Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns relate to
another noun preceding it in the sentence. In doing so, they connect a
dependent clause to an antecedent, for example a noun that precedes the
pronoun. Therefore, relative pronouns act as the subject or object of the
dependent clause.
The relative pronoun stands in place of
a noun.
This noun usually appears earlier in the sentence:
|
The woman |
[who/that |
spoke at the
meeting] |
was very
knowledgeable. |
|
Noun, subject of the |
relative pronoun referring to 'the woman', subject
of 'spoke' |
verb + rest of relative
clause |
verb + rest of main clause
|
A relative pronoun is only found in sentences
with more than one clause.
In modern English there are five relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, and whose.
All but that
can also be interrogative pronouns. That
may also be a demonstrative pronoun.
In addition, these pronouns may take the
suffixes -ever and -soever.
Examples (relative pronouns italicized):
He who laughs last laughs best.
(Adjective clause)
I cannot believe that he said
it. (Noun clause)
The following relative pronouns are used in defining relative clauses:
|
|
Person
|
Thing
|
Place
|
Time |
Reason
|
|
Subject |
who/that |
which/that |
|
|
|
|
Object |
who/whom/that/ø |
which/that/ø
|
where |
when |
why |
|
Possessive |
whose |
whose |
|
|
|
1.
Who
One of
the most frequently asked questions about grammar is about choosing between the
various forms of the pronoun who: who, whose, whom, whoever, whomever.
These pronouns take a different case depending on whether the relative pronoun
is a subject or an object in the dependent clause. The number (singular or
plural) of the pronoun (and its accompanying verbs) is determined by what the
pronoun refers to; it can refer to a singular person or a group of people:
·
The person who hit my car should
have to pay to fix the damages.
·
The people who have been standing
in line the longest should get in first.
It might be useful to compare the forms of who to the forms of the pronouns he and they. Their forms are similar:
|
|
Subject |
Possessive |
Object |
|
Pronouns |
he/they |
his/their |
him/them |
Which
relative pronoun to use is determined by what the antecedent is and whether the dependent clause is essential information in relation to the
independent clause.
a)
When these
relative pronouns are the subject (initiating
the action) of the dependent clause, use the
subjective case : Who, Whoever.
|
|
|
·
Negotiations were not going smoothly
between the two leaders, who
made no bones about not liking each other.
WHO relates back to the noun LEADERS and is
the subject of the dependent clause and the verb MADE.
·
Hillary Clinton's staff said it was the
first lady who wasn't feeling
well.
WHO relates back to the noun FIRST LADY and
is the subject of the dependent clause and the verb WAS FEELING.
·
Most workers, whoever was not employed by the auto manufacturer, toiled at
one of the millions of little minnow companies.
WHOEVER relates back to the
noun WORKERS and is the subject of the dependent clause and the verb WAS
EMPLOYED.
b) When these
relative pronouns are the object (receiving the
action) of the dependent clause, use the
objective case : Whom, Whomever.
·
Clinton knows that he is a polarizing
figure whom people either
love or hate.
WHOM relates back to the noun
FIGURE and is the object of the verbs LOVE and HATE. The subject of the
dependent clause is PEOPLE.
·
This is the approach taken by
journalists, whom some
consider to be objective.
WHOM relates back to the noun
JOURNALISTS and is the object of the verb CONSIDER. The subject of the
dependent clause is SOME.
·
The three representatives, whomever the committee chooses,
should be at the meeting tomorrow.
WHOMEVER relates back to the
noun REPRESENTATIVES and is the object of the verb CHOOSES. The subject of the
dependent clause is COMMITTEE.
2.
Which/That
When referring
to a place, thing or idea use these relative
pronouns: Which, That
When using relative pronouns for places, things or ideas, rather than determining case, the writer must decide whether the information in the dependent clause is essential to the meaning of the dependent clause or simply additional information.
a) When
information is NOT critical to the understanding
of the main clause, use WHICH as the appropriate
relative pronoun and set the information off by commas. The clause set off by
commas is referred to as a nonrestrictive dependent clause.
|
(Nonrestrictive)-- |
Which |
The pronoun which refers to things.
