RELATIVE PRONOUNS

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. The most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, that. The relative pronoun we use depends on what we are referring to and the type of relative clause.

who	people and sometimes pet animals	defining and non-defining
which	animals and things	defining and non-defining; clause referring to a whole sentence
that	people, animals and things; informal	defining only
whose	possessive meaning; for people and animals usually; sometimes for things in formal situations	defining and non-defining
whom	people in formal styles or in writing; often with a preposition; rarely in conversation; used instead of who if who is the object	defining and non-defining
no relative pronoun	when the relative pronoun defines the object of the clause	defining only

(In the examples, the relative pronoun is in brackets to show where it is not essential; the person or thing being referred to is underlined.)

We don’t know the person who donated this money.

We drove past my old school, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

He went to the school (that) my father went to.

The Kingfisher group, whose name was changed from Woolworths earlier this year, includes about 720 high street shops. Superdrug, which last week announced that it is buying Medicare, is also part of the group.

The parents (whom/who/that) we interviewed were all involved in education in some way.

Relative Pronouns Exercises

The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how relative pronouns work. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

1. The festival, ­­­­­­­­­­­______________ lasted all day, ended with a banquet.
   1. That
   2. Who
   3. Which
   4. What
2. I am looking for someone __________ can watch my dog while I go on vacation.
   1. Which
   2. Who
   3. Whom
   4. Whoever
3. The police needed details _____________ could help identify the robber.
   1. Who
   2. Whatever
   3. That
   4. What
4. I’d like to take you to a café _______________ serves excellent coffee.
   1. What
   2. Whatever
   3. Which
   4. Whichever
5. The clubhouse, in __________ the dance was held, housed about 200 people.
   1. Which
   2. Where
   3. That
   4. Whom
6. You can choose one person, __________ you like, to share the cruise with you.
   1. Whomever
   2. That
   3. Which
   4. Whom
7. I saw the shoes __________ you bought last week on sale for less this week.
   1. When
   2. That
   3. Who
   4. Whom
8. The winners, __________ known, will receive money and other prizes.
   1. Whoever
   2. Who
   3. When
   4. That
9. This is the place __________ we met.
   1. When
   2. Where
   3. Who
   4. That
10. The baby, ________ nap had been interrupted, wailed loudly.
    1. Whosw
    2. Whomever
    3. Whom
    4. Who

Answers

1. C – The festival, which lasted all day, ended with a banquet.
2. B – I am looking for someone who can watch my dog while I go on vacation.
3. C – The police needed details that could help identify the robber.
4. C – I’d like to take you to a café which serves excellent coffee.
5. A – The clubhouse, in which the dance was held, housed about 200 people.
6. A – You can choose one person, whomever you like, to share the cruise with you.
7. B – I saw the shoes that you bought last week on sale for less this week.
8. C – The winners, when known, will receive money and other prizes.
9. B – This is the place where we met.
10. A – The baby, whose nap had been interrupted, wailed loudly.