Relative pronouns and relative clauses

Definitions

Relative pronoun

A pronoun that introduces a modifying clause and provides additional information about a noun or pronoun.

Relative pronouns introduce modifying clauses to nouns and pronouns, telling us more about them. They can refer to people, things, or both.

Refers to	Relative pronouns
People	who, whom
Things	which
Both	whose, that

Who/whom

Who and whom refer to people (and sometimes to pets with names).

Use who when the pronoun is the subject of its clause—it’s the one performing the action. Use whom when the pronoun is an object, whether of a verb or of a preposition. A quick test: if he fits in place of the pronoun, use who; if him fits, use whom.

Example:

Esteban is the man who introduced the happy couple.

(He introduced the happy couple, so who is correct.)

Example:

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem, Scout, and Dill are fascinated by Boo Radley, a recluse about whom little is known.

(Little is known about him, so whom is correct.)

Example:

Esteban is the coach whom everyone admired.

(Everyone admired him, so whom is correct.)

Whoever and whomever follow the same test, applied inside their own clause. What matters is the pronoun’s job in its clause, not the word in front of the clause.

Examples:

Give the award to whoever finishes first.

(He finishes first, so whoever is correct, even though the clause follows the preposition to.)

Invite whomever you like.

(You like him, so whomever is correct.)

Who(m)/which

Which refers to things and ideas. Animals generally take that or which, not who.

Examples:

INCORRECT: Students which earn all A’s are on the honor roll.

CORRECT: Students who earn all A’s are on the honor roll.

LESS PREFERRED: Dogs who are hard to train may respond well to treats given for good behavior.

PREFERRED: Dogs that are hard to train may respond well to treats given for good behavior.

Practice question

Leslie, who was usually an efficient worker, found that she had the attention span of a flea who had drunk too much espresso when it came to studying relative pronouns.

a. NO CHANGE
b. Leslie, that was usually an efficient worker, found that she had the attention span of a flea that had drunk too much espresso when it came to studying relative pronouns.
c. Leslie, who was usually an efficient worker, found that she had the attention span of a flea that had drunk too much espresso when it came to studying relative pronouns.
d. Leslie, who was usually an efficient worker, found that she had the attention span of a flea, which had drunk too much espresso when it came to studying relative pronouns.
e. Leslie, which was usually an efficient worker, found that she had the attention span of a flea that had drunk too much espresso when it came to studying relative pronouns.

Correct answer:

Whose

Although it looks like it would only refer to people, whose is the possessive form of both who and which.

Examples:

Anyone whose desk is not all cleaned up will have to stay inside during recess.

Jessica will only eat apples whose skin is completely unblemished.

Don’t confuse whose (possessive) with who’s (a contraction of who is or who has). If you can’t replace the word with who is or who has, use whose.

Which/that

That introduces essential clauses and never has a comma before it.

Used by itself, which introduces nonessential clauses and has a comma before it. After a preposition (in which, through which, by which), which can introduce an essential clause with no comma. That can never follow a preposition.

Examples:

LESS PREFERRED: The books which Meagan wanted to buy were in two large stacks at the checkout counter.

PREFERRED: The books that Meagan wanted to buy were in two large stacks at the checkout counter.

INCORRECT: Melissa’s front yard, that was a muddy mess when she moved in, was now a beautiful flower garden.

CORRECT: Melissa’s front yard, which was a muddy mess when she moved in, was now a beautiful flower garden.

Practice question

Six-year-old Tommy, whose mom took him, dressed as Batman, to the movies to see Spider-Man, was hailed from across the theater when Stuart recognized his bat ears, which are iconic.

a. NO CHANGE
b. Six-year-old Tommy, whose mom took him, dressed as Batman, to the movies to see Spider-Man, was hailed from across the theater when Stuart recognized his bat ears, that are iconic.
c. Six-year-old Tommy, who’s mom took him, dressed as Batman, to the movies to see Spider-Man, was hailed from across the theater when Stuart recognized his bat ears, which are iconic.
d. Six-year-old Tommy, whose mom took him, dressed as Batman, to the movies to see Spider-Man, was hailed from across the theater when Stuart recognized his bat ears, who are iconic.
e. Six-year-old Tommy, which mom took him, dressed as Batman, to the movies to see Spider-Man, was hailed from across the theater when Stuart recognized his bat ears, which are iconic.

Correct answer:

Exam tip: Don’t assume a sentence must contain an error. As the question above shows, NO CHANGE is sometimes the correct answer.

When/where, preposition + which, and whereby

• When refers only to time and time periods.
• Where refers only to locations.
• When which follows a preposition, it can replace when or where.
• Whereby means by which or according to which.

The following sentence pair shows how to replace a relative pronoun with the preposition + which construction:

Examples:

The Renaissance was an era when art, literature, and science flourished.

The Renaissance was an era in which art, literature, and science flourished.

Practice question

The tunnel through which one must pass is guarded by six enemy troops, three of which are awake at any time.

a. NO CHANGE
b. The tunnel through which one must pass is guarded by six enemy troops, three of whom are awake at any time.
c. The tunnel through that one must pass is guarded by six enemy troops, three of whom are awake at any time.
d. The tunnel through which one must pass is guarded by six enemy troops, three whereby are awake at any time.
e. The tunnel through which one must pass is guarded by six enemy troops, three of who are awake at any time.

Correct answer: