English Relative Pronoun

Summary

Relative pronouns are words that introduce relative clauses—subordinate clauses that provide more information about a noun in the main clause. They connect the relative clause to the noun (or pronoun) that it modifies, helping to add detail or clarify a particular element in the sentence.

In-depth Explanation

Common Relative Pronouns

Some relative pronouns can function as the subject of a relative clause (performs the action in the relative clause), the object (receives the action) or both.

Most relative pronouns can be used in both defining and non-defining clauses (see below for the difference). The only exception is that, which is only used in defining clauses.

Types of Relative Clauses

Relative pronouns introduce two types of clauses: defining and non-defining relative clauses.

• Defining relative clauses provide essential information to identify the noun (no commas are used). For example:

The house that has a red roof is ours.

In defining relative clauses, you can sometimes omit the relative pronoun when it functions as the object of the clause. For example:

With relative pronoun: The book that I read was exciting.

Without relative pronoun: The book I read was exciting.

• Non-defining relative clauses provide extra, non-essential information (use commas to separate the clause). For example:

My grandmother, who is 85 years old, still drives a car.

Who

The relative pronoun who is used to introduce relative clauses that provide additional information about people. It can function as either the subject or object of the relative clause.

• As the subject: The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
• As the object: The man who I met yesterday is a famous author.
  (In formal contexts, “whom” may be used instead of “who.”)

Who is used in both defining and non-defining clauses:

• Defining clause: The girl who borrowed my book hasn’t returned it.
• Non-defining clause: My uncle, who lives in Spain, is visiting us next week.

Whom

Whom is used to introduce relative clauses that provide additional information about people. It functions as the object of the relative clause. For example:

The woman whom I met yesterday is a famous artist.

Whom is typically used in defining clauses, though it can also appear in non-defining clauses (mostly in formal language).

• Defining clause: The man whom you called is my uncle.
• Non-defining clause: My cousin, whom I admire, is a great musician.

Note: In modern English, whom is often replaced by who in informal speech.

Whose

Whose indicates possession and introduces clauses that provide additional information about people or things. It functions as a possessive determiner within the relative clause, not as the subject or object itself. For example:

The student whose project won will receive a prize.

The house whose roof was damaged is being repaired.

Whose is used in both defining and non-defining clauses:

• Defining clause: The man whose car broke down is waiting for a tow truck.
• Non-defining clause: Our neighbor, whose garden is beautiful, often wins awards.

That

That introduces relative clauses that provide essential information about people or things. It can function as either the subject or object of the relative clause.

• As the subject: The car that won the race is very fast.
• As the object: The dress that she wore was stunning.

That is used only in defining clauses, never in non-defining clauses.

Which

Which refers to things or animals and can function as the subject or object of the relative clause. For example:

• As the subject: The phone which broke yesterday has been fixed.
• As the object: The movie which we watched last night was great.

Which is used in both defining and non-defining clauses:

• Defining clause: The book which I borrowed is on the table.
• Non-defining clause: My laptop, which I bought last year, is still in good condition.

Note: In everyday speech, it is more common to use that instead of which (or, when referring to the object of the clause, no relative pronoun) in defining clauses. For example:

The book that I borrowed is on the table.

The book I borrowed is on the table.