Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that

Key Notes:

1. What are Relative Pronouns?

  • Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun in the sentence. They help connect ideas and clarify meaning.

2. Relative Pronouns Overview

  • Who: Refers to the subject (the doer) in a sentence.
  • Whom: Refers to the object (the receiver) in a sentence.
  • Whose: Indicates possession or ownership.
  • Which: Refers to animals or things; used for providing additional information.
  • That: Refers to people, animals, or things; often used in defining clauses.

3. Usage of Each Relative Pronoun

Who

  • Use “who” as the subject of a relative clause.

Examples:

  • The teacher who inspires us is retiring.
  • The musician who composed the song is performing tonight.

Whom

  • Use “whom” as the object of a relative clause.

Examples:

  • The author whom I admire is giving a lecture.
  • The student whom I spoke to was very helpful.

Whose

  • Use “whose” to indicate possession.

Examples:

  • The girl whose backpack was lost is looking for it.
  • The professor whose research was published is renowned.

Which

  • Use “which” for non-restrictive clauses (providing extra information) related to animals or things.

Examples:

  • The book, which I borrowed from the library, is fascinating.
  • The car, which is parked outside, belongs to my brother.

That

  • Use “that” for restrictive clauses (essential information) referring to people, animals, or things.

Examples:

  • The dog that barked all night kept me awake.
  • The report that I submitted was accepted.

4. Key Differences

  • “Who” and “whom” are used for people, but “who” is for subjects, while “whom” is for objects.
  • “Whose” shows possession.
  • “Which” is for additional information about things or animals.
  • “That” is used to define or restrict information about nouns.

5. Important Notes

  • In informal speech, “who” is often used instead of “whom.”
  • Restrictive clauses (using “that”) are essential to the meaning of the sentence, while non-restrictive clauses (using “which”) add extra information and are usually set off by commas.

Let’s practice!🖊️