AmerEnglishLive Free / Speak Free

PRESENTS

Relative Pronouns

that which

whomwho whose

what

whoever whomever

whichever

Relative Pronouns Introduction

Many sentences in the English language are really two clauses linked together. There can be a main clause and a relative clause. Look at these two sentences.

This is a cake. Mary baked this cake.

We can do a little tweaking and turn the clauses into one sentence. Like this:

This is the cake that Mary baked.

The clause that Mary baked is called a relative clause and it’s linked to the main clause by a special kind of pronoun. That special pronoun is known as a relative pronoun.

What Are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns are used to link a relative clause to another part of a sentence and has the job of introducing the relative clause. We use the term “relative” pronoun because it “relates” to the word it is modifying.

Clever right? Here is the list. The relative pronouns are

what, that, which, whom, who, whose, whoever, whomever and whichever.One aspect of grammar that seems to cause a lot of confusion is when to use who and when to use whom. Let’s clear that up right now, shall we? Use the relative pronouns who and whoever if you are referring to the subject of the sentence. Use whom and whomever if you’re referring to the objects of a verb or preposition.

Have questions?

Who (subject) and whom (object) are generally only for people. Whose is for possession. Which is for things. In non-defining relative clauses, that is used for things. In defining relative clauses (clauses that are essential to the sentence and do not simply add extra information) that can be used for things and people**

Relative pronouns can refer to singular or plural, and there is no difference between male and female.

There are five relative pronouns that are used more than the others: who, whom, whose, which, that*

*Not all grammar sources count "that" as a relative pronoun.

**Some people claim that even in defining relative clauses we cannot use "that" for people but must use "who/whom". There is no good reason for such a claim; there is a long history of "that" for people in defining relative clauses from Chaucer, Shakespeare and the Authorized Version of The Bible to Fowler's and Churchill.

We use relative pronouns:

after a noun, to make it clear which person or thing we are talking about:

the house that Jack builtthe woman who discovered radiuman eight-year-old boy who attempted to rob a sweet shop

in relative clauses to tell us more about a person or thing:

My mother, who was born overseas, has always been a great traveler.Lord Thompson, who is 76, has just retired.We had fish and chips, which is my favourite meal.

But we do not use that as a subject in relative clauses.

We use whose as the possessive form of who:

This is George, whose brother went to school with me.

We sometimes use whom as the object of a verb or preposition:

This is George, whom you met at our house last year.

This is George’s brother, with whom I went to school.

But nowadays we normally use who:

This is George, who you met at our house last year.

This is George’s brother, who I went to school with.

When whom or which have a preposition, the preposition can come at the beginning of the clause...

I had an uncle in Germany, from who[m] I inherited a bit of money.

We bought a chainsaw, with which we cut up all the wood.

… or at the end of the clause:

I had an uncle in Germany who[m] I inherited a bit of money from.

We bought a chainsaw, which we cut all the wood up with.

We can use that at the beginning of the clause:

I had an uncle in Germany, that I inherited a bit of money from.

We bought a chainsaw, that we cut all the wood up with.

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that introduces a relative clause. It is called a "relative" pronoun because it "relates" to the word that it modifies. Here is an example:

Examples

The person who phoned me last night is my teacher.

In the above example, "who":

relates to "person", which it modifies

introduces the relative clause "who phoned me last night"

We use who and whom for people, and which for things.Or we can use that for people or things.

Look at these examples showing defining and non-defining relative clauses:

Relative Pronoun Examples:

When it was time for the school play, the teacher asked the students whom she believed to be the most reliable and talented to audition.

In this sentence whom is the direct object of the verb believed and also introduces the clause whom she believed to be the most reliable and talented. This clause modifies the noun students.

The person who draws the winning number hits the jackpot.

Here the relative pronoun who is the subject of the verb draws and also introduces the clause draws the winning number. In this case the clause acts as an adjective modifying the word person.

Here are more examples of relative pronouns and how they are used:

Whoever spilled milk will have to clean it up.

In this sentence whoever acts as the subject of the verb spilled.

The fruit which was put in the fruit bowl needs to be put in the picnic basket.

