RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Lesson 16Joseph C. Blumenthal

Here again are the relative pronouns that are used as clause signals to start adjective clauses.

RELATIVE PRONNOUNS: who, whose, whom, RELATIVE PRONNOUNS: who, whose, whom, which, thatwhich, that

Are these the same clause signals that start adverb clauses? (yes, no)

Here again are the relative pronouns that are used as clause signals to start adjective clauses.

RELATIVE PRONNOUNS: who, whose, whom, RELATIVE PRONNOUNS: who, whose, whom, which, thatwhich, that

Are these the same clause signals that start adverb clauses? (yes, nono)

Use who, whose, and whom to refer only to people.

Choose the correct relative pronoun:

The clerk (The clerk (who, whichwho, which) took my order made a ) took my order made a mistake in the bill.mistake in the bill.

Use who, whose, and whom to refer only to people.


The clerk (The clerk (whowho, which, which) took my order made a ) took my order made a mistake in the bill.mistake in the bill.

Use which to refer only to things and animals.


The store (The store (who, whichwho, which) sells these games is ) sells these games is making a fortune.making a fortune.



The store (The store (who, who, whichwhich) sells these games is ) sells these games is making a fortune.making a fortune.


It was the Rosses’ dog (It was the Rosses’ dog (which, whowhich, who) tore up ) tore up our flower bed.our flower bed.


It was the Rosses’ dog (It was the Rosses’ dog (whichwhich, who, who) tore up ) tore up our flower bed.our flower bed.

Use that to refer to anything—people, things, or animals.

Marian wrote a theme about the teacher Marian wrote a theme about the teacher ((which, thatwhich, that) had helped her most.) had helped her most.


Use that to refer to anything—people, things, or animals.

Marian wrote a theme about the teacher Marian wrote a theme about the teacher ((which, which, thatthat) had helped her most.) had helped her most.


The main point to remember is never to use which to refer to people.

Citizens (Citizens (who, whichwho, which))


The main point to remember is never to use which to refer to people.

Citizens (Citizens (whowho, which, which))


The horse (The horse (who, whichwho, which))


The horse (The horse (who, who, whichwhich))


Any doctor (Any doctor (which, thatwhich, that))


Any doctor (Any doctor (which, which, thatthat))


The school (The school (which, whowhich, who))


The school (The school (whichwhich, who, who))


A bumblebee (A bumblebee (which, whowhich, who))


A bumblebee (A bumblebee (whichwhich, who, who))


The nurse (The nurse (who, whichwho, which))


The nurse (The nurse (whowho, which, which))


Any player Any player whowho can beat can beat Evert must be very Evert must be very good.good.

How do we choose between who and whom? Which form depends on its use within the clause itself.

Use who when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.

Use whom when it is the object of a verb or preposition.

The pronoun who is the subject of the verb ________.

Any player Any player whowho can beat can beat Evert must be very Evert must be very good.good.

How do we choose between who and whom? Which form depends on its use within the clause itself.

Use who when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.

Use whom when it is the object of a verb or preposition.

The pronoun who is the subject of the verb can beatcan beat.

Any player Any player whom whom RossRoss can beat can beat must be very must be very good.good.

The relative pronoun that starts an adjective clause is not always the subject.

The subject of the verb can beat is not the pronoun whom, but the noun ____.


The relative pronoun that starts an adjective clause is not always the subject.

The subject of the verb can beat is not the pronoun whom, but the noun Ross.


The relative pronoun whom stands for the noun ______.


The relative pronoun whom stands for the noun player.

Keeping in mind that the pronoun whom stands for the noun player, let us straighten out the clause.

Whom Ross can beat = Ross can beat Whom Ross can beat = Ross can beat whomwhom

In this clause, the subject of the verb can beat is Ross, and its direct object is the relative pronoun ____.

Keeping in mind that the pronoun whom stands for the noun player, let us straighten out the clause.

Whom Ross can beat = Ross can beat Whom Ross can beat = Ross can beat whomwhom

In this clause, the subject of the verb can beat is Ross, and its direct object is the relative pronoun whomwhom.

