Relative pronouns are words that introduce dependent clauses and link them to main clauses. These words help to provide additional information or context about a subject or object in a sentence. Understanding how to use relative pronouns is essential for creating clear and effective sentences.
In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about relative pronouns, from their definition and functions to examples and grammar rules. Let’s dive in!
Definition of Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun connects a relative clause to a main clause and provides more details about the noun it refers to. The main relative pronouns in English include:
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Who
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Whom
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Which
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That
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Whose
These pronouns help make sentences more descriptive, explaining who did something, what something is, or which option you are referring to.
What Is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is a part of a sentence that gives more information about a noun (subject or object). It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and depends on the main clause to make sense.
For example:
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The book that you gave me is amazing.
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The student who answered the question is my friend.
In these examples, the relative clauses “that you gave me” and “who answered the question” add more information about the book and the student, respectively.
Why Are Relative Pronouns Important?
Relative pronouns allow us to combine two ideas into a single, more detailed sentence. They prevent the need for repetitive sentences or excessive details that may be hard to follow. This improves clarity and the overall flow of writing.
Consider the difference:
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Simple: The woman is very talented. She is a singer.
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With a relative pronoun: The woman who is a singer is very talented.
The second version is more concise and informative.
Types of Relative Pronouns
Let’s now break down the types of relative pronouns, starting with the most commonly used ones.
1. Who
The relative pronoun who is used to refer to people. It can act as the subject of the relative clause.
Example:
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The teacher who teaches math is very kind.
2. Whom
Whom refers to people as well, but it is used when the person is the object of the verb in the relative clause. In everyday speech, whom is less common, and people often use who instead, but it is still considered more formal and grammatically correct in some cases.
Example:
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The person whom I met yesterday is my colleague.
3. Which
Which is used to refer to animals, things, or ideas. It acts as the subject or object of the relative clause and is always used for non-human references.
Example:
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The book which I read last night was fascinating.
4. That
That is a versatile relative pronoun that can refer to people, animals, or things. It is commonly used in both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. Unlike which, that does not require commas.
Example:
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The movie that won the award was incredible.
5. Whose
Whose is used to show possession. It can refer to people, animals, or things.
Example:
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The artist whose painting I admire is well-known.
Relative Pronouns: A Quick Comparison
| Pronoun | Used For | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Who | People (subject) | The student who asked the question is smart. |
| Whom | People (object) | The man whom she met is famous. |
| Which | Animals/Things | The car which I bought is fast. |
| That | People/Things/Animals | The dog that barked loudly is my pet. |
| Whose | Possession | The teacher whose book was stolen is upset. |
Understanding Restrictive vs. Non-restrictive Clauses
One of the most important distinctions in using relative pronouns is understanding the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. This distinction affects your choice of relative pronouns, particularly that and which.
1. Restrictive Clauses
A restrictive clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence. It gives vital information about the noun and cannot be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning. In restrictive clauses, we use that (not which).
Example:
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The book that is on the table belongs to me.
Here, the clause that is on the table is essential to identify which book is being discussed.
2. Non-restrictive Clauses
A non-restrictive clause provides extra, non-essential information. It can be removed from the sentence without altering the meaning. Non-restrictive clauses are set off by commas, and we use which (not that) in these cases.
Example:
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The book, which is on the table, belongs to me.
In this example, the clause which is on the table is extra information. The main sentence, The book belongs to me, still makes sense without it.
Special Focus: Possessive Relative Pronouns
Possessive relative pronouns can sometimes be confusing. The most common possessive relative pronouns are whose for both people and things, and of which for things.
**Example of whose:
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The boy whose bike was stolen is upset.
**Example of of which (less common, more formal):
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The car, the engine of which is broken, needs repair.
While whose is widely accepted for both people and things, of which is sometimes preferred for formal writing when referring to things.
Advanced Usage of Relative Pronouns
In the previous section, we covered the basics of relative pronouns and how they function in a sentence. Now, let’s dive into more advanced aspects of relative pronouns, such as compound relative pronouns and tricky grammatical pitfalls that can arise when using them.
