Explanation
Relative pronouns are words that connect clauses or phrases to a noun or pronoun. They help us add more information about the noun or pronoun without starting a new sentence. Here are the key relative pronouns you need to know: who, whom, whose, which, and that.
Key Rules
- Who: Used for people. It acts as the subject of a relative clause.
- Example: The girl who won the race is my friend.
- Whom: Used for people. It acts as the object of a relative clause.
- Example: The boy whom you met is my brother.
- Whose: Used to show possession for people or things.
- Example: The artist whose painting was sold is famous.
- Which: Used for animals and things, never for people. It can be the subject or object of a relative clause.
- Example: The book which I borrowed was fascinating.
- That: Used for people, animals, and things. It can be either the subject or the object of a relative clause. It is often used in essential clauses.
- Example: The cake that she baked was delicious.
Tips and Tricks
- Use who and whom for people. If you can replace it with “he” or “she,” use who. If you can replace it with “him” or “her,” use whom.
- Use whose to indicate possession.
- Use which for things and animals, especially in non-essential clauses (information that can be left out).
- Use that for both people and things in essential clauses (information that is necessary to understand the sentence).
Questions and Answers
Easy Difficulty
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The girl ___ is singing is my sister.
- Answer: who
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The car ___ is parked outside is red.
- Answer: which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The man ___ you spoke to is my uncle.
- Answer: whom
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The dog ___ barked all night lives next door.
- Answer: that
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: She is the author ___ books are popular.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The house ___ we visited was very old.
- Answer: which/that
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The teacher ___ helped me was kind.
- Answer: who
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The film ___ we watched was exciting.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The boy ___ bicycle was stolen reported it.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The cat ___ chased the mouse was fast.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The artist ___ painted this is famous.
- Answer: who
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The book ___ cover is torn is mine.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The plane ___ landed was late.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The man ___ hat is blue is my dad.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The flowers ___ you gave me are lovely.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The student ___ answered the question was correct.
- Answer: who
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The poem ___ you like is by Wordsworth.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: The musician ___ guitar is broken is upset.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The cake ___ was on the table is gone.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: The friends ___ I invited are coming.
- Answer: whom
Medium Difficulty
- Fill in the blank: The scientist ___ research won an award is speaking today.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The book ___ you lent me is amazing.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: The neighbours ___ dog barks loudly are moving.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The river ___ flows through the city is polluted.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: I met a woman ___ knows your sister.
- Answer: who
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The document ___ you need is on the desk.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: The phone ___ you bought is excellent.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The doctor ___ treated me was kind.
- Answer: who
- Fill in the blank: The island ___ we visited was beautiful.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The athlete ___ won the race is from Kenya.
- Answer: who
- Fill in the blank: The vase ___ broke was expensive.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The boy ___ you saw is my cousin.
- Answer: whom
- Fill in the blank: The bridge ___ collapsed was very old.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The player ___ scored the goal is very talented.
- Answer: who
- Fill in the blank: The movie ___ we saw was thrilling.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The person ___ you spoke to is my teacher.
- Answer: whom
- Fill in the blank: The car ___ he drives is fast.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The author ___ book I read is brilliant.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The building ___ they designed won an award.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The musician ___ sings this song is famous.
- Answer: who
High Difficulty
- Fill in the blank: The family ___ house was destroyed received help.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The scientist ___ experiment failed is disappointed.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The chef ___ restaurant is popular won an award.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The company ___ products I use is reputable.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The author ___ I admire wrote a new book.
- Answer: whom
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The novel ___ I am reading is a classic.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: The artist ___ work was displayed is from Paris.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The team ___ coach is retiring is very good.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The scientist ___ paper was published is renowned.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The director ___ film was a hit is talented.
- Answer: whose
- Fill in the blank: The musician ___ guitar is broken needs a new one.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The architect ___ designed this building is famous.
- Answer: who
- Fill in the blank: The project ___ I worked on is complete.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The child ___ you helped is grateful.
- Answer: whom
- Fill in the blank: The mountain ___ we climbed was steep.
- Answer: that/which
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The actor ___ I met was very nice.
- Answer: whom
- Fill in the blank: The book ___ author I know is on sale.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The castle ___ we toured was ancient.
- Answer: that/which
- Fill in the blank: The person ___ advice I followed is wise.
- Answer: whose
- Choose the correct relative pronoun: The country ___ I visited is beautiful.
- Answer: that/which
By using these rules, tips, and practice questions, you can become confident in using relative pronouns correctly!