Relative pronouns

Relative Pronouns

A relative pronoun is used to join a dependent clause to its antecedent in the independent clause.

The relative pronouns are who, whom, which, that, and whose.

Ex. The student who earned first place received a scholarship.

• Independent clause: The student received a scholarship

• Dependent clause: who earned first place

Who and whom refer to people. Who is used when the pronoun is the subject in the dependent clause, and whom is used when the pronoun is the object.

• Ex. The person who called you was a salesman.

• Ex. She wrote to the person whom she had met last month.

Which refers to animals, places, or things (NEVER people). That can be used to refer to people, animals, places, or things, but never a specific person, only a group of people or type of person.

• Ex. Gary lost the key which you had given him.

• Ex. The students that were absent had a different assignment.

Whose shows possession or ownership.

• Ex. The family whose house burnt in the fire was given a complimentary hotel suite.

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Decide if the underlined relative pronoun is used correctly.

Multiple Choice

Last summer they traveled to Rome, that is in Italy.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

The reckless driver who ran the red light crashed his car.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Clearance sales, whom happen rarely, are great ways to save money.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

The child to which you have spoken is my sister.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

My cousin, whose singing you have heard, wants to be a musician.

• correct

• incorrect