Relative Pronoun

What is a relative pronoun?

A relative pronoun gives us more information about a noun in a sentence. Imagine you’re talking about a person, a thing, or an animal, and you want to share some extra details. A relative pronoun is a type of pronoun that introduces a relative clause.

Example:
Sentence without a relative clause: “I have a friend.”
Sentence with a relative clause: “I have a friend who plays the guitar.”

In the second sentence, “who plays the guitar” is the relative clause. It tells us more about the friend. So, a relative clause is like a little side note that adds details about a person or thing we’re talking about.

The most common relative pronouns are:

Who: Used for people.
Example: The girl who is wearing a red dress is my sister.

Whom: Also used for people, but in a more formal context. It is less commonly used in modern English.
Example: The teacher whom you met yesterday is very knowledgeable.

Which: Used for animals and things.
Example: The book which is on the shelf is mine.

That: Used for people, animals, and things. It is often interchangeable with “who” and “which” in restrictive clauses.
Example: The car that is parked in the driveway is mine.

Whose: Indicates possession and is used for people, animals, and sometimes things.
Example: The man whose wallet was lost has found it.

Relative pronouns help to combine sentences and add more information by connecting the relative clause to the main clause. They play a crucial role in constructing complex sentences and providing additional details about the nouns they refer to.