Relative pronouns
Grammar > Nouns, pronouns and determiners > Pronouns > Relative pronouns
from English Grammar Today
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. The most common relative pronouns are who,
whom, whose, which, that. The relative pronoun we use depends on what we are referring to
and the type of relative clause.
who people and sometimes pet animals defining and non-
defining
which animals and things defining and non-
defining; clause
referring to a whole
sentence
that people, animals and things; informal defining only
whose possessive meaning; defining and non-
for people and animals usually; sometimes defining
for things in formal situations
whom people in formal styles or in writing; often with defining and non-
a preposition; rarely in conversation; used defining
instead of who if who is the object
no relative when the relative pronoun defines the object defining only
pronoun of the clause
(In the examples, the relative pronoun is in brackets to show where it is not essential; the
person or thing being referred to is underlined.)
We don’t know the person who donated this money.
We drove past my old school, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
He went to the school (that) my father went to.
The Kingfisher group, whose name was changed from Woolworths earlier this year, includes
about 720 high street shops. Superdrug, which last week announced that it is buying Medicare,
is also part of the group.
The parents (whom/who/that) we interviewed were all involved in education in some way.
See also:
Relative clauses: defining and non-defining
Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence
Relative pronouns: who
We use who in relative clauses to refer to people, and sometimes to pet animals. We use it to
introduce defining and non-defining relative clauses:
I think there’d be a lot of children who’d love to have a climbing wall in school. (defining)
That’s the dog who doesn’t like me. (defining; referring to a pet animal)
There’s this guy at work, who’s one of my friends, well he’s never been on a train. (non-
defining)
Subjects and objects
Who can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause:
She’s going out with a bloke who’s in the army. (who refers to a bloke and is the subject of is in
the relative clause; bloke is an informal word for a man)
The woman who I saw yesterday was Sheila. (who refers to the woman and is the object of saw
in the relative clause)
Who + prepositions
We can use who as the complement of a preposition:
It was Cath who Ian gave the keys to. It wasn’t me. (who refers to Cath and is the complement
of the preposition to)
We put the preposition at the end of the relative clause, and not immediately before who:
Of all my friends, she’s the one who I know I can rely on.
Not: … the one on who I know I can rely.
Who with collective groups of people
We often use who with collective human nouns (e.g. committee, government, group, panel,
police, team):
Nicola phoned the fire brigade, who then alerted the police and social workers.
We do not use who for things:
There are some very good art books which you can get ideas from.
Not: There are some very good art books who you can get ideas from.
See also:
Relative pronouns: whom
Relative pronouns: whom
Warning:
We use whom in formal styles or in writing to refer to people when the person is the object of
the verb. It is much more common in writing than in speaking:
The response of those managers whom I have consulted has been very positive and we are
looking forward to meeting together. (whom refers to those managers and is the object of
consulted in the relative clause)
She was a celebrated actress whom he had known and loved, on and off, almost since her first
appearance on the stage.
Whom + prepositions
The most common use of whom is with a preposition. We can use whom as the complement of
a preposition:
The first book was a terrible historical novel for children which was turned down by every
publisher to whom it was sent. (whom refers to every publisher and is the complement of the
preposition to)
Drama in schools is particularly good for pupils for whom English is a second language.
We put the preposition before whom.
Compare
more formal less formal
There was only one person to whom the There was only one person who the old
old man spoke. man spoke to.
She smiled as she remembered the She smiled as she remembered the quiet
quiet scholar with whom she had scholar who she had shared a love of
shared a love of books. books with.
See also:
Relative pronouns: who
Relative pronoun: whose
We usually use whose as a relative pronoun to indicate possession by people and animals. In
more formal styles we can also use it for things.
We use whose before nouns instead of a possessive expression (my, your, his, her, its, our,
their, x’s) in defining and non-defining clauses:
He’s marrying a girl whose family don’t seem to like him. (The family of the girl he’s marrying
don’t seem to like him.)
There was me and there was Kate, whose party it was, and then there were two other people.
(It was Kate’s party.)
It is a rambling Tudor house, whose sitting room looks out over a wonderful walled garden.
(The sitting room of the house looks out over …)
Whose + prepositions
We can use whose + noun as the complement of a preposition:
Kate, whose sister I used to share a house with, has gone to work in Australia. (whose sister
refers to Kate and is the complement of with)
We can put the preposition immediately before the relative pronoun (more formal written styles)
or at the end of the relative clause (more informal).
Compare
more formal more informal
Thomas Goldney III, in whose house Thomas Goldney III, whose house and
and garden several generations of garden several generations of Bristol
Bristol students have now lived, was students have now lived in, was described
described in the late 18th century as ‘a in the late 18th century as ‘a very curious
very curious gentleman’. gentleman’.
Relative pronouns: which
We use which in relative clauses to refer to animals and to things. We use it to introduce
defining and non-defining relative clauses. We always use which to introduce relative clauses
when they refer to a whole sentence or clause:
You need to tick the box which says yes. (defining)
He won’t have much time to prepare for the meeting, which is this afternoon. (non-defining)
She had to get up and walk all the way to the other side of the room, which isn’t easy with a
bad back. (which refers to the whole sentence before it)
We use which or that, not what:
Another activity which/that I have chosen is photography.
Not: Another activity what I have chosen is photography.
Subjects and objects
Which can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause:
The new sports complex, which will be built on the site of the old power station, will provide
facilities for cricket, soccer, bowls and badminton. (which refers to the new sports complex and
is the subject of will be built in the relative clause)
It was the same picture which I saw at the National Gallery. (which refers to the same picture
and is the object of saw in the relative clause)
Which + prepositions
We can use which as the complement of a preposition:
Early in the Autumn Term there is a reception at which you can meet current staff and
students. (which refers to a reception and is the complement of at)
Close by, in the churchyard, is the famous Rudston stone, from which the village takes its
name. (which refers to the famous Rudston stone and is the complement of from)
We can put the preposition immediately before the relative pronoun (more formal) or at the end
of the relative clause (more informal).
Compare
more formal more informal
The title of the poem indicates that the poet knows I’ve never felt close to the
himself to be separated from the community in community which I grew up in.
which he grew up.
Which referring to a whole sentence
Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence are always introduced by which:
There’s going to be a new headteacher in September, which is good. It’s time for a change.
[talking about a playschool for young children]
A:
It’s lovely and clean there, and there are lots of toys that he can play with and he’s so happy.
B:
Which is much more important.
Relative pronouns: that
We use that instead of who, whom or which in relative clauses to refer to people,
animals and things. We use it to introduce defining clauses only. That is more informal
than who, whom or which:
We met somebody last night that did the speech therapy course two years after you. (refers to a
person)
The 8.30 is the train that you need to get. (refers to a thing)
She blamed herself for everything that had happened.
Subjects and objects
That can act as the subject or the object of the relative clause:
He finally remembers one lesson that his mum had taught him early – Don’t take
money that doesn’t belong to you. (that refers to money and is the subject of belong in
the relative clause)
It’s the same cooker that my mother has. (that refers to the same cooker and is the
object of has in the relative clause)
