Relative Pronoun

Relative pronouns are key tools in English grammar that connect clauses to nouns, adding detailed information without starting new sentences. These pronouns include “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.” For instance, in the sentence “The teacher who loves books is speaking,” the word “who” links additional information about the teacher directly to the noun, enriching the sentence’s context and meaning. Understanding and using relative pronouns correctly can make your writing clearer and more engaging.

What are Relative Pronoun

Relative pronouns are words used to link a dependent clause to a main clause, providing additional information about a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence. These pronouns include “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.” They serve as connectors that allow the writer to add details or identify specific things or people without starting a new sentence, making the writing more cohesive and precise.

List of Relative Pronouns

1. Who: Refers to people and acts as the subject of the relative clause.
2. Whom: Also refers to people but is used as the object of the relative clause.
3. Whose: Indicates possession and relates to both people and things.
4. Which: Refers to animals and things and can introduce additional information about them.
5. That: Can refer to people, animals, or things and is used in restrictive clauses, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Types of Relative Pronouns

1. Possessive Relative Pronoun:
   • Whose: The only possessive relative pronoun, it shows ownership and can relate to both people and objects. Example: “The student whose book was stolen was very upset.”
2. Compound Relative Pronouns:
   • Whoever/Whomever/Whosoever: These are compound forms used for emphasis or in complex sentences. “Whoever” and “Whosoever” act as subjects, while “Whomever” acts as an object. Example: “Whoever arrives first will get a seat.”

Examples on Relative Pronouns

1. Who
   • The girl who won the race is my cousin.
   • The athletes who train daily perform better.
   • He is the doctor who helped me recover.
   • The children who play in the park seem happy.
   • She is the leader who inspires us all.
2. Whom
   • The man whom I saw yesterday is my uncle.
   • The customer whom you spoke with left a review.
   • The actor whom we met is very down-to-earth.
   • She is someone whom I respect deeply.
   • The player whom they recruited scored the winning goal.
3. Whose
   • The boy whose dog was lost is over there.
   • The woman whose article you read is a famous journalist.
   • They found the cat whose owner moved away.
   • The author whose books we love will visit our school.
   • That’s the company whose products are eco-friendly.
4. Which
   • This is the book which inspired the movie.
   • The car, which was parked outside, is gone.
   • I read the report, which was very enlightening.
   • They visited the castle, which is hundreds of years old.
   • She wore the dress, which she had made herself.
5. That
   • The cake that she baked was delicious.
   • I remember the day that we first met.
   • The movie that we saw last night was exciting.
   • This is the house that Jack built.
   • The ideas that they proposed were innovative.

1. The Relative Pronoun

2. Relative Pronouns Worksheets

3. Printable Relative Pronouns

How To Use Relative Pronouns

Tips for Using Relative Pronoun

• Identify the Antecedent: Ensure that the pronoun clearly refers to a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence.
• Choose the Correct Pronoun: Determine whether the pronoun is acting as a subject, object, or possessive.
• Punctuation: Use commas to offset non-restrictive clauses introduced by relative pronouns, which provide extra information that could be omitted without changing the sentence’s fundamental meaning.
• Formality: “Whom” is often replaced by “who” in casual conversation, but in formal writing, it is important to use “whom” correctly when it is the object of the clause.

Exercises

1. The woman _______ baked the cake is my aunt.
2. The laptop _______ screen is broken belongs to Jake.
3. I cannot find the papers _______ I placed on your desk.
4. He hired an assistant _______ can speak three languages.
5. The house _______ we bought has a lovely garden.
6. This is the player _______ won the match yesterday.
7. The book, _______ cover is blue, is my favorite.
8. That’s the dog _______ followed me home.
9. The lady to _______ you spoke is my mother.
10. There is a professor at the university _______ teaches Ancient History.

Answers

• 1: who
• 2: whose
• 3: that
• 4: who
• 5: that
• 6: who
• 7: whose
• 8: that
• 9: whom
• 10: who