Relative Clauses — Defining People (a person who...)

A1 — grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing

Common mistake: “A carpenter is a person which works with wood.” — Correct: “A carpenter is a person who works with wood.”

We use 'who' to define a person by what they do: 'a person who + verb' (a person who works, who teaches, who helps).

• Actor — acts in films
• Baker — makes bread
• Carpenter — works with wood
• Doctor — helps sick people
• Electrician — fixes electric things
• Farmer — grows food
• Gardener — takes care of plants
• Hairdresser — cuts hair
• Interpreter — translates languages
• Journalist — writes the news
• Kindergarten teacher — teaches young children
• Lawyer — defends people in court
• Mechanic — fixes cars
• Nurse — takes care of patients
• Optician — tests your eyes
• Pilot — flies planes
• Queen — rules a country
• Receptionist — welcomes guests
• Singer — sings songs
• Teacher — teaches students
• Usher — shows people their seats
• Vet — takes care of animals
• Waiter — serves food in a restaurant
• X-ray technician — takes x-rays
• Yoga teacher — teaches yoga
• Zookeeper — looks after zoo animals

• A carpenter is a person who works with wood.
• A vet is a person who takes care of animals.
• A pilot is not a person who cooks food.
• A lawyer isn't a person who cuts hair.
• What do you call a person who flies planes?
• Is a nurse a person who helps sick people?
• Is a baker a person who makes bread? Yes, he is.
• Is a mechanic a person who teaches? No, he isn't.

Practice

1. A doctor is a person ___ helps sick people. (which, who, where)
2. We use 'who' for people and 'which/that' for things.
3. A carpenter is a person who ___ with wood.
4. A baker is a person who ___ bread.
5. A pilot is a person who ___ planes.
6. A teacher is a person who ___ students.
7. A mechanic is a person who ___ cars.
8. Find the mistake: A nurse is a person which takes care of patients.
9. A gardener. He takes care of plants. — Join them into a definition with 'who'.
10. What do you call a person who cuts hair?

Listening

Kenji: Let's play a game! I describe a job, and you guess.

Ben: Okay, go!

Kenji: It's a person who works with wood.

Ben: That's easy — a carpenter!

Kenji: Yes! Now, a person who takes care of animals?

Ben: A vet! I love this game.

Reading

Kenji loves guessing games. 'A doctor is a person who helps sick people,' he says. 'A teacher is a person who teaches students, and a pilot is a person who flies planes.' Ben laughs. 'And you? What do you want to be?' Kenji thinks. 'I want to be an interpreter — a person who translates languages. That way, I can talk to everyone in the world!'

• A pilot is a person who flies planes.
• Kenji wants to be a doctor.
• An interpreter is a person who translates languages.