relative pronouns who, which, whose, whom

How to use the relative pronouns that, who, which, whose, whom, when, where and what

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These relative pronouns are used to introduce Relative clauses, which can be defining or non-defining relative clauses. (click the links for more information about the different types of relative clauses)

which – used as a pronoun to substitute a noun (animals or thing)

• This is the table which my father made. (which = the table) * see that
• The car, which was made in Japan, is very reliable. (which = the car)

whose – used to mean (of who) or (of which) .. the idea of possession

• That’s the man whose sister has five daughters. (whose = the sister of the man)
• Mr and Mrs Smith, whose house is on the corner, are both police officers. (whose = the house of Mr and Mrs Smith)

who – used for people

• She is the woman who gave me the money. (who = the woman) *see that
• Jane is the teacher who I was talking about. (who = Jane)

that – an alternative to which or who

• This is the table that my father made. (that = the table)
• She is the woman that gave me the money. (that = the woman)

whom/which – after a preposition

• The teacher to whom I spoke is my son’s tutor.  (The teacher who I spoke to is my son’s tutor.)
• Alex, with whom I play basketball, is over 2.00m tall. (Alex, who I play basketball with, is over 2.00m tall)
• That’s the pen with which the President signed the Declaration of Independence. (That’s the pen which the President signed the Declaration of Independence with)
• It’s the boat in which he sailed around the world. (It’s the boat which he sailed around the world in)

when – used for time

• I was walking down the street when I saw Leo Messi in his car.

where – used for places

• It’s the school where I studied Chinese. (where = the school)

what – used to mean “the thing which” or “the things which”

• I don’t understand what the teacher is saying. (what = the things which the teacher is saying)

which – used to mean “the preceding clause”

Fred’s answers in the exam are exactly the same as Mary’s, which makes me think that he copied. (which = Fred’s answers in the exam are exactly the same as Mary’s)

Test your relative pronouns with this exercise

Formal or informal use of relative clauses

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