A Relative Pronoun is a pronoun such as who, which, or that that connects a dependent clause to an independent clause, acting as a conjunction while also referring to a noun mentioned earlier.
NOTE : As a Relative Pronoun joins sentences like a conjunction, it is also called a Conjunctive Pronoun.
What is an Antecedent?
The word to which the Relative Pronoun refers is called the Antecedent.
In "The book which you gave me is lost", "I want the boy that did it", book and boy are antecedents, of which and that respectively.
What Are the Uses of Relative Pronouns?
Different relative pronouns serve different functions depending on whether they refer to persons, things, animals, or clauses:
- (a) Who refers only to persons : I know the man who came.
- (b) Which refers only to things, animals, and babies.
- This is the book which he bought.
- This is the dog which I saw.
- The baby which was crying is now quiet.
- Which is also used for a preceding clause : passed the examination, which (=the fact that he passed) pleased everybody.
- (c) That refers to persons, animals and things: This is the man or dog or book that I saw.
- (d) What refers only to things, There is a great difference of opinion about its proper nature.
✏️ According to some, its antecedent that is almost always understood :
I know (that) what you say.
(That) what you say is true.
✏️ Some call it a Compound Relative, because the antecedent is said to be coutained in it, the word being equivalent to that which, "But this not correct, for the antecedent de cameries expressed, either (a) in a subsequent clause, or (b) immediately after the relative itself:
What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in the light.
Take what help you can get."- Nesfeld.
How is the Declension of Relative Pronouns Structured?
Declension: Who and which are declined as follows: that is not declined.
| Case | Singular and Plural | Singular and Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Who | Which |
| Possessive | Whose | of which |
| Objective | Whom | Which |
NOTE: "Whose" as the possessive of which is often not only convenient but also desirable. Fowler characterises the rigid adherence to of which as pedantic. "Thus, ‘He was convicted in a court, of whose rules of procedure he was ignorant is better than’ .. in a court, of the rules of procedure of which he was ignorant.’ "
What Are Compound or Generalizing Relatives?
Compound or Generalizing relatives: whoever, whatever, whichever, and the more emphatic forms whosoever, whatsoever, give the meaning of totality:
- Whoever (=anybody who) comes is welcome.
- He got whatever (=anything that) he wanted.
- Take whichever (=any which) you please.
What Are the Restrictive and Continuative Uses of Who and Which?
- (a) Restrictive— Who and which have a restrictive force when they limit or define the meaning of the antecedent : This is the boy who did it. This is the book which I bought.
- (b) Continuative, Co-ordinate or Conjunctive— Who and which have sometimes a continuative force and are used only to make some additional statement about the antecedent. They may then be replaced by a conjunction and a pronoun: You must obey your parents, which (=and this) will win you the love of others. I saw your father, who (and he) recognised me.
NOTE :
(a) No 'comma' is generally placed before the Relative Pronoun when it is used in the restrictive sense; but when it is used in the continuative sense, it generally takes a comma before it.
(b) Another distinction is that who and which if the latter may be replaced by a conjunction and a pronoun (as in examples above).
(c) Who and which are also used adverbially to imply a cause or a purpose:
◼️ Cause- Dutt, who ( = because he) had been found guilty, was fined.
The picture, which (= because it) was spoiled, has been thrown away.
◼️ Purpose- I shall send my brother who will (= that he may) do the work.
He has sent me a dog which will (= that it may) guard my house.
When Should You Use "That" as a Relative Pronoun?
That is always used in a restrictive sense. It is used instead of "who" and "which" —
- After Adjectives in the superlative degree - He is the best man that I ever saw.
- After same, any, all, only, one, etc. that require a defining clause after them:
- Is this the same that (also, as) you showed me before ? (Pocket Oxford)
- All that I want is this.
- He is the only boy that did it.
- Answer ny that you can
- After the Interrogatives who