-min.png "Relative Pronouns")
What Are Relative Pronouns?
Relative pronouns connect parts of a sentence to give more information about a person, place, thing, or idea. They’re like glue that sticks two ideas together smoothly. Here are the key ones:
Pronoun Used For Example
Who People (subject) “The student who sits next to me loves soccer.”
Whom People (object – formal) “The teacher whom we thanked is retiring.”
Whose Ownership (people/things) “The girl whose backpack was lost found it!”
Which Animals/Things “The book which I borrowed is overdue.”
That People/Things (common) “The movie that we watched was hilarious.”
Where/When Places/Times “The park where we play is huge. Summer when school’s out is my favourite!”
How Do They Work?
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses—groups of words that describe a noun. There are two types:
1. Essential Clauses (No commas):
These give necessary information you can’t remove. Use that or who.
Example: “The dog that barks all night lives next door.” (We need to know 'which' dog!)
2. Extra Info Clauses (Use commas):
These add bonus details you could remove. Use which or who.
Example: “My bike, which is bright blue, got a flat tire.” (The colour is extra info.)
Simple Rules to Remember
1. Who vs. Whom:
Who = Subject (does the action).
“Who ate my chips?” (Who is doing the eating?)
Whom = Object (receives the action).
“Whom did you invite?” (You invited 'them'.)
Tip: If you can replace it with he/she, use 'who' . If him/her, use 'whom'.
2. That vs. Which:
Use that for essential details (no commas).
“The phone that I bought is waterproof.”
Use which for extra info (with commas).
“My phone, which I bought yesterday, is waterproof.”
3. Whose vs. Who’s:
Whose = Ownership (“Whose jacket is this?”).
Who’s = Short for “who is” ( “Who’s coming to the party?” ).
When Can You Skip the Pronoun?
If the relative pronoun is not the subject of the clause, you can drop it!
“The movie (that) we watched was funny.”
“The friend (who) I texted replied instantly.”
Let’s Practice!
1. Combine these sentences:
“I have a friend. She plays guitar.” → “I have a friend who plays guitar.”
2. Fill in the blank:
“The café ___ sells smoothies is closing.” (that/which)
3. Add commas if needed:
“My sister who lives in Chicago is a photographer.” (Is the sister in Chicago your only sister?)
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Don’t mix up “who” and “which”: Use who for people, which for things.
Don’t forget commas for extra info: “My dog, who loves naps, is lazy.”
Don’t use “that” with commas: “My backpack, that is red, is heavy.” ❌ (Use 'which'!)
Why Should You Care?
Using relative pronouns makes your writing:
✅ Clearer: “The boy who won the race is my brother.”
✅ Less Repetitive: Instead of: “I read a book. The book was about space.” → “I read a book that was about space.”
Fun Challenge!
Look at a text message or social media post. Can you spot any relative pronouns? Rewrite a sentence without them—see how it changes!
Answers
1. “The café that/which sells smoothies is closing.” (Both work, but 'that' is more common here!)
2. If you have other sisters: “My sister who lives in Chicago is a photographer.” (No commas – essential!)
If she’s your only sister: “My sister, who lives in Chicago, is a photographer.”
