Notes on Relative Pronoun

The pronoun that starts up with the relative clause is known as the relative pronoun. It is used to qualify a preceding pronoun or noun (it’s antecedent). The noun to which a relative pronoun relates or refers is known as antecedent.

Examples of Relative Pronoun;

• The visitor (antecedent) whom (relative pronoun) you were expecting has arrived
• I found the lunch box which I had lost

Relative pronouns help in conjugating the sentences and are many types of relative pronoun, this includes; who, whom, as, where, how, which, that, what, when and whose. There are two kinds of relative pronouns; 

1. The wh- type; whom, which, who, what (in nominal relative clause only) and whose.
2. The pronoun that (which can be removed in some cases).

Relationship between Relative Clause or Relative Pronoun and Conjugation

When one relative clause is followed by another; the second relative pronoun may or may not be preceded by a conjugation; it also may not or may be excluded.

1. A conjugation is not necessary if the second relative clause qualifies an antecedent inside the first relative clause. For example; I found a firm which had some components for which they had no use.
2. The second relative pronoun can be omitted if it qualifies the same antecedent as the first and it plays the same role in it’s clause as the first (i.e. object or subject). For example; George who takes infinite pains nd never cuts corners, is our most dependable worker.

Relative Pronoun Examples

The examples of relative pronouns are as follows;

A) Use of Relative Pronoun WHO

1. The person who is true and honest always succeeds in his/her life.
2. Blessed is she who had found her work.
3. They never knew who die in a great accident.
4. The man who were there were afraid.
5. The girls who were lazy were punished.

B) Use of Relative Pronoun WHICH

1. The horse which Seema bought lasy night is white in colour.
2. These are the butterflies which the children watched yesterday.
3. The book which has pictures in it is mine.
4. The moment which is lost is lost forever.
5. There the pencils which I lost last day.

C) Use of Relative Pronoun THAT

1. John is the man that avoids bad company.
2. This is the horse that carried me here.
3. I have lost the book that you gave me.
4. This is the house that Jack builts.
5. The woman that you were looking for has come.

D) Use of Relative Pronoun WHAT

• 1. This is what he wants.
  2. I say what I mean.
  3. What is done is done.
  4. What is your name?
  5. What cannot be cured must be endured.

E) Use of Other Relative Pronouns WHOM, WHERE, HOW, AS, WHEN, and WHOSE

1. Where do you live?
2. From where you bought these adorable clothes?
3. To whom you are talking last night?
4. How is your pain?
5. The teacher told to everyone about how‘s everyone’s performance in the class.
6. When will you come to meet me?
7. When will your parents come to see you?
8. Whose pencil is this?
9. Whose school bag is this?
10. This is not such a good book as I expected.

Relative Pronoun Exercises

1. This is the beggar ____ stole my wallet.
2. I, ____ am your king, will lead you.
3. I am the person ____ is to blame.
4. This is the horse ____ won the race.
5. The answer ____ she gave is right.
6. I mean ____ I say.
7. Tears such ____ angels weep burst forth.
8. _____ cannot be cured must be endured.
9. He ____ is not with me is against me.
10. They ____ work hard always succeed.
11. The books ____ help you most are those _____ I have given.
12. The crowed ___ gathered there cheered her loudly.
13. I found ____ I was looking for.
14. His answer is same _____ as mine.
15. _____ is done cannot be undone.
16. Do the same _____ I do.
17. There was an old woman ____ lived in a hut.
18. This is ____ troubles me.
19. He is not the same man ____ you can trust.
20. _____ is here so rude ____ will be a slave?

Conclusion

The pronouns such as whose, who, which, that, whom, as, how, when and many more which helps in joining the two different sentences and refer or relate to nouns which have gone before are known as relative pronoun. For example;

• What one man has done another man can do

• What is one man’s meat is another man’s poison

• Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
• He who is honest shall prosper
• Such a woman as she should be respected