Definition of relative pronoun: A relative pronoun is a pronoun that introduces a relative clause and relates this clause back to the main subject.
What is a Relative Pronoun?
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. A relative clause is a dependent clause that is joined to an antecedent, usually an independent clause, by a relative pronoun.
Relative clauses are connected to the main clauses and provide additional information about them.
Relative Pronoun/Clause Examples
- The girl who was supposed to buy the cake failed to pick it up on time.
- Who = relative pronoun, relates back to girl
- Who was supposed to buy the cake = relative clause
- The wedding dress that was on sale fit me perfectly.
- That = relative pronoun, relates back to dress
- That was on sale = relative clause
List of Relative Pronouns
The relative pronouns are:
- Who
- Whom
- That
- Which
There are also compound relative pronouns:
- Whoever
- Whomever
- Whichever
Relative Pronouns for People
Certain relative pronouns are reserved when using a relative clause that relates to people. These relative pronouns are: who, whom, and whose.
- The boy who cried wolf is often used to teach children the value of honesty.
- Who = relative pronoun, refers back to boy.
- Who cried wolf = relative clause.
- The bachelor, who has stolen my heart, is in love with another woman.
- Who = relative pronoun refers back to bachelor
- Who has stolen my heart = relative clause.
- The man, whose car was just stolen, immediately phoned the police.
- Whose = relative pronoun referring to man
When needing a relative pronoun for objects, which can start the relative clause.
- The carpet, which is stained, needs to be replaced with tile.
- Which = relative pronoun referring to carpet
The relative pronoun that may be used for either people or objects.
- I like the boy that lives next door.
- That = relative pronoun refers to a person, boy
- I want to go to a school that is known for its geography programs.
- That = relative pronoun refers to an object, school
Relative Pronouns and Case
After you have identified the type of noun that the relative pronoun will be referring to (person or object), it is also important to select the appropriate pronoun by deciding the case in which being used: subjective, objective, or possessive.
When needing a relative pronoun to the subject of the sentence, be sure to use the subjective form:
- The girl who made the dress.
- Who = relates to girl which is the subject
When the relative pronoun connects to the object of the sentence use the objective case:
- The girl whom you love.
- In this sentence, the girl is the object of your love; therefore, the objective form is used.
When the relative pronoun is used in a manner of ownership, the possessive form is used:
- The girl whose heart was broken.
- In this sentence the heart belongs to the girl; therefore, the possessive form, whose, is used.
Relative Pronouns and Relative Clauses
Relative clauses provide more information about a noun in a sentence. Relative pronouns introduce the relative clause.
If the relative clause is needed to identify the person or object, this is called an essential relative clause, and commas are not required.
- The girl who lives next door is shy.
- Who lives next door = essential relative clause
- Girl is a vague noun and the essential clause is essential in the sentence for understanding.
However, if the relative clause is just providing additional information about the person or object, it is considered a non-essential relative clause and, commas are needed to separate it.
- Lee, who owns the pastry shop, is a friendly woman.
- Who owns the pastry shop = non-essential relative clause
- In this sentence, the relative clause is providing extra information about Mrs. Lee.
Relative Adverbs
Relative adverbs are also used to provide more information about a noun. There are three relative adverbs:
The relative adverb where gives more information about a place:
- Let’s go the park where there are lots of trees.
- Where = gives more information about a place, the park
The relative adverb when refers to time:
- Summer is when we have the most fun as a family.
- When = gives more information about a time, summer
The relative adverb why gives more information about a reason:
- I don’t know the reason why your brother has so much energy.
- Why = gives more information about the unknown reason
Summary
Define relative pronouns: Relative pronouns are useful when the writer wants to give additional information about a noun in a sentence.
Final example,
- I want to buy the bed that is the most comfortable for my back.
- That = relative pronoun that relates to the object bed