#26. What are Relative Pronouns, Types and Uses in English Language

Lesson No. 2

                  Relative Pronouns, Types and Uses in English Language

Relative pronouns are words used to link clauses or phrases to a noun or pronoun that is antecedent to the clause. They serve as a bridge between two parts of a sentence.

Examples of relative pronouns are:

• Who: Used to refer to people. Example: "The man who was here earlier is my friend."
• Whom: Used to refer to people as an object. Example: "The person whom you met at the party is my boss."
• Whose: Used to refer to possession by people. Example: "The woman whose car was stolen was crying."
• Which: Used to refer to things or animals. Example: "The book which I borrowed from the library is very interesting."
• That: Used to refer to people, things, or animals. Example: "The movie that we watched last night was great."

Note: "That" is sometimes omitted in informal writing, but it is considered more formal to use it in writing.

The Five Types of Relative Pronouns in English

There are five main types of relative pronouns:

1. Who: Used to refer to people. Example: "The person who helped me was very kind."

2. Whom: Used to refer to people as an object. Example: "The doctor whom you saw is highly recommended."

3. Whose: Used to indicate possession by people. Example: "The woman whose car was stolen was very upset."

4. That: Used to refer to people, things, or animals. Example: "The cat that I adopted is very playful."

5. Which: Used to refer to things or animals. Example: "The car which I bought is very reliable."

In informal writing, "that" is sometimes omitted, but it is considered more formal to use it. Additionally, "whom" is becoming less common and is typically only used in formal writing and speech.

Uses of Relative Pronouns in English

Relative pronouns are used to link clauses or phrases to a noun or pronoun that is antecedent to the clause. They serve as a bridge between two parts of a sentence. Here is a detailed explanation of the uses of each type of relative pronoun:

1. Who: Used to refer to people. Example: "The person who helped me was very kind."

• Use "who" when referring to the subject of the clause.

2. Whom: Used to refer to people as an object. Example: "The doctor whom you saw is highly recommended."

• Use "whom" when referring to the object of the clause.

3. Whose: Used to indicate possession by people. Example: "The woman whose car was stolen was very upset."

• Use "whose" to show possession, as in "whose car was stolen."

4. That: Used to refer to people, things, or animals. Example: "The cat that I adopted is very playful."

• Use "that" when referring to a clause that defines or identifies the noun it modifies.

5. Which: Used to refer to things or animals. Example: "The car which I bought is very reliable."

• Use "which" when referring to a non-restrictive clause, or a clause that provides additional information but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

In conclusion, relative pronouns are a crucial part of English grammar and play an important role in connecting different parts of a sentence.

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