E7 G - Describe a thing or place more clearly

aiMOOC

E7 G - Describe a thing or place more clearly

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Einleitung

Look at the picture. What can you say?

You can make a description clearer with a short relative clause.

A bridge is a thing that connects two places. A city is a place where many people live. A guide is a person who helps visitors.

In this aiMOOC, you learn to use who, which, that and where in short, useful sentences. You first notice the pattern, then you try it, use it in context and improve your own speaking and writing.

Deutsch-Hilfe nur wenn nötig: Ein relative clause gibt zusätzliche Information zu einer Person, Sache oder einem Ort.

I can ...

1. I can describe a person with who.
2. I can describe a thing with which or that.
3. I can describe a place with where.
4. I can join two short ideas into one clear sentence.
5. I can use these sentences when I speak and write.

What you already know

You already know simple nouns and sentences such as:

This is a teacher. She helps students.

This is a library. You can read there.

Now you connect the ideas.

This is a teacher who helps students.

This is a library where you can read.

Notice the pattern

A backpack is a thing that you use to carry books.

Look at the word before the relative clause.

1. person → who: A teacher is a person who helps students.
2. thing → which / that: A phone is a thing that you use to call someone.
3. place → where: A library is a place where you can read.

Quick hint: First find the noun. Is it a person, a thing or a place?

Listening and Viewing

Watch the short grammar video.

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

First try: Watch from the start to about 2:50. Do not read a transcript first.

Listen for these words: who – which – where – that.

Second try: Watch again. Pause after an example. Say your own example.

After listening – help:

1. who goes with people.
2. which goes with things.
3. that can often go with people or things in simple defining clauses.
4. where goes with places.

Direct feedback: If your sentence starts with “a place”, check for where. If it starts with “a person”, check for who.

Reading

My favourite place

My favourite place is our library. It is a place where I can read and do homework. There is a room that has big windows. The librarian is a person who helps me find books. I have a notebook which I use for new English words.

Try first: Find four relative words in the text.

Hint: Look after place, room, person and notebook.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Suche nach dem Wort, das die Zusatzinformation einleitet.

Vocabulary in context

Use these small chunks again and again:

1. a person who ...
2. a thing that ...
3. a thing which ...
4. a place where ...
5. helps me ...
6. I use it for ...
7. you can ... there
8. it has ...

Keep your vocabulary simple. Clear sentences are better than too many new words.

Pronunciation

Say the four words slowly:

who /huː/ which /wɪtʃ/ where /weə/ that /ðæt/

Then say a full chunk:

a person who helps a thing that works a place where we meet

Your goal is clear speech. You do not need to copy one special accent.

Grammar for communication

You use a defining relative clause when the extra information helps the listener know exactly which person, thing or place you mean.

person + who

A friend who listens is helpful.

thing + which / that

A bottle that keeps water cold is useful.

place + where

A park where we can play is nice.

For this course, keep it simple. You do not need advanced relative clauses with long comma structures.

E-Ausblick: Later, you may also meet forms such as whose or more complex relative clauses. You do not need them here.

Try it with pictures

Finish the sentence:

A phone box is a thing that ...

Possible model:

A phone box is a thing that people can use to make a call.

Now make one different sentence.

Finish the sentence:

A playground is a place where ...

Possible model:

A playground is a place where children can play.

Now change one part of the sentence.

Speaking

Work with a partner.

Student A chooses a person, thing or place. Do not say its name.

Use one of these starters:

It is a person who ... It is a thing that ... It is a place where ...

Student B guesses.

Example:

A: It is a place where you can borrow books. B: Is it a library? A: Yes.

Feedback check:

1. Did you use who for a person?
2. Did you use which/that for a thing?
3. Did you use where for a place?
4. Was your sentence easy to understand?

Writing

Write three clear sentences.

Writing frame:

A ______ is a person who ______.

A ______ is a thing that ______.

A ______ is a place where ______.

Then write one sentence without the frame.

Word bank: help – carry – read – meet – play – learn – buy – find – use

Improve it: Read your sentence again. Keep the relative clause short.

Mediation

Your German-speaking partner asks what this English sentence means:

“A community centre is a place where people can meet.”

Do not translate every word. Explain the key idea in simple German.

Then go back to English and make a new example with where.

Mini transfer

Describe the picture without naming the place first.

Use two sentences:

It is a place where ... It has a bridge that ...

A partner guesses what you describe.

You can also use a place near your school or home. Do not share a private address.

Safe and smart media use

You may make a short audio recording to practise your sentence, but recording is voluntary. Keep recordings private unless your teacher gives a clear safe task.

Do not upload personal photos, names, locations or private social-media data.

If you use AI for feedback, check the answer. Use AI to get hints, not to replace your own text.

Self-check

Read each sentence and choose for yourself: Yes / almost / not yet.

