RELATIVE PRONOUN

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that marks a relative clause within a larger sentence. It is
called a relative pronoun because it relates the relative (and hence subordinate) clause to the
noun that it modifies. In English, the relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, whosever,
whosesoever, which, and, in some treatments, that. In addition, English has various fused
relative pronouns, which combine in one word the antecedent and the relative pronoun:
what, whatever, whatsoever, whoever, whosoever, whomever, whomsoever, whichever, and
whichsoever,

A relative pronoun links two clauses into a single complex clause. It is similar in function
to a subordinating conjunction. Unlike a conjunction, however, a relative pronoun stands in
place of a noun. Compare:

(1) This is a house. Jack built this house.

(2) This is the house that Jack built.

Sentence (2) consists of two clauses, a main clause (This is the house) and a relative clause
(that Jack built). The word that is a relative pronoun in some analyses.[1] Within the relative
clause, the relative pronoun stands for the noun phrase it references in the main clause (its
antecedent), and is one of the arguments of the verb in the relative clause. In the example,
the argument is the house, the direct object of built.

The words used as relative pronouns are often words which originally had other functions:
for example, the English which is also an interrogative word. This suggests that relative
pronouns might be a fairly late development in many languages. Some languages, such as
Welsh, do not have relative pronouns.

In English and German, different pronouns are sometimes used if the antecedent is a human
being, as opposed to a non-human or an inanimate object (as in who/that).

(5) This is a bank. This bank accepted my identification.

(6) She is a bank teller. She helped us open an account.

With the relative pronouns, sentences (5) and (6) would read like this:

(7) This is the bank that accepted my identification.

(8) She is the bank teller who helped us open an account.

In sentences (7) and (8), the words that and who are the relative pronouns. The word that is
used because the bank is a thing; the word who is used because "she" is a person.
Relative clauses with who/which/ whose

who: when we talk about people

which: when we talk about things
whose: instead of his/her or their

We also use that for who/which.

cuyo(s), cuya(s)

Exercises:

I Write the correct relative pronouns who, which or whose in each of the blanks
below.

1) I talked to the girl WHOSE car had broken down in front of the shop.

2) Mr Richards, WHO is a taxi driver, lives on the corner.

3) We often visit our aunt in Norwich WHICH is in East Anglia.

4) This is the girl WHO comes from Spain.

5) That's Peter, the boy WHO has just arrived at the airport.

6) Thank you very much for your e-mail WHOICH was very interesting.

7) The man, WHOSE father is a professor, forgot his umbrella.

8) The children, WHO shouted in the street, are not from our school.

9) The car, WHOSE driver is a young man, is from Ireland.

10) What did you do with the money WHICH your mother lent you?
II Choose the most appropriate alternative to fill in the blanks.

1. Everybody likes boys ---------------------- speak the truth.

who
whom
which

2. He -------------------- does his best shall win.

whom
who
which
3. I know ----------------------- you mean.
that
what
which

4. I do know the boy ---------------------- won the first prize.

who
which
whom
5. You must give away ------------------------ you don't need.
that
what
which

6. You get ---------------------- you deserve.

what
which
that

7. Where is the book ----------------------- I gave you.

which
what
which or that

8. Is this the street ------------------------ leads to the station?

that
what
that or which
9. Listen to ---------------------- I say.
what
that
which

10. He -------------------- is merciful shall get mercy.

who
which
who or that