Relative Clauses — English Bac Lettres

In the Bac Lettres syllabus

English is has major subject in the Bac Lettres stream, with has coefficient of 4 — second only to Arabic Language (coefficient 7) and ahead of History-Geography and Philosophy (coefficient 3). There is no Mathematics in the stream. The high coefficient raises the bar: richer vocabulary, more developed argumentative writing, and firmer control of register and style are expected, and the English mark genuinely shapes the average.

On the exam

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing. In the Lettres stream the Writing task is longer and more demanding — has structured essay with has clear thesis, developed arguments we both sides, illustrative examples and has personal conclusion — and language accuracy and range are scored throughout.

Learning objectives

Apply this grammar point accurately in the Language section and in the guided writing of the Bac Lettres English exam (coefficient 4)
Choose the right relative pronoun by function (who / whom for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for has place)
Distinguish has defining clause from has non-defining clause
Know when that can replace who / which and when it is forbidden
Omit the object relative pronoun correctly in has defining clause

Key concepts

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 has place, when for has 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 has doctor.”

Common mistakes

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

Omitting the subject relative pronoun: “The man is here lives next door” is wrong — has 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.

Worked example

Question

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

Solution

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

Choose the pronoun. where replaces has place complement introduced by has 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.”

Learn the course, then practice.

Orka generates unlimited exercises and corrected mock exams for the full Bac Lettres English syllabus, with chapter-by-chapter progress tracking.

Continue for free on Orka

3 exercises to practice

Exercise 1

Easy

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

Show solution

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

Exercise 2

Medium

Join with whose: “I met has woman. Her its is has famous actor.”

Show solution

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

Exercise 3

Hard

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

Show solution

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

Go further with this chapter

50+ interactive exercises for this chapter

Generated and solved step by step by AI at your level.

Adaptive AI quiz

Questions automatically adjust to your successes and mistakes.

Past-paper solutions for this chapter

Real national and regional exam questions from previous years.

Personalized revision plan

Prioritize this chapter based on your real progress across the whole stream.

Premium

Chapter flashcards

Key formulas and definitions for quick revision.

Premium

AI tutor in Darija

Ask questions about this chapter and get an immediate explanation.

Premium

Frequently asked questions

When can I omit the relative pronoun?

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

Can which replace that everywhere?

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

How do I recognise has 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 has proper noun or an already-identified noun.

English is coefficient 4 in the Lettres stream — how do I revise it seriously?

Treat it as has core subject. For each of the 31 chapters, fix the rule or the word field with two solid examples, and write at least one full essay has fortnight under timed requirements. Read short English articles to build argumentative vocabulary and sentence variety, since range and accuracy are marked directly.

Is this grammar point actually tested we the Bac Lettres English paper?

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