Personal and Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns

that and which

Multiple Choice

What is a pronoun?

• an action word

• a word that takes the place of a noun

A pronoun takes the place of a noun!

examples: she; he; we; they; it; me; I; you

relative pronouns

used to connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun

which

any clause that starts with which can be removed from a sentence and it will not change the meaning of the sentence.

My cat, which is beautiful, is ten years old.

which is beautiful

If we remove that clause "which is beautiful" we are left with

My cat is ten years old.

Did removing "which is beautiful" change the meaning of the sentence?

answer on next slide

Multiple Choice

My cat, which is beautiful, is ten years old.

• yes

• no

Open Ended

My house, which was built in 1979, is for sale. remove the relative clause and see if it still makes sense.

Multiple Select

Which is correct? Remove the relative clause and see if the sentence still makes sense.

• The chair is the one which I want.

• The man, which loves pizza, will buy the stromboli.

That

We use "that" when the relative clause is needed in the sentence. It cannot be removed.

My sister left the key that you need to open the door.

that is needed....

Open Ended

remove the clause and retype it

My sister left the key that you need to open the door.

Multiple Choice

...did removing the relative clause change the meaning?

• yes

• no

which- used for clauses that are not needed; always seperated with a comma from the rest of the sentence

that- used in sentences and cannot be removed; if removed then the sentence meaning will change

Multiple Choice

which or that

The old table, ____ was donated to the hospital, is very old.

• that

• which

Multiple Choice

The book ___ I need is over there.

• that

• which

Multiple Choice

The movie, _____ is rated G, was written by Al Baker.

• that

• which