Mastering Sentences with a Relative Pronoun

Lesson Overview

• What Is a Relative Pronoun?
• Understanding Relative Pronouns
• Key Grammar Rules
• Common Student Mistakes & Fixes
• Additional Tips: 
• Practice Questions

Relative pronouns-who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when-help connect clauses in a sentence by referring to a noun. They make writing smoother, clearer, and more connected. This guide covers everything you need to know about using them correctly, avoiding common mistakes.

What Is a Relative Pronoun?

A relative pronoun is a word that introduces a relative clause and connects it to an independent clause. Essentially, it links a descriptive clause to a noun or pronoun.

• Function:
  • Relative pronouns connect clauses, providing additional information about a noun or pronoun (called the antecedent).  
  • They act as the subject or object within the relative clause.  

• Common Relative Pronouns:
  • who: Refers to people.  
  • whom: Also refers to people, but typically as the object of a verb or preposition.  
  • whose: Shows possession.  
  • which: Refers to things or animals.  
  • that: Can refer to people, things, or animals.  

• Example:
  • "The book that I read was very interesting." (Here, "that" connects the clause "that I read" to the noun "book.")
  • "The woman who called was my sister." (Here, "who" connects the clause "who called" to the noun "woman")

In essence, relative pronouns help to create more complex and informative sentences by adding descriptive details.

Understanding Relative Pronouns

A relative pronoun introduces a relative clause, which gives more information about a noun in a sentence.

Common Relative Pronouns and Their Uses:

Take This Quiz:

Quiz : How Well Do You Know Relative Pronouns?

Key Grammar Rules

1. "Who" vs. "Whom"

A common mistake is mixing who and whom. The trick is:

• Who = Subject (He/She) → This is the student who passed the test.
• Whom = Object (Him/Her) → The student whom I met was nice.

Tip: Use the "he/him" test. Replace who/whom with "he" or "him" in a sentence. If "he" fits, use who; if "him" fits, use whom.

I talked to the teacher whom I admire. ("I admire him.")
I have a friend who loves soccer. ("He loves soccer.")

2. "Which" vs. "That" (and Comma Rules)

• Which introduces extra (nonessential) information → Use a comma.
• That introduces important (essential) information → No comma.

My house, which is red, is on the corner. (Extra detail-can be removed.)
The house that is red is mine. (Essential detail-identifies which house.)

Tip: If removing the clause changes the meaning, use that (no comma). If removing the clause doesn't change the meaning, use which (with a comma).

3. Omitting Relative Pronouns

You can sometimes drop that, who, whom if they are not the subject of the clause.

Correct: The book that I bought was expensive. → The book I bought was expensive. (That can be omitted.)

Incorrect: The book that is on the table is mine. → The book is on the table is mine. (Cannot omit-that is the subject.)

4. "Whose" for People and Things

Whose shows possession for both people and things:

He is the teacher whose lessons are very interesting. (Possession)
I bought a car whose engine is powerful. (Correct for things too!)

An alternative (but more formal) way is: I bought a car the engine of which is powerful.

5. "Where" and "When"

Where is for places, when is for time:

 The café where we met is closed. (Not "which we met in.")
The day when we met was special. (Not "which we met on.")

In informal speech, "where" and "when" are sometimes replaced with "that":

 The café that we met in is closed. (More natural in conversation.)

Common Student Mistakes & Fixes

Mistake #1: Using "Which" Instead of "That"

Incorrect: The book, which I borrowed, was interesting.
Correct: The book that I borrowed was interesting. (That is correct because the clause is essential.)

Mistake #2: Using "Who" Instead of "Whom"

Incorrect: The teacher who I met was nice.
Correct: The teacher whom I met was nice. (Whom is correct because it's the object of "I met.")

Mistake #3: Forgetting the Comma Before "Which"

Incorrect: The Eiffel Tower which is in Paris is famous.
Correct: The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is famous. (Comma needed because it's extra information.)

Additional Tips: 

• Use "which" for extra details (comma needed), "that" for essential ones (no comma).
• Use "who" for subjects, "whom" for objects (try the "he/him" trick).
• "Whose" works for both people and things.
• "Where" = places, "when" = time (instead of "which").
• Omit "that/who/whom" only when it's not the subject of the clause.

Practice Questions

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct relative pronoun.
a) The woman _____ called me was very kind.
b) The bike _____ I borrowed belongs to my friend.
c) That's the city _____ I was born.

2. Identify if the sentence needs a comma.
a) The car which I bought is blue.
b) My laptop, which I use for work, is very fast.

Answers:
1a) who
1b) that
1c) where
2a) No comma
2b) Comma