Here which functions as the subject of the compound verb was put. It also introduces the defining clause which was put in the fruit bowl. The clause acts as an adjective and modifies the noun fruit.

I will open whichever package arrives first.

In this example whichever modifies the noun package and introduces the clause whichever package arrives first. The clause also functions as the direct object of the compound verb will open.

The manuscript that she recently completed is ready for publication.

The world is a much sunnier place for people who have a positive attitude.

The person who called me last night is my best friend.

Definingexample sentencesS=subject, O=object, P=possessive

notes

defining relative clauses

S

- The person who phoned me last night is my teacher.- The person that phoned me last night is my teacher.

That is preferable

- The car which hit me was yellow.- The car that hit me was yellow.

That is preferable

O

- The person whom I phoned last night is my teacher.- The people who I phoned last night are my teachers.- The person that I phoned last night is my teacher.- The person I phoned last night is my teacher.

Whom is correct but formal. The relative pronoun is optional.

- The car which I drive is old.- The car that I drive is old.- The car I drive is old.

That is preferable to which. The relative pronoun is optional.

P

- The student whose phone just rang should stand up.- Students whose parents are wealthy pay extra.

- The police are looking for the car whose driver was masked.- The police are looking for the car of which the driver was masked.

Whose can be used with things. Of which is also possible.

When using non-defining relative clauses make sure you use commas at the beginning and end of the clause.

S=subject, O=object, P=possessive

example sentences notes

non-defining relative clauses

S

- Mrs Pratt, who is very kind, is my teacher.

- The car, which was a taxi, exploded.- The cars, which were taxis, exploded.

O

- Mrs Pratt, whom I like very much, is my teacher.- Mrs Pratt, who I like very much, is my teacher.

Whom is correct but formal. Who is common in spoken English and informal written English.

- The car, which I was driving at the time, suddenly caught fire.

P

- My brother, whose phone you just heard, is a doctor.

- The car, whose driver jumped out just before the accident, was completely destroyed.- The car, the driver of which jumped out just before the accident, was completely destroyed.

Whose can be used with things. Of which is also possible.

Katie, who is very kind, is my friend.

The car, which was a bright red Corvette, swerved into the ditch.

My uncle, whose child you just met, is a pediatrician.

Remember to use relative pronouns when you need to link a relative clause to another clause. They may act as the subject of the sentence or the object of a verb or preposition.

Mr. Maru: Could you get me the paper?Sparky: Maybe. I'll do it if you give me a treat.Mr. Maru: I'm not giving you a treat. You'll get fat.Sparky: The one thing what makes me happy are treats.Mr. Maru: The one thing that makes you happy are treats and belly rubs, right?Sparky: Yea, Yea, belly rubs. I'll do anything what you want if you give me a belly rub.Mr. Maru: Well, what I really want you to do is get the paper. Can you do that?Sparky: Yea, Yea, paper! Got it.

How do you use the relative pronoun what? Relative pronouns can be difficult sometimes. They are incredibly powerful though when you use them in your writings. They help you do reduction. Reduction helps you make shorter and more concise sentences. Let's go over a strange relative pronoun, 'what'.

What is a relative pronoun?

First, let's talk about what a relative pronoun is. These are the words that introduce relative clauses. The three main relative pronouns are who, which, and the rarely used whom. Relative clauses are used to describe nouns and pronouns. They are like adjectives because they describe a noun or pronoun. For example,

I met a guy who likes to snowboard. (I met a guy. He likes to snowboard.)

George ate some pizza which is his favorite food. (George ate pizza. Pizza is his favorite food.)

The strange relative pronoun whatThe word what can not be used like which or who. When it is used, it has the meaning 'the things which'. It creates a clause that is a noun and relative pronoun in one. It can be used as a subject, object or compliment. For example,

As a subject -

When we use it as the subject it places more emphasis on the thing or activity we are doing not us.

What I hope to do is create fusion power. (The thing which I hope to do is create fusion power.)

What a goalie does is protect the goal. (The thing which a goalie does is protect the goal.)

As an object -I already spent what I earned this month. (I already spent the thing which I earned this month.)I haven't received what I ordered yet. (I haven't received the thing which I ordered yet.)Again, using 'what' here emphasizes the thing or activity.

