by Dr. Radut

Relative Pronouns: Learn to use Who, Whom, That, Which, Where and try a quiz

Relative pronouns are a type of pronoun that are used to link clauses or phrases to a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are called "relative" pronouns because they "relate" to the noun or pronoun that comes before them. The five main relative pronouns in English are "who," "whom," "that," "which," and "where."

Who: The pronoun "who" is used to refer to people. It can be used as the subject or object of a verb.

Examples:

  1. The woman who lives next door is my neighbor. (subject of the verb "lives")
  2. I met a man who I had seen at the park. (object of the verb "met")
  3. The person who I saw at the store was wearing a red coat. (subject of the verb "was wearing")

Whom: The pronoun "whom" is used to refer to people and is always the object of a verb or preposition.

Examples:

  1. The teacher to whom I spoke was very helpful. (object of the verb "spoke")
  2. The woman whom I saw at the party was wearing a white dress. (object of the verb "saw")
  3. The person whom I gave the book to was very grateful. (object of the preposition "to")

That: The pronoun "that" is used to refer to people, animals, or things. It can be used as the subject or object of a verb.

Examples:

  1. The cat that lives next door is very friendly. (subject of the verb "lives")
  2. I saw the movie that everyone was talking about. (object of the verb "saw")
  3. The car that I bought last year is still running great. (subject of the verb "is running")

Which: The pronoun "which" is used to refer to things. It can be used as the subject or object of a verb, or after a preposition.

Examples:

  1. The phone which I bought last week is already broken. (subject of the verb "is")
  2. I saw the movie, which was very entertaining. (object of the verb "saw")
  3. The book, which I read on the plane, was great. (after the preposition "on")

Where: The pronoun "where" is used to refer to a place. It is often used after a preposition.

Examples:

  1. The park where I go jogging is very scenic. (after the preposition "where")
  2. The city where I grew up is very different from here. (after the preposition "where")
  3. The store where I bought my new dress is having a sale. (after the preposition "where")

It's important to use the correct relative pronoun in a sentence. Some common mistakes include using "that" instead of "who" or "whom" when referring to people, and using "which" instead of "that" when referring to things.

In conclusion, relative pronouns are an important part of the English language, and they can add clarity and detail to our sentences. By understanding how to use "who," "whom," "that," "which," and "where," we can effectively link clauses and phrases to the nouns and pronouns in our sentences. So, it is very important to use these relative pronouns correctly in order to make our sentences grammatically correct.