1. I can use who after a person.
2. I can use which or that after a thing.
3. I can use where after a place.
4. I can describe one picture with a relative clause.
5. I can improve a sentence after feedback.

If you choose almost or not yet, go back to one model sentence and try again.

More viewing

This video gives more language for describing places. You do not need to learn every new word.

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

G-level task: Watch a short part. Stop after about one minute. Write down only two place words or ideas that you understand. Then make one sentence with where.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which word is best for a person? (who) (!where) (!which) (!when)

Which word is best for a place? (where) (!who) (!which) (!what)

Complete the sentence: A library is a place ___ you can read. (where) (!who) (!which) (!what)

Complete the sentence: A teacher is a person ___ helps students. (who) (!where) (!which) (!when)

Complete the sentence: A backpack is a thing ___ you use for your books. (that) (!where) (!who) (!when)

Which sentence describes a place clearly? (A park is a place where people can relax.) (!A park is a person who can relax.) (!A park is a thing who can relax.) (!A park is a place which people.)

Which sentence describes a thing clearly? (A bike is a thing that you can ride.) (!A bike is a place where you can ride.) (!A bike is a person who you can ride.) (!A bike is a thing where ride.)

Which sentence describes a person clearly? (A guide is a person who helps visitors.) (!A guide is a place where helps visitors.) (!A guide is a thing which helps visitors.) (!A guide is a person where visitors.)

What should you find first when you choose a relative word? (The noun you want to describe) (!The longest word) (!The last full stop) (!The first adjective)

What is the main goal in this course? (To describe people things and places more clearly) (!To learn very long grammar rules) (!To use difficult new vocabulary) (!To translate every sentence into German)

Memory

who	people
which	things
where	places
that	people or things
relative clause	extra information

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
who	a person
which	a thing
where	a place
that	a person or thing
relative clause	clearer description

Kreuzworträtsel

person	What do you describe with who?
place	What do you describe with where?
thing	What can you describe with which or that?
relative	Which word comes before clause in the grammar name?
pronoun	What kind of word are who which and that?
describe	What do you do when you give clearer information?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

Use for a person.

Use for a place.

Use for a thing.

You can often use for a person or thing in a simple defining relative clause.

A relative clause gives about a noun.

A library is a place where you can .

A teacher is a person who can students.

A backpack is a thing that you can for school.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Bildsatz: Choose one picture in this aiMOOC. Write one sentence with who, which, that or where.
2. Guess the thing: Describe one classroom object with “It is a thing that ...”. Let a partner guess.
3. Guess the place: Describe one school place with “It is a place where ...”. Do not say the name.
4. Sentence repair: Write one wrong relative-clause sentence on purpose. Then correct it and explain the change.

Standard

1. Three clear descriptions: Write one sentence about a person, one about a thing and one about a place.
2. Picture pair talk: With a partner, choose two pictures and speak for about 30 seconds. Use at least two relative clauses.
3. Mini guide: Make a small guide to your school with three safe public places. Use “a place where ...”. Do not include private addresses.
4. Private audio practice: If you want, record three sentences for yourself. Listen again and check whether the relative words are clear. No upload is needed.

Schwer

1. Mystery place: Write four connected sentences about a place without naming it. A partner guesses.
2. Improve a text: Take five short sentences and combine two pairs with relative clauses. Explain why your version is clearer.
3. Mini interview: Ask a classmate about a useful place or object at school. Use the answer to write two relative-clause sentences. Use no private data.
4. AI feedback check: Write your own three sentences first. If AI use is allowed, ask only for grammar feedback. Check every suggestion yourself and keep your own final wording.

Lernkontrolle

1. Clearer description: You get six short sentences about a person, a thing and a place. Combine them into three clear sentences with suitable relative clauses and explain your choices.
2. Picture transfer: Describe an unfamiliar picture with two relative clauses. One sentence must describe a thing and one must describe a place.
3. Error analysis: Correct “A library is a place who you can read.” Explain the grammar problem in simple words.
4. Speaking transfer: Explain a useful school object without naming it. Your partner must be able to guess it from your description.
5. Writing improvement: Improve a short text by replacing repeated short sentences with two clear relative clauses.
6. Feedback use: Compare your first version and your improved version. Name one change that made your English clearer.

Lernnachweis

For a good learning record, show that you can:

1. use who for people in simple relative clauses.
2. use which or that for things.
3. use where for places.
4. connect two simple ideas into one clear sentence.
5. understand short relative clauses in a simple text or video.
6. speak clearly enough for another person to understand your description.
7. improve your own sentence after a hint or correction.
8. use digital tools safely and keep your own work your own.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

E7 G - Describe a thing or place more clearly Englische Grammatik Relative clauses Englisch sprechen Englisch schreiben Hörverstehen Englisch Leseverstehen Englisch Wortschatz Englisch

Folgekurs

Continue with:

E7 G - Give more detail about people and things

Try the same learning path again: notice → understand → try → use → communicate → feedback → improve → use again.