Relative Pronouns: Rules, Explanation, and Common Mistakes

Relative Pronouns: Rules, Explanation, and Common Mistakes

Relative pronouns are essential in English because they connect clauses and add more information about a noun. This article explains the rules for using relative pronouns, provides examples, corrects common mistakes, and includes exercises for practice.

What Are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about a noun. The most common relative pronouns are:

• Who (for people)

• Whom (for people, formal)

• Whose (to show possession)

• Which (for things and animals)

• That (for people, things, and animals in restrictive clauses)

Examples of Relative Pronouns in Sentences

• The woman who lives next door is a doctor.

• This is the book that I was talking about.

• The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle.

• She has a friend whose father is a pilot.

• The car, which is red, belongs to my brother.

Rules for Using Relative Pronouns

1. Use "Who" for People and "Which" for Things

   • ✅ The teacher who helped me is very kind.

   • ✅ The cake, which I baked yesterday, was delicious.

2. Use "That" for Essential (Restrictive) Information

   • ✅ The book that I borrowed is interesting.

   • ✅ The movie that we watched was amazing.
     (Omitting this clause changes the meaning.)

3. Use "Which" for Non-Essential (Non-Restrictive) Information

   • ✅ The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is famous.

   • ✅ My car, which is blue, needs repairs.
     (Non-essential clauses require commas.)

4. Use "Whom" After Prepositions or in Formal Contexts

   • ✅ The professor, whom I respect, wrote this book.

   • ✅ The person to whom I sent the letter has replied.
     (In everyday speech, "who" is often used instead of "whom.")

5. Use "Whose" to Indicate Possession

   • ✅ The girl whose phone was stolen is crying.

   • ✅ This is the house whose roof needs repair.

Common Mistakes:

1. Using "Which" Instead of "That" in Restrictive Clauses

❌ The book, which I borrowed, is interesting.
✅ The book that I borrowed is interesting.
Explanation: "Which" is used for non-essential information and requires commas.

2. Using "Who" Instead of "Whom" in Object Position

❌ The man who I saw at the store is my uncle.
✅ The man whom I saw at the store is my uncle.
Explanation: "Whom" is the correct object form, but "who" is commonly used in informal English.

3. Omitting "Whose" When Indicating Possession

❌ The boy father is a lawyer.
✅ The boy whose father is a lawyer.
Explanation: "Whose" is needed to indicate possession.

4. Using "That" Instead of "Who" for People in Formal Writing

❌ The teacher that helped me is very kind.
✅ The teacher who helped me is very kind.
Explanation: "Who" is preferred when referring to people in formal contexts.

Exercises: Practice Relative Pronouns

Exercise 1: Identify the Relative Pronouns

Find the relative pronoun in each sentence.

1. The girl who won the race is my cousin.

2. This is the restaurant that I recommended.

3. My friend, whose car broke down, needs help.

4. The dog, which is very friendly, belongs to my neighbor.

5. He is the author whom I admire.

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes

Rewrite the sentences correctly.

1. The man that lives next door is a doctor.

2. The book, that I borrowed, was interesting.

3. She has a friend who car is very expensive.

4. The teacher whom taught me English was very strict.

5. I met a girl which speaks five languages.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Relative Pronoun

1. The scientist (who / which) discovered the cure won a Nobel Prize.

2. This is the house (whose / whom) windows are broken.

3. The person (who / that) called you is my brother.

4. This is the movie (that / which) I told you about.

5. The manager, (whom / whose) team won the competition, was happy.

Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Relative Pronoun

1. The artist ________ painted this masterpiece is very talented.

2. The cat, ________ tail is long, is sleeping.

3. This is the school ________ I studied.

4. The boy, ________ you met yesterday, is my cousin.

5. The house ________ was built in 1900 is still standing.