Relative pronouns connect a noun to additional information about that noun.
Compare:
The man works here.
The man is named Richard.
These two sentences can be combined:
The man who works here is named Richard.
The relative pronoun who links the noun (the man) to extra information (works here).
The most common relative pronouns are:
who
that
which
whose
where
whoever
whatever
Use who to refer to people.
Examples:
The woman who teaches English is from Canada.
The student who sits beside me is very friendly.
I know a man who speaks five languages.
Do not repeat the subject after who.
The woman who she works with me is friendly. ❌
The woman who works with me is friendly. ✅
The word who already functions as the subject.
That can refer to people, animals, or things.
The person that works here is French.
The dog that barked all night belongs to my neighbour.
The book that I bought is interesting.
That can be the subject:
The student that studies the most usually succeeds.
Or the object:
The student that I met was very helpful.
Do not add an object pronoun if that is already present.
The person that I saw him yesterday. ❌
The person that I saw yesterday. ✅
Use which to refer to things or to an entire idea.
The car, which is red, belongs to my brother.
She said she was fluent in Japanese, which surprised me.
Notice that which is often preceded by a comma when it refers to an entire statement.
The book that I bought was expensive.
The book, which was expensive, is now on sale.
Both are correct but have slightly different meanings.
Use whose to show possession.
I know a woman whose child plays the piano.
The student whose laptop was stolen reported it to the police.
Think of whose as meaning:
"belonging to whom"
whose = possession
The man whose car was stolen.
who's = who is
Who's coming to the party?
I know a woman whose daughter lives in France. ✅
I know a woman who's daughter lives in France. ❌
Use where to refer to places.
This is the restaurant where we met.
My home is a place where I feel safe.
I visited the town where my grandfather was born.
where = place
Where do you live?
were = past tense of be
They were tired.
Use whoever to refer to an unknown or unspecified person.
I will help whoever asks for assistance.
Whoever finishes first can leave early.
Use whatever to refer to an unknown or unspecified thing.
Take whatever you need.
I'll eat whatever you cook.
Relative pronouns can follow prepositions.
The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.
The colleague with whom I work is from Brazil.
In everyday English, speakers often move the preposition to the end:
The person who I spoke to.
The colleague who I work with.
Both forms are correct.
The woman who she works here is friendly. ❌
The woman who works here is friendly. ✅
The movie which I watched it was excellent. ❌
The movie which I watched was excellent. ✅
The student whose book is missing. ✅
The student who's book is missing. ❌
The town where I grew up. ✅
The town were I grew up. ❌
Use:
who for people
The woman who teaches English.
that for people or things
The book that I bought.
which for things or whole ideas
The car, which is red, belongs to John.
whose for possession
The student whose phone rang.
where for places
The city where I was born.
Remember:
Do not repeat the object after that or which.
Do not confuse whose and who's.
Do not confuse where and were.
Choose the correct form:
Show Answers
SpellCheckPlus