Relative Clauses — English Bac SVT

Dans le programme du Bac SVT

English has a coefficient of 2 in the Bac Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre (SVT) stream, level with Philosophy and behind Mathematics and Life & Earth Sciences (coefficient 7) and Physics-Chemistry (coefficient 5). It is one of the subjects that tip a result between one honours grade and the next, so it is worth a small, regular slot.

À l'épreuve

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing (about 180 words). SVT candidates are used to reading documents and pulling out data — the same skill transfers directly to the Reading section: locate the main idea, the supporting details and the writer's stance before answering.

Objectifs d'apprentissage

Apply this grammar point accurately in the Language section and in the guided writing of the Bac SVT English exam (coefficient 2)
Choose the right relative pronoun by function (who / whom for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for a place)
Distinguish a defining clause from a non-defining clause
Know when that can replace who / which and when it is forbidden
Omit the object relative pronoun correctly in a defining clause

Notions clés

Choosing the relative pronoun

who / whom for people (who as subject, whom as object, more formal), which for things, that for people or things but only in defining clauses, whose for possession, where for a place, when for a time.

Defining clauses

They specify which person / thing is meant and are essential to the meaning: no commas, that is possible, and the object relative pronoun can be omitted. E.g. “The book (that) I read was great.”

Non-defining clauses

They add extra, non-essential information: set off by commas, that is impossible, and the relative pronoun can never be omitted. E.g. “My brother, who lives in Paris, is a doctor.”

Erreurs fréquentes

Using that after a comma (non-defining clause): “My car, that is red, …” is wrong — use which.

Omitting the subject relative pronoun: “The man is here lives next door” is wrong — a subject pronoun is needed (who / that): “The man who lives next door is here.”

Confusing whose (possession) with who's (contraction of who is): two different words despite the identical pronunciation.

Exemple corrigé

Énoncé

Join the two sentences with the right relative pronoun: “This is the house.” / “I grew up in this house.”

Correction

Identify the function. “this house” is a place complement in the second sentence.

Choose the pronoun. where replaces a place complement introduced by a preposition: “This is the house where I grew up.”

Alternative with which. You can also keep the preposition explicit: “This is the house which I grew up in.”

Le cours, puis l'entraînement.

Orka génère des exercices illimités et des examens blancs corrigés sur tout le programme de Anglais du Bac SVT, avec un suivi de ta progression chapitre par chapitre.

Continue gratuitement sur Orka

3 exercices pour t'entraîner

Exercice 1

Easy

Complete with who or which: “The scientist ___ discovered penicillin was Alexander Fleming.”

Voir la correction

who — the scientist is a person, subject of the verb discovered.

Exercice 2

Medium

Join with whose: “I met a woman. Her son is a famous actor.”

Voir la correction

“I met a woman whose son is a famous actor.” — whose replaces the possessive adjective her before the noun son.

Exercice 3

Hard

Correct: “My sister, that works in London, is visiting us next week.”

Voir la correction

that is forbidden in a non-defining clause (set off by commas): “My sister, who works in London, is visiting us next week.”

Va plus loin sur ce chapitre

50+ exercices interactifs sur ce chapitre

Générés et corrigés étape par étape par l’IA, à ton niveau.

Connexion requise

Quiz IA adaptatif

Questions qui s’ajustent automatiquement à tes réussites et erreurs.

Connexion requise

Corrigés d’annales sur ce chapitre

Sujets d’examens nationaux et régionaux déjà tombés.

Connexion requise

Plan de révision personnalisé

Priorise ce chapitre selon ta progression réelle sur toute la filière.

Premium

Flashcards du chapitre

Formules et définitions clés en mode révision rapide.

Premium

Tuteur IA en Darija

Pose tes questions sur ce chapitre et obtiens une explication immédiate.

Premium

Questions fréquentes

When can I omit the relative pronoun?

Only in a defining clause where the pronoun works as an object: “The book (that) I read” (that is the object of read). You can never omit a subject relative pronoun or a pronoun in a non-defining clause.

Can which replace that everywhere?

which replaces that in defining clauses about a thing, but only which (never that) is possible in a non-defining clause, the one set off by commas.

How do I recognise a non-defining clause in writing?

It is always set off by commas and could be removed without changing the essential meaning — it only adds extra information, often about a proper noun or an already-identified noun.

How do I fit English revision around a heavy SVT programme?

One short weekly session: one chapter at a time (its rule or word list, two examples, one exercise), then write one short paragraph applying it. Build up a ready introduction and conclusion you can adapt. The goal is a mark above your average, which is well within reach for any consistent student.

Is this grammar point actually tested on the Bac SVT English paper?

Yes — in the Language section as gap-fill, sentence-joining or error-correction, and indirectly in Writing, where the same structures decide whether a sentence is marked as accurate. One rule, two examples and one typical mistake per point is enough to cover both.