Relative Pronouns and Relative Clauses

Relative pronouns are words which are used to link two sentences or clauses that may have the same noun or pronoun. Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses.

Examples:

a. Rajani is the girl who escorted the Vice President to his seat.

Above who is a relative pronoun and escorted the Vice President to his seat is relative clauses.

b. This is the house that I bought.

I.  Relative Pronouns:

Types of Relative Pronouns are:

• Who
• Whom
• That
• Which
• Whose

1.  Who relative pronouns:

It is used to refer to the animate noun of the sentence. The noun in such cases is usually a person. The pronoun ‘who’ is used to refer to the doer of the action. In other words, it is used to refer to the subject.

Examples of "who" relative pronouns are:

2. Whom relative pronouns:

It is used to refer to the animate noun of the sentence. The noun in such cases is usually a person. ‘Whom’ is used to refer to the person who receives the action. In other words, it is used to refer to the object.

example of whom relative pronouns are:

1. Van Gogh was the artist whom they dismissed as talentless.

Whom did they dismiss as talentless?

Van Gogh

3.  That relative pronouns:

It is used for referring to both animate and inanimate nouns.

example of that relative pronouns are:

a.  He purchased the car that I wanted to sell.

b.  This is the dog that I saw in the park.

4.  Which relative pronouns:

It is used to refer to inanimate nouns.

Example of Which relative pronouns:

This is the book, which my cousin told me about.

In most cases, ‘that’ and ‘which’ are interchangeable. However, in formal usage, both have specific uses. ‘That’ and ‘which’ are used when the accompanying clause is crucial to the sentence. Removal of ‘which’ would render the sentence incomplete.

This is the boat that/which the fishermen found. (incorrect)

This is the boat.

5.  Whose relative pronouns:

It is used to indicate possession by an animate noun or the pronoun.

Whose relative pronouns example:

This is my aunt Manjula whose house I live in.

II.  Relative Adverbs
Some adverbs can function like relative pronouns.

• When
• Where
• Why

1.  When Relative Adverbs

It is used instead of the phrase ‘in/on which’.

example of When Relative Adverbs

Those were the days when I had a lot of free time

2.  Where Relative Adverbs

It is used instead of the phrase ’at/on which’.

example of where relative adverbs

Mr Silas was laid to rest where the rest of his family was buried.

3.  Why relative adverbs

It is used to replace the phrase ‘for which’.

example of why relative adverbs

This is the reason why students are stressed these days.

III. Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are those that are introduced by a relative pronoun.

examples of relative clauses are:

• Krishna is the grocer who refused to return the change.
• This is the house that has been booked by the Mehtas.
• The dog which has a red collar is the neighbour’s pet Ginger.
• The place, where I parked my car, is close to the shopping complex.

Types of Relative Clauses are:

1.  Restrictive relative clause

2.  Non-restrictive relative clause

1.  Restrictive relative clause: It is a clause which describes the preceding noun in manner that distinguishes it from the rest of its kind. The clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.

examples of Restrictive relative clauses are:

• This is the boy who robbed you yesterday.
• My cousin Madhu who lives in China arrived for my sister’s wedding.

2.  Non-restrictive relative clause: It is a clause which is placed after the noun that is already defined. The clause only provides additional information which is not important to the sentence. It is separated from the rest of the sentence with the help of commas.

Non-restrictive relative clause examples are:

• The hat, which Aunt Gertrude gifted me, is missing.
• Manjeet, who is known for his culinary skills, cooked a delicious meal.