Relative Pronouns

We use the relative pronouns to refer to a noun mentioned before and of which we are adding more information. They are used to join two or more sentences and forming in that way what we call “relative sentences“.

for example : I know the boy who lives there.

In this sentence what word does ‘who’ refer to?

It refers to the noun ‘boy’ which is just before it.

“Who” is called Relative Pronoun.

Where is it placed? – It is placed at the beginning of the clause ‘who lives there’. This clause tells us about the boy. It is an adjective clause.

“A Relative Pronoun is used to begin an adjective clause. It refers to the noun directly in front of it”

Read the sentences below:

1. The man who married that old lady is my uncle.

2. That is the house which is being auctioned.

3. The apples that she bought were rotten.

4. The met whom you met yesterday is here.

5. The lady whose bag was stolen has made a report to the police.

‘Who’, ‘which’, ‘that’, ‘whom’ and ‘whose’ are all relative pronouns.

These pronouns are used according to whether they refer to persons or things.

The pronouns that are used to refer to people are ‘who’, ‘whom’ and ‘whose’.

‘Whom’ is only used as the object of the sentence.

‘Whose’ is used as a possessive.

And pronouns refer to animals and things are ‘which’ and ‘that’.

Sample of worksheet