Relative Pronoun

A pronoun is a group of words or word in a part of speech that is used as a substitute for a noun or noun phrase. There are eight sub-divisions of pronouns – Personal Pronouns, Indefinite Pronouns, Relative Pronouns, Intensive Pronouns, Reciprocal Pronouns, Reflexive Pronouns, Interrogative Pronouns, Possessive Pronouns, Demonstrative Pronouns, and Distributive Pronouns.

Relative Pronoun definition or what is Relative Pronoun?

The relative pronouns are those pronouns that introduce a relative clause and act as a connector to the interdependent clause. Relative pronouns are used to replace the subject pronouns like I, she, we, he, they, as well as objects and animals (typically non-defining clauses). Relative Pronouns include whom, who, whose, that, which.

 Lists of the relative pronoun

Altogether there are 5 relative pronouns:-

1. Whom 
2. Whose
3. Who
4. Which
5. That

Relative Pronoun and its usage

1. Whom 

         Usage: Replaces object pronouns like me, her, and him.

2. Whose

         Usage: Shows possession or relationship.

3. Who

         Usage: Used for people and sometimes to pet animals: Replaces subject pronouns like he, she, I, they, and we.

4. Which

         Usage: Used for objects and animals (typically non-defining clause)

5. That

Usage: Used for people and things (typically defining clause)

After the main noun or pronoun, the relative pronouns are placed. Relative pronouns act as a connector between the main clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause is referred to as a relative clause.

• Relative Pronoun: Whom  

Commonly one uses preposition with ‘whom’. ‘Whom’ is used as a complement of a preposition.

Example: – a) There is a boy leave here with whom I want to meet. (here ‘whom’ refers to the boy and it is complementing the preposition).

1. b) I was invited by your grandfather with whom I met at your birthday

Whom is used before the preposition

Therefore,

Whom + Preposition

• Relative Pronoun: Whose

Instead of a possessive expression (his, her, its, our, your, their, my), we use ‘whose’ before a noun.

One can use whose + noun as the complement of a preposition.

Example: – a) I know a girl named Sofia, whose father is a doctor.

1. b) She is marrying a boy whose family doesn’t seem to like her.

Whose + Noun is used as the complement of the preposition.

Therefore,

Whose + prepositions

• Relative Pronoun: Who

‘Who’ is used for introducing a defining and non-defining relative clause. ‘Who’ is used in relative clauses to refer to people and sometimes to pet animals. ‘Who’ can act as the subject or object of the relative clause.

Example: – a) I have a pet cat, who does not like crowded in the house. (referring to a pet animal)

1. b) I think there would be a lot of people who would love to have chicken with rice.

• Relative Pronoun: Which

‘Which’ is used for introducing both a defining and non-defining relative clause. ‘Which’ is used in the relative clause to refer to animals and things. In the case of whole sentence or clause ‘which’ is used to introduce a relative clause.

Example: – a) She won’t have much time to complete the cooking, which is needed to be delivered by afternoon today. (Non-defining)

1. b) You need to vacant the room which is mine. (defining)

• Relative Pronoun: That

‘That’ is used for introducing defining clauses only. ‘That’ is used instead of whom, which, or who and is used in relative clauses to refer to things, animals, and people.

Example: – a) You need to get on the train that is at 9:00 in the morning. (Refers to a thing)

1. b) I am very sorry for everything that occurred today. 

Relative Pronoun Examples

Examples of Relative Pronoun are:-

1. The watch that you are looking for is out of stock.
2. The man whom I know is a professor.
3. She bought a dress that was chosen by me.
4. Can you recall when we came here for the last time?
5. I was pretty sure that he was drunk.
6. I forgot to solve the questions which were on the next page.
7. The team who wins this match will play in the final tomorrow.
8. I know a boy whose mother is a businesswoman.
9. Never underestimate someone who is quiet.
10. Durga Puja is a festival where everyone is happy.

Conclusion –

This is to conclude that the Relative Pronouns are those pronouns that introduce a relative clause and act as a connector to the interdependent clause. Relative pronouns are used by people to replace subject pronouns like I, she, we, he, they, and are also used for objects and animals (typically non-defining clauses). Relative Pronouns include whom, who, whose, that, which.