What are relative pronouns?

Grammar Toolkit

Relative pronouns

The rider ___________________ needed a shower.

Grammar Toolkit

Relative pronouns

A relative pronoun introduces a clause.

who won the raceThe pronoun “relates” the

clause back to a noun, noun group or clause. Which rider needed a shower? The rider

who won the race.

the woman _____ gave a speech

Grammar Toolkit

Relative pronouns

Use who, whom and whose to refer to people. Whose may also refer to things and animals.

whoUse who to refer to the subject of the clause (the woman).

John lent his camera to a friend _______ he trusted.whom Use whom to refer to an object in the sentence (the friend).

the author _______ book we performedwhoseUse whose to show possession (by the author)

the company _______ employees were very keenwhose Use whose to show possession (by the company).

The swarm of bees, _______ appeared when Yogi shook the hive, chased us away.

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Relative pronouns

Use which to refer to an animal or thing. Use that to refer to people, animals or things.

which

You catch the bus ______ leaves at 5 pm.that

Where are the rescuers _____ Mr French said would come?

that

Your dinner, _______ I must say looks delicious, is getting cold.

which

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Relative pronouns

When do you use that? When do you use which? Use that if the clause that the pronoun introduces

is essential to the meaning of the sentence.Where are the shoes that you need for tomorrow’s game?

Not just any shoes — the shoes needed for the game.

Use which if the clause that the pronoun introduces could be deleted without affecting the meaning of the

sentence. If you use which, put a comma before it.Your tennis shoes, which need cleaning, are under the bed.

The shoes need cleaning, but the sentence makes sense without that information.

Grammar Toolkit

Relative pronouns

• A pronoun stands in place of a noun. A relative pronoun introduces a clause and “relates” it back to a noun, noun group or clause.

• Use who, whom and whose to refer to people. Whose may also refer to things and animals.

• Use which to refer to an animal or thing. Use that to refer to people, animals or things.

• Use that if the clause that the pronoun introduces is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use which if the clause that the pronoun introduces could be deleted without affecting the meaning of the sentence.

• In the following sentence, the relative pronoun is red. The kangaroo that escaped from the zoo has been found.

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Relative pronouns

The End