Generally, we use "which" to introduce clauses that are parenthetical in nature (i.e., that can be removed from the sentence without changing the essential meaning of the sentence). For that reason, a "which clause" is often set off with a comma or a pair of commas.
·
The United States and the United Kingdom
signed a new Trade Agreement, which
will come into effect in a full year.
WHICH relates back to the noun AGREEMENT and
the information following it is not necessary for the reader to know what
AGREEMENT the sentence is about.
·
Clinton refused to head toward the center
on affirmative action and abortion, which
are the two most sacred issues to the traditional liberal wing of the party.
WHICH relates back to the noun AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION AND ABORTION and the information following it is not necessary for the
reader to know what AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND ABORTION the sentence is about.
b) When
information is critical to the understanding of
the main clause, use THAT as the appropriate
relative pronoun and do not set the information off by commas. The clause
containing the pronoun and not set off by commas is referred to as a
restrictive clause.
|
(Restrictive)--
|
That |
The pronoun that usually refers to things, but
it can also refer to people in a general kind of way.
"That clauses," on
the other hand, are usually deemed indispensable for
the meaning of a sentence and are not set off
with commas.
·
Russian generals have delivered a message
that is difficult to ignore.
THAT relates back to the noun MESSAGE and is
necessary for the reader to know what MESSAGE the sentence is about.
·
Clinton will continue to hammer out a
historic Mideast pact that
bears his stamp.
THAT relates back to the noun PACT and is
necessary for the reader to know what PACTthe sentence is about.
·
There is another factor that obviously boosts the
reputation of both of these men.
THAT relates back to the noun FACTOR and is
necessary for the reader to know what FACTOR the sentence is about.
c) When referring to more than one place, thing or idea use these relative
pronouns: Whatever, Whichever.
·
The three approaches, whichever works is fine, produce
a more ambiguous picture of a man.
WHICHEVER relates to the noun APPROACHES and
the information contained within the commas is additional, not critical
information.
·
Any excessive profits, whatever exceeded accepted
limits, would attract the notice of representatives.
WHATEVER relates to the noun PROFITS and the
information contained within the commas is additional, not critical
information.
3.
Exceptions
in spoken english
|
|
§ Who, whom and which can be replaced by that. This is very common in spoken English.
§ The relative pronoun can be omitted (ø) when it is the object of the clause:
The mouse that the elephant loved was very beautiful.
Or The mouse the elephant loved was very beautiful.
§ Both of these sentences are correct, though the second one is more common in spoken English.
|
The mouse |
that/ø |
the elephant
loved |
was very
beautiful. |
|
Noun, subject of main
clause |
relative pronoun,
referring to 'the mouse, object of 'loved' |
verb + rest of relative
clause |
verb + rest of main
clause. |
EXERCICES
Exercice 1
Select the correct form between who, which and that
1. People ________ live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Bottom of Form 0
Top of Form 1
Top of Form 2
2. Walden Pond, ______ was written in the mid-1800s, remains a popular book among romantic and individualistic Americans.
3. She prefers to watch movies ______ make her cry.
4. He bought all the books ________ are required for the course.
Bottom of Form 6
Top
of Form 7
Top of Form 8
6. The police was able to find no evidence against her, _____ surprised no one who knows her well.
Bottom
of Form 10
Top of Form 11
Top of Form 12
7. Tashonda Viereck's children, ______ all graduated from college, came home for her eightieth birthday.
Bottom of Form 12
Top of Form 13
Top of Form 14
8. Predictably, the students _____ did best were not the ones who stayed up all night studying.
9. She wanted to buy a scarf _______
would complement her blue eyes.
10. The answers, ________ you can find
in the back of the book, are sometimes incorrect.
Exercice 2
Top of Form 1
Select the correct form of the pronouns from the choices provided after each sentence.
|
1. To
____________ did you give the book? |
|
2. ____________
will you ask to help you with all this work?
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHO
WHOM
3. ____________
responsible for this decision?