Compound Relative Pronouns
While relative pronouns like who and which are used to refer to a single person, animal, or thing, compound relative pronouns refer to more than one or an unspecified person, thing, or idea. These pronouns include:
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Whoever
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Whomever
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Whatever
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Whichever
These compound relative pronouns serve a specific purpose—they’re used when the reference is not definite or when referring to an entire group of people or things. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
1. Whoever
The relative pronoun whoever refers to any person who is involved in a certain action, without specifying who they are. It is often used in statements of generality or in situations where the subject of the sentence is indefinite.
Example:
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Whoever finishes the test first will receive a prize.
In this case, whoever refers to any person who finishes the test first, without specifying who that person might be.
2. Whomever
Whomever is the object form of whoever and is used when the person or people referred to are the object of the verb or preposition in the relative clause.
Example:
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You can invite whomever you like to the party.
Here, whomever refers to any person whom you might invite, as the object of the verb “invite.”
3. Whatever
Whatever refers to anything or everything that might happen or be involved in a situation. It’s used when the specific thing or idea isn’t important or hasn’t been defined yet.
Example:
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I will support you whatever you choose to do.
In this example, whatever expresses that the speaker will support any choice the person makes, without specifying what it is.
4. Whichever
Similar to whatever, whichever refers to a specific option from a set of possibilities. It is often used when there is a defined group of choices, but the speaker is unsure or indifferent about which one will be selected.
Example:
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You can take whichever route you prefer.
In this case, whichever refers to any route from the options available.
Common Pitfalls in Using Relative Pronouns
Although relative pronouns might seem straightforward, there are a few common pitfalls that learners of English often encounter. Let’s address these issues so you can avoid mistakes in your writing.
1. Using “That” vs. “Which”
One of the most common points of confusion with relative pronouns is the choice between that and which. While both of these pronouns can refer to things or animals, the key difference lies in whether the clause is restrictive or non-restrictive.
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That is used for restrictive clauses (essential information), and no commas are used.
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Which is used for non-restrictive clauses (extra information), and commas are necessary.
Example (restrictive):
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The book that is on the shelf is mine.
Example (non-restrictive):
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The book, which is on the shelf, is mine.
2. Using “Who” vs. “That” for People
While who is the proper relative pronoun to use for referring to people, some people still mistakenly use that when talking about humans. While that can be used in informal speech, it’s often considered incorrect in formal writing when referring to people.
Incorrect:
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The woman that works in the office is very helpful.
Correct:
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The woman who works in the office is very helpful.
3. Misplacing Relative Pronouns and Antecedents
In English, it’s essential to keep relative pronouns close to their antecedents (the nouns they refer to) to avoid ambiguity. If a relative pronoun is too far from its antecedent, it can confuse readers about what it refers to.
Confusing example:
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The man walked into the room, who was wearing a red hat.
Improved example:
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The man who was wearing a red hat walked into the room.
This revision clears up the confusion and makes the sentence more logical.
4. Avoiding Comma Splices with Non-restrictive Clauses
When using non-restrictive relative clauses, remember that they are usually separated from the main clause by commas. However, some people mistakenly omit the commas, resulting in a comma splice or run-on sentence.
Incorrect:
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The car which is parked outside is mine.
Correct:
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The car, which is parked outside, is mine.
Relative Pronouns in Complex Sentences
Relative pronouns play a critical role in more complex sentences, where multiple clauses are involved. These sentences often help to convey intricate thoughts or provide additional details, making them an important tool in academic writing, storytelling, or professional communication.
Here are a few examples of complex sentences with relative pronouns:
Example 1:
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The students who studied for the test performed better than those who didn’t.
This sentence combines two clauses: “The students performed better” and “who studied for the test.”
Example 2:
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The book, which was published in 2021, has become a bestseller.
In this case, the relative clause “which was published in 2021” gives additional context about the book.