Here is a quick way to decide whether the clause signal is a subject or an object: When you see no other word before the verb that could possibly serve as its subject, then the relative pronoun is its subject, and who is correct.

who escaped who were absent who brought our carwho escaped who were absent who brought our car

The only word that could be the subject here is _____.

Here is a quick way to decide whether the clause signal is a subject or an object: When you see no other word before the verb that could possibly serve as its subject, then the relative pronoun is its subject, and who is correct.

whowho escaped escaped whowho were absent were absent whowho brought our car brought our car

The only word that could be the subject here is whowho.

If, on the other hand, the verb already has a subject, then the relative pronoun must be its object, and whom is correct.

whom I admire whom we invited whom the dog bitwhom I admire whom we invited whom the dog bit

The verbs in the above clauses already have subjects; therefore whom must be the (subject, object) in each clause.

If, on the other hand, the verb already has a subject, then the relative pronoun must be its object, and whom is correct.


The verbs in the above clauses already have subjects; therefore whom must be the (subject, objectobject) in each clause.


When the relative pronoun that stands for a person is the direct object of the verb within the clause, we use the object form (who, whom)


When the relative pronoun that stands for a person is the direct object of the verb within the clause, we use the object form (who, whomwhom)

Mr. Dolby is a person…worries about nothing.Mr. Dolby is a person…worries about nothing.

Since the clause has no other subject, the relative pronoun would have to be the subject.

We would therefore choose the subject form (who, whom).

Mr. Dolby is a person…worries about nothing.Mr. Dolby is a person…worries about nothing.

Since the clause has no other subject, the relative pronoun would have to be the subject.

We would therefore choose the subject form (whowho, whom).

Mr. Dolby is a person…nothing worries.Mr. Dolby is a person…nothing worries.

Since the clause already has the subject nothing, the relative pronoun would have to be the object.

We would therefore choose the object form (who, whom).

Mr. Dolby is a person…nothing worries.Mr. Dolby is a person…nothing worries.

Since the clause already has the subject nothing, the relative pronoun would have to be the object.

We would therefore choose the object form (who, whomwhom).

Choose the correct relative pronoun after deciding whether it is used as the subject or the object of the verb:

People (People (who, whomwho, whom) are honest themselves ) are honest themselves usually trust others.usually trust others.

Choose the correct relative pronoun after deciding whether it is used as the subject or the object of the verb:

People (People (whowho, whom, whom) are honest themselves ) are honest themselves usually trust others.usually trust others.


The speaker (The speaker (who, whomwho, whom) he introduced was ) he introduced was embarrassed by so much praise.embarrassed by so much praise.


The speaker (The speaker (who, who, whomwhom) he introduced was ) he introduced was embarrassed by so much praise.embarrassed by so much praise.


Lucille Clifton is the poet (Lucille Clifton is the poet (who, whomwho, whom) I ) I selected for my report.selected for my report.


Lucille Clifton is the poet (Lucille Clifton is the poet (who, who, whomwhom) I ) I selected for my report.selected for my report.

When the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition, use the object form whom; for example, to whom, for whom, from whom.

Most of the candidates for (Most of the candidates for (who, whomwho, whom) I ) I voted were elected.voted were elected.


When the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition, use the object form whom; for example, to whom, for whom, from whom.

Most of the candidates for (Most of the candidates for (who, who, whomwhom) I ) I voted were elected.voted were elected.


We use the object form whom because the relative pronoun is the object of the preposition ___.

Most of the candidates for whom I voted were Most of the candidates for whom I voted were elected.elected.

We use the object form whom because the relative pronoun is the object of the preposition forfor.

Most of the candidates Most of the candidates forfor whom I voted were whom I voted were elected.elected.

My grandfather was a man to (My grandfather was a man to (whom, whowhom, who) ) everyone came for advice.everyone came for advice.


My grandfather was a man to (My grandfather was a man to (whomwhom, who, who) ) everyone came for advice.everyone came for advice.


a.a. Everyone values a friend…is dependable.Everyone values a friend…is dependable.b.b. Everyone values a friend upon…he can Everyone values a friend upon…he can

depend.depend.