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHO
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOM
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHO'S
4. You
may give this money to ____________ you please.
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOEVER
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOMEVER
|
|
5. ____________
did this should be kicked out of office.
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOEVER
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOMEVER
|
6. ____________
going to support the junta now? |
|
7. I
can't remember ____________ told me that.
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHO
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOM
8. I
can't figure out ____________ I should blame for this.
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHO
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOM
9. Give
these old coats to ____________ seems to need them most.
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOEVER
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOMEVER
10. ____________
shall I say is calling?
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHO
Erreur! Signet non défini.WHOM
Exercice 3
|
|
Combine the sentences using
defining relative pronouns. When the relative pronoun is an object, it can be omitted.
|
1 |
That's the girl. She spoke to me yesterday. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
2 |
What's the name of the book? You want me to read it. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
3 |
We stayed in a hotel. The hotel was very expensive. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
4 |
I rent a house. It is very small. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
5 |
The car was stolen. It was a BMW. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
6 |
The man smoked forty cigarettes a day. He died of a heart attack. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
7 |
That's the building. I work there. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
8 |
That's the boy. His mother works in the post office. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
9 |
The businessman was very rich. I saw him last night. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
|
10 |
That's the dog. Its owner is French. |
|
|
_____________________________________________________________ . |
Exercice 4
Q1 - Stratford is the town ____
Shakespeare was born in.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.where
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q2 - The hotel ____ we stayed was
good.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.where
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q3 - The man ____ interviewed me
seemed friendly enough.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q4 - The British Prime Minister,
____ was interviewed yesterday, denied responsibility.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q5 - The car ____ was stolen
belonged to my partner.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q6 - The house ____ they have
rented is in the centre of town.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q7 - The crowd, ____ were making
a lot of noise, were told to move on by the police.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q8 - The company, _____ CEO is
under investigation, is doing very badly.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q9 - The capital city, ____
cathedral is one of the finest in the country, is worth visiting.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Q10 - The school, ____ has seven
hundred students, had the best exam results in the country last year.
Erreur!
Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.Either
could be used here.
Exercice 5:
Select the
correct relative pronoun for each of the
following: (who, which, that)
1. Have you ever spoken to the
people Erreur! Signet non défini. live next door?
2. Those Erreur!
Signet non défini. have not yet registered should do so at once.
3. There's a programme on
tonight Erreur! Signet non défini. you might like.
4. He's got a job in a new
firm, Erreur! Signet non défini. they don't work such long hours.
5. What's the name of the tall
man Erreur! Signet non défini. just came in?
6. It's a book Erreur!
Signet non défini. will interest people of all ages.
7. The people Erreur!
Signet non défini. live next door keep having all-night parties.
8. These are the keys Erreur!
Signet non défini. open the front and back door.
9. He's married somebody Erreur!
Signet non défini. I really don't like.
10. I gave him an envelope, Erreur!
Signet non défini. he put in his pocket at once.
Exercice 6
Select the
correct pronoun, who/whom/which/whose/where.
Dont use THAT.
1. Can you see the woman Erreur! Signet non défini.is sitting on
the bench?
2. The place Erreur! Signet non défini.they met will
always be special for them.
3. He gave Tom the book Erreur! Signet non défini.he had just
read.
4. The teacher, Erreur! Signet non défini.met his class
for the fist time last week, is happy with them.
5. Martin and Hellen, Erreur! Signet non défini.are
engineers, have just invented a new gadget.
6. Penny, Erreur! Signet non défini.father is a judge, is going to study law
at university.
7. The person to Erreur! Signet non défini.you were
speaking is a famous hacker.
8. The hotel in Erreur! Signet non défini.they stayed
has a very good restaurant.
9. He found a wallet in Erreur! Signet non défini.there was a
large amount of money.
10. The footballers Erreur! Signet non défini.team had won
drank a lot of champagne that night.
Bottom of Form 1
Bottom of Form 18
Bottom of Form 1
Exercice
7 :
Combine the
sentences using an OBJECT adjective clause.
|
1.
