Relative Pronouns

Category: English || Published on : 2020-07-25 11:26:30 || Author : TILS EDUCATION 1 2481

There are several types of pronouns. In those types, there is one type known as Relative Pronoun which works as a clause in the sentence. Relative pronouns help to the noun of the object and simplify the clause between two sentences of a single sentence.

What is Relative Pronoun?
Being a type of a pronoun, it helps in referring to the noun which is already mentioned in the sentences, whether that is people, place, things, animals, or ideas. It introduces a connection or a clause. As it relates to the noun and works as a relative clause so it is known as a relative pronoun.
Let’s understand it with an example: -
1. The lady who called me last night is my granny.
In the above example ‘who’ is the relative pronoun which modifies ‘to the granny who called last night’. And here it is introducing the relative clause ‘who called me last night’.
Let’s understand it with one more example: -
2. The bag which you lost was my favourite one.
In the above example ‘which’ is the relative pronoun which modifies ‘to the favourite bag’. And here it is introducing the relative clause ‘which you lost’.

A few relative pronouns are available in English language. These are Who, Whom, That, Which, Whose, Whoever. Let’s learn in details about these relative pronouns: -

• Who – Who is a subjective pronoun which refers to a person. It can only be used to refer to people.
Let’s see some example: -
1. The boy who came here was my brother.
2. The lady who bought this purse came in very expensive car.
In above both sentences the relative pronoun ‘who’ is modifying to the nouns. And both the sentences are introducing the ‘defining relative clause’ connected to the relative pronoun.

• Whom – Whom is an objective pronoun which refers to the person. It also refers to people. Whom is formal whereas Who can be used in informal.
Let’s see some examples: -
1. I am looking for employees whom I can handle the management.
2. Our office manager whom we employed for years sued us.
In above both sentences the relative pronoun ‘Whom’ is modifying to the nouns. And both the sentences are introducing the ‘defining relative clauses’ connected to the relative pronoun.

• That – That can be used for both people and objects or things. That can replace Who, Whom and Which in relative pronouns.
Let’s see some examples: -
1. The pair of shoes which I wear is old.
The pair of shoes that I wear is old.
2. The person whom I gave papers is my father.
The person that I gave papers is my father.
In above sentences That replaces relative pronouns Which and Whom. It referred to both people and object.

• Which – Which is applied to the objects or animals. It is applied when the information as relative clause gives is not important for the sentence.
Let’s see some examples: -
1. The pet which I bought this year, loves to play outside.
2. The inn which is near our home had four swimming pools.
In the above sentences, the relative pronoun Which is modifying about the relative clause but the information which is being given by relative clause is not important in the sentence.

• Whose – Whose is a possessive pronoun. It describes the things and gives information about the person whom the things belong.
Let’s see some examples: -
1. This college belongs to the students whose parents are capable to spend money.
2. The baby whose mother was missing got high fever.
In above sentences, it is clear that relative pronoun Whose is modifying the relative clause which tells information about the person or thing it belongs.

• Whoever – It is very rarely used in relative pronouns. It complements in starting a relative clause. It does not specify the person in the sentence.
Let’s see some examples:-
1. The person will be responsible for the loss whoever will come late in meeting.
2. This certificate will be conferred to the candidate whoever will achieve Grade A.
In both the above sentences, the relative pronouns show that sentence does not have specifications about the person.

Here, in this article, we learned many things about the relative pronouns. Such are –
• Relative pronoun introduces relative clauses in the sentences.
• No comma is needed to separate the restrictive relative clause from the main relative clause whilst the relative pronoun introduces a restrictive relative clause.
• Many times, Whom and Who can replace each other as in American English Whom is used very rarely.
I hope, you liked the article and learned many things about the relative pronoun.