Definition of Relative Pronouns
Adjective clauses often begin with the pronouns who, whom, which or that. These pronouns refer to or are related to, a noun or pronoun that has come before.
A relative pronoun is a pronoun that begins a subordinate adjective clause and is related to a noun or a pronoun already mentioned or understood. The word to which the relative pronoun is related is its antecedent.
A relative pronoun does three things.
1. It refers to a preceding noun or pronoun:
Ex. Ms. Garcia is a woman whom we can trust.
2. It connects its clause with the rest of the sentence:
Ex. You need a watch that keeps time.
In the above example, [the subordinate clause is joined to the independent clause by the relative pronoun that.]
3. It performs a function within its own clause by serving as the subject, object, etc., of the subordinate clause:
Ex. The principal appointed George, who is a reliable student.
In the given example, [Who is the subject of the verb is in the adjective clause who is a reliable student.]
Exercises
A. Complete these blanks with suitable relative pronouns.
- We always like boys ________ speak the truth.
- We saw the dog _________ worried the cat.
- He ________ does his best shall be praised.
- I know ________ you mean.
- She has seen the bird ________ you describe.
- I do not know the man ________ hit the boy.
- He gave away _______ he did not need.
- There is no one _______ has not lost a friend.
- Most people get ________ they deserve.
- I did not know the person ________ called.
- Is this the street ________ leads to the station?
- ________ do you believe him to be?
- Do you know ________ has happened?
- ________ is done cannot be undone.
B. Complete each sentence with one of these relative pronouns:
( where / who / which / that / whose )
- The only books ________ were sold were thrillers.
- That’s the house ________ my aunt was born.
- James has a wonderful teacher, _______ patience is really incredible.
- We stayed at the hotel _______ offered us the cheapest rooms.
- The man ________ fingerprints were taken by the police may have escaped.
- He lives next door to the girl _______ keeps appearing in instant coffee commercials.
- In my opinion, it’s the best documentary on pollution ________ has ever been made.
- I think the writer ________ won the Whitbread Prize has never had anything published before.
C. Use what, which or that correctly in the following sentences.
- Did you hear _______ he said?
- He spoke very rudely to me, _______ upset me.
- I’ll take the blue one. It’s just _______ I want.
- Terry has two cars, one of ______ is a Porsche.
- They’ll have to tell me exactly _______ to do.
- The only car _______ he’s ever driven was an automatic.
- Do you know of anywhere _______ won’t charge me a fortune to service my car?
- Malaria, _______ is carried by mosquitoes, is still a danger for travellers in certain tropical regions.
D. Turn these sentences into one sentence and omit the relative pronoun if possible.
- He gave me the money. I had asked him for it. _____________________________________________________________________________
- She resigned her job. I thought that was a mistake. _____________________________________________________________________________
- That’s the house. Charles Dickens was born there. _____________________________________________________________________________
- I ordered the book. You recommended me to read it. _____________________________________________________________________________
- He’s the official. You spoke to him yesterday. _____________________________________________________________________________
- I went to collect the post. It was lying on the front doormat. _____________________________________________________________________________
- The interviewing panel appointed the applicant. He was the last to be interviewed. _____________________________________________________________________________