Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns connect a clause to a noun or pronoun, giving more information about it. Choosing the right one â who, which, that, whose, or whom â depends on what the noun refers to and how the clause is used.
What are relative pronouns?
A relative pronoun introduces a relative clause â a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It replaces a repeated noun and links the clause to the main sentence.
The five relative pronouns
| Pronoun | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | People (subject) | The woman who called is my aunt. |
| whom | People (object, formal) | The man whom I met was kind. |
| which | Things & animals | The book which I read was long. |
| that | People or things (defining only) | The car that I bought is blue. |
| whose | Possession (people & things) | The student whose essay won is here. |
Defining vs. non-defining relative clauses
This distinction is key to choosing the right pronoun and punctuation.
- Defining (restrictive) â identifies which one. No commas. Can use who, which, or that.
- Non-defining (non-restrictive) â adds extra info. Use commas. Only who or which â never that.
The teacher who teaches maths is very strict. (defining â tells us which teacher)
Mr. Brown, who teaches maths, is very strict. (non-defining â Mr. Brown is already identified)
who vs. whom
Use who when the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause. Use whom when it is the object. A quick test: if you can replace it with he/she, use who; if you can replace it with him/her, use whom.
The doctor who treated me was excellent. (she treated me â subject â who)
The doctor whom I saw was excellent. (I saw her â object â whom)
When can you omit the relative pronoun?
In defining relative clauses, you can omit who, which, or that when it is the object of the clause â but never when it is the subject.
The film (that) I watched last night was great. â (object â can omit)
The film that won the award was great. â (subject â cannot omit)
Common mistake: Never use that in a non-defining clause. â My sister, that lives in Rome, is a chef. â â My sister, who lives in Rome, is a chef.
Tip: Use whose to show possession for both people and things: a house whose roof is red (= a house with a red roof).