 Prepare this topic for your next class

📋 Summary

Key Takeaways

Professional Study Tips

Listen Actively: In your next online meeting, listen for when your colleagues use 'who', 'which', or 'that'. Note the context.

Review Your Emails: Before you send your next email, read it. Can you combine any two short sentences using a relative pronoun? For example, change "I am sending a report. The report has the sales data." to "I am sending the report which has the sales data."

Practice Short Descriptions: Look around your office or workspace. Describe one person and one object to yourself. For example: "That is my manager, who is always busy." and "This is my computer, which is very fast."