As a complement -

This is what I hoped for. (This is the thing which I hoped for.)That is what he said. (That is the thing which he said.)

Be careful! The word what can not be used like a normal relative pronoun. It can not be used to describe a noun or pronoun that comes before it. For example,

X Sparky had everything what he wanted.O Sparky had everything that he wanted.X Kathy always ate chocolate what she loved.O Kathy always ate chocolate which she loved.

Exercises

Relative pronoun what quiz

Relative Pronouns 1

Relative pronouns 2

Relative pronoun “what” quiz

1) Did you understand everything ___________?

A) that I said B) what I said C) those I said

2) _________________ is talk to a doctor. It might be serious.

A) Which you need to do B) What you need to do

C) How you need to do

3) Jenny carefully wrote down ___________.

A) which Kathy said B) on which Kathy said

C) what Kathy said

Answers

1) A) – We need 'that' because 'I said' is describing 'everything'.

2) B) – We can use 'what' for the subject of this sentence.

3) C) – We can use 'what' as the object of this sentence.

Relative Pronouns 1

1. Stratford is the town ____ Shakespeare was born in.a. where b. which c. Either could be used here.

2. The hotel ____ we stayed was good.

c. Either could be used here.a. where b. which

3. The man ____ interviewed me seemed friendly enough.

c. Either could be used here.a. who b. which

4. The British Prime Minister, ____ was interviewed yesterday, denied responsibility.

c. Either could be used here.a. who b. that

5. The car ____ was stolen belonged to my partner.a. which c. Either could be used here.b. that

6. The house ____ they have rented is in the centre of town.a. which c. Either could be used here.b. that

7. The crowd, ____ were making a lot of noise, were told to move on by the police.

c. Either could be used here.a. who b. that

8. The company, _____ CEO is under investigation, is doing very badly.a. which c. Either could be used here.b. whose

9. The capital city, ____ cathedral is one of the finest in the country, is worth visiting.

b. which c. Either could be used here.a. whose

10. The school, ____ has seven hundred students, had the best exam results in the country last year.

b. which c. Either could be used here.a. that

Answer Sheet1 - Stratford is the town ____ Shakespeare was born in.

which2 - The hotel ____ we stayed was good.

where.3 - The man ____ interviewed me seemed friendly enough.

who4 - The British Prime Minister, ____ was interviewed yesterday, denied responsibility.

who5 - The car ____ was stolen belonged to my partner.

Either could be used here.6 - The house ____ they have rented is in the centre of town.

Either could be used here.7 - The crowd, ____ were making a lot of noise, were told to move on by the police.

who8 - The company, _____ CEO is under investigation, is doing very badly.

whose9 - The capital city, ____ cathedral is one of the finest in the country, is worth visiting.

whose10 - The school, ____ has seven hundred students, had the bext exam results in the country last year.

which

1. The man _________________ we met on the street is my uncle.

Relative pronouns 2

a. whose c. whereb. whom

2. The cafe _________________ she usually has breakfast is around the corner.

b. whose c. wherea. whom

3. The girl _________________ wrote this poem is still in high school.

a. whose c. whereb. who

4. The girl _________________ poem I read is still in high school.a. whose c. whereb. who

5. The neighborhood _________________ we live is safe.c. whosea. where b. who

6. The people _________________ we saw yesterday are my neighbors.a. whose b. where c. whom

7. The boy _________________ bike was stolen is crying.

a. whose b. where c. whom

8. The people _________________ live across the street are from Portugal.b. whose c. wherea. who

9. The hotel _________________ we stayed was very noisy.a. whom b. where c. whose

10. The man _________________ wallet was stolen was very upset.

a. whom b. where c. whose

1. The man _________________ we met on the street is my uncle. whom2. The cafe _________________ she usually has breakfast is around the corner. where3. The girl _________________ wrote this poem is still in high school. who4. The girl _________________ poem I read is still in high school. whose5. The neighborhood _________________ we live is safe. where6. The people _________________ we saw yesterday are my neighbors. whom7. The boy _________________ bike was stolen is crying. whose8. The people _________________ live across the street are from Portugal. who9. The hotel _________________ we stayed was very noisy. where10. The man _________________ wallet was stolen was very upset. whose

Answers