Example 3:
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The house, whose roof was recently repaired, is on sale.
The relative clause “whose roof was recently repaired” provides extra information about the house, showing its condition.
Using Relative Pronouns for Emphasis
In some cases, relative pronouns can be used for emphasis or to add drama to a sentence. This is especially common in storytelling or persuasive writing.
Example of emphasis:
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It was who we were waiting for all along.
In this example, the speaker emphasizes the identity of the person being referred to, creating a more impactful statement.
Relative Pronouns in Passive Voice
The passive voice is often used when the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. Relative pronouns can also play a critical role in passive voice sentences, as they help maintain clarity and coherence while describing the action and its recipient.
In passive voice, the subject of the sentence becomes the object of the relative clause. The verb is typically conjugated in a passive form, and the relative pronoun introduces the new subject.
Example in Active Voice:
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The scientist who discovered the cure was awarded a prize.
In the passive voice, this would become:
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The cure that was discovered by the scientist was awarded a prize.
In this sentence, the relative pronoun that introduces the passive construction and shifts the focus from the scientist to the cure.
Reported Speech and Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns also come into play when converting direct speech into reported speech. In such cases, they often introduce indirect or reported clauses and help clarify the relationship between the parts of the sentence.
Example of Direct Speech:
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“I saw the car which you were talking about,” said John.
In Reported Speech:
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John said that he had seen the car that I was talking about.
Notice how which changes to that in the reported speech version, helping to maintain the sentence’s flow and meaning while keeping it grammatically correct.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
While relative pronouns are relatively straightforward, there are still common mistakes that learners and even native speakers can make. Let’s take a look at these and discuss how to avoid them.
1. Confusing “Who” and “Whom”
Many English speakers struggle with who and whom, particularly when whom is used as the object of the verb. In modern English, whom is becoming less commonly used in everyday speech, and many people now use who in place of whom in informal writing. However, for formal writing, it’s important to maintain the distinction.
Example (Correct):
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The woman whom I met yesterday is a famous artist.
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The woman who gave the speech was very eloquent.
If you’re uncertain about whether to use whom or who, ask yourself whether the relative pronoun is functioning as the subject or the object of the verb.
2. Overusing “That” Instead of “Which”
Although that is used in restrictive clauses, many writers overuse it and incorrectly use that in place of which in non-restrictive clauses. Remember, which should only be used in non-restrictive clauses and always preceded by a comma.
Example (Incorrect):
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The movie, that I watched last night, was thrilling.
Example (Correct):
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The movie, which I watched last night, was thrilling.
20 Examples of sentences using Relative pronouns:
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The artist who painted this masterpiece is famous.
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I spoke to the man whom you met yesterday.
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The book which you recommended was excellent.
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The house that we rented for the weekend was beautiful.
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The woman whose car was parked outside is my neighbor.
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The students who are studying hard will pass the exam.
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I met the person whose idea inspired the project.
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The movie which we watched last night was thrilling.
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The teacher who teaches biology is very knowledgeable.
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The car that was parked in front of my house is now gone.
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The boy whom I gave the gift to is very grateful.
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The project, which took months to complete, was finally finished.
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The book that you borrowed is due tomorrow.
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The restaurant whose food was highly recommended did not disappoint.
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The dog who barked loudly kept everyone awake.
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She is the author whose books have sold millions of copies.
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The painting which is displayed in the gallery is priceless.
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The children who play in the park every day are very friendly.
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The decision that we made yesterday will affect the project.
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The girl whose brother is in the team won the competition.
Conclusion
Relative pronouns are essential tools in English grammar, helping to link ideas and add detail to sentences. By understanding their different forms and usage, you can create clearer, more complex sentences without confusing your readers. Whether you’re writing academic papers, emails, or creative works, mastering relative pronouns is key to improving your overall writing style and coherence.
With the tips and insights provided in this article, you should now feel more confident in using relative pronouns correctly and effectively. So, next time you write, take a moment to consider how relative pronouns can enhance your sentences and provide clearer meaning.