The Olympic snowboarding event was exciting. Many people watched it on TV. |
|
2.
It was the first time snowboarding had been included in the Olympics.
Snowboarding is a new sport. |
|
3.
The competition was very exciting. A Canadian won it. |
|
4.
The winner, Ross Rebagliati, lives in Whistler, BC. Many young snowboarders
admire him. |
Bas du formulaire
Bas du formulaire
Exercice 9
Fill the
blanks with Who, Which, Whose or ø
Paying attention to grammatically correct
usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or which.
1. The window ________ is open is the kitchen window.
2. The girl _________ recited the poem is my niece.
3. The woman to ________ we were introduced was quite helpful.
4. The opportunity to _________ she owed her success came unexpectedly.
5. The man ________ they trusted was unreliable.
6. The book _________ you read is the best book by that author.
7. The Pacific Ocean, _________ may have been crossed by raft during the Stone
Age, is the world's largest ocean.
8. His mother, _________ he visited frequently, ran her own business.
9. The boy, ________ was friendly and intelligent, soon found work.
10. Her husband, to _________ she told the story, was just as surprised as I
was.
11. The pictures, _________ were taken in Algeria, were very striking.
12. The newspaper to ________ we subscribe is delivered regularly.
Exercice
11 :
Select the correct form
of the pronouns from the choices provided after each sentence.
The people ....... moved in next door seem
very friendly
Erreur!
Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.whom
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Q2 - The man ..... answered the
phone was rather rude
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.whom
Q3 - Where are the people
........ ordered the taxi?
Erreur!
Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.----
Q4 - I've lost the paper ...... I
had written her phone number on
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Q5 - The day ...... I started
work there was a disaster
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.where
Q6 - The man ....... interviewed
you is the boss
Erreur!
Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Q7 - The man ....... house was
robbed has still not been paid by the insurance company
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Q8 - He's got three dogs, all of
..... are aggressive
Erreur!
Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.----
Q9 - Who's moved the papers
...... I left on my desk?
Erreur!
Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.whom
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Q10 - You should complain to the
people ....... supplied it
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Exercice
12 :
Paying attention to grammatically correct
usage, for each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with who, whom or whose
1. My best friend,
________ I see every day, always has something new to tell me.
2. Most students ________ live in residence find it easy to make friends.
3. Our neighbors, to ________ we lent our lawnmower, are conscientious and
considerate.
4. The volunteers, ________ enthusiasm was obvious, finished the work quickly.
5. The musicians ________ we heard yesterday have played together for many
years.
6. Parents ________ children do well in school usually consider themselves
fortunate.
7. Children ________ like music are often good at mathematics.
8. The student to ________ the prize was awarded had an impressive record.
9. My friend, ________ I visited last week, is taking a holiday soon.
10. The class treasurer, to ________ we gave the money, announced the balance
of the account.
11. The engineers ________ designed the building received an award.
12. The townspeople, ________ pride in their community is well-known, raised
enough money to build a new town hail.
Exercice 13:
Select the correct form of the pronouns from the choices provided after each sentence.
Q1 - The flats, ....... will
house over two hundred families, were completed last month
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Q2 - The boxer ...... career was
ruined by health problems was on TV last night
Erreur!
Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.whom
Erreur! Signet non défini.who
Q3 - The day ....... we met was
the happiest of my life
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Q4 - You'll have to speak to the
person ..... is in charge
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Q5 - He's the guy ...... brother
was sacked for stealing
Erreur!
Signet non défini.who
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.whom
Q6 - Is there a shop nearby
...... sells stamps?
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Q7 - Is there a store around here
....... I can get some stamps?
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.which
Erreur! Signet non défini.where
Q8 - They blamed me for
everything ....... went wrong
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.whose
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Q9 - Nothing ...... she said
surprised me
Erreur!
Signet non défini.----
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.what
Q10 - I was to blame for
everything ....... went wrong
Erreur!
Signet non défini.what
Erreur! Signet non défini.that
Erreur! Signet non défini.----
Exercice
14 :
In each sentence,
choose the correct relative pronoun to introduce the adjective clause.