In which sentence would whom be correct? (a, b)

a.a. Everyone values a friend…is dependable.Everyone values a friend…is dependable.b.b. Everyone values a friend upon…he Everyone values a friend upon…he

can depend.can depend.

In which sentence would whom be correct? (a, bb)

It is John who I think should apologize.It is John who I think should apologize.

Disregarding the phrase I think, we choose who because it is the subject of the verb _______ ______.

When a phrase such as I think, I suppose, we hope follows the relative pronoun, choose the same form of the pronoun you would choose if the phrase were not there.

It is John who I think should apologize.It is John who I think should apologize.

Disregarding the phrase I think, we choose who because it is the subject of the verb should apologizeshould apologize.

When a phrase such as I think, I suppose, we hope follows the relative pronoun, choose the same form of the pronoun you would choose if the phrase were not there.

I think I suppose we hope we guessI think I suppose we hope we guess

Briggs is the candidate (who, whom) will win.

Briggs is the candidate (who, whom) I suppose will win.

When a clause like one of these follows the relative pronoun, pay no attention to it when choosing between who and whom.

In both sentences, the correct pronoun is ( who, whom).

I think I suppose we hope we guessI think I suppose we hope we guess

Briggs is the candidate (who, whom) will win.

Briggs is the candidate (who, whom) I suppose will win.

When a clause like one of these follows the relative pronoun, pay no attention to it when choosing between who and whom.

In both sentences, the correct pronoun is ( whowho, whom).

There are some customers…you can never There are some customers…you can never please.please.

Because you is the subject of the verb can please in the adjective, the missing relative pronoun would be its direct object.

We would therefore the relative pronoun (who, whom).

There are some customers…you can never There are some customers…you can never please.please.

Because you is the subject of the verb can please in the adjective, the missing relative pronoun would be its direct object.

We would therefore the relative pronoun (who, whomwhom).

There are some customers whom you can There are some customers whom you can never please.never please.

Now insert the phase I suppose after the clause signal whom.

There are some (who, whom) I suppose you can never please.


There are some customers whom you can There are some customers whom you can never please.never please.

Now insert the phase I suppose after the clause signal whom.

There are some (who, whomwhom) I suppose you can never please.


Write the following answers on your Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.own sheet of paper.

1. It is parents (1. It is parents (who, whomwho, whom) I believe are ) I believe are responsible.responsible.

Choose the correct relative pronoun in this and the following frames. (Pay no attention to the added phrase I believe.)

2. Most of the women (2. Most of the women (who, whomwho, whom) take ) take our business course get excellent jobs.our business course get excellent jobs.

Choose the correct relative pronoun in this and the following frames.

3. Most of the women (3. Most of the women (who, whomwho, whom) we ) we train get excellent jobs.train get excellent jobs.


4. It was the principal (4. It was the principal (who, whomwho, whom) ) issued the order.issued the order.


5. The major under (who, whom) he 5. The major under (who, whom) he served was a strict disciplinarian. served was a strict disciplinarian.


6. All the young people (6. All the young people (who, whomwho, whom) the ) the company hires must have high school company hires must have high school diplomas. diplomas.


7. This water color was painted by a girl 7. This water color was painted by a girl ((who, whomwho, whom) I think has unusual talent. ) I think has unusual talent. (Pay no attention to the explanatory words I think)


8. The magician called up a boy (8. The magician called up a boy (who, who, whomwhom) I suppose he had planted in the ) I suppose he had planted in the audience.audience.


a.a. INFORMAL: I just met a woman…you INFORMAL: I just met a woman…you know.know.

b.b. FORMAL: Our director is a woman…FORMAL: Our director is a woman…citizens respect.citizens respect.

In free-and-easy conversation, who has largely driven out whom. In formal speech and writing, however, whom should be used for all objects.

9. The pronoun who would be considered an error in (a, b)

a.a. It is the original thinker…the world It is the original thinker…the world needs today.needs today.

b.b. Is Dick the boy…you invited?Is Dick the boy…you invited?

10. In which sentence would who be acceptable as informal usage? (a, b)

You are done!!!You are done!!!

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

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