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Father93 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
who/that
Jane's the best tennis player that has been selected from that club. Why I can't put WHO instead of THAT ! Pleas...someone...help me
Top answer
You can put "who", but "that" is better, oddly. I think it's because "player" is more like a thing than a person, and "who" harks back to "Jane", which is not what is meant. "
- You can put "who", but "that" is better, oddly.
- I think it's because "player" is more like a thing than a person, and "who" harks back to "Jane", which is not what is meant.
- "
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5 Answers
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You can put "who", but "that" is better, oddly. I think it's because "player" is more like a thing than a person, and "who" harks back to "Jane", which is not what is meant.
By the way, you meant to ask, "Why can't I put 'who' instead of 'that'?"
By the way, you meant to ask, "Why can't I put 'who' instead of 'that'?"
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enoonYou can put "who", but "that" is better, oddly. I think it's because "player" is more like a thing than a person, and "who" harks back to "Jane", which is not what is meant.I agree with this explanation, but I'd really be interested in finding a reliable source that puts it this way. Anyone?
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Some (repeat: some) people follow this "rule":
***** After a superlative, use "that." *****
Jane is the best tennis player that has (ever) been selected from that club,
He is the tallest man that I have ever seen.
Who's the nicest teacher that you have ever had?
P.S. In the last two sentences, you can dele
***** After a superlative, use "that." *****
Jane is the best tennis player that has (ever) been selected from that club,
He is the tallest man that I have ever seen.
Who's the nicest teacher that you have ever had?
P.S. In the last two sentences, you can dele
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This is what my grammar book offers (Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, Oxford University Press):
- We often use that instead of who or which, especially in an informal style.
- That is common as a relative pronoun in identifying clauses. In non-identifying clauses that is unusual.
- That can be used as a subject in
- We often use that instead of who or which, especially in an informal style.
- That is common as a relative pronoun in identifying clauses. In non-identifying clauses that is unusual.
- That can be used as a subject in
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James M***** After a superlative, use "that." *****You nailed it. That is obviously what is going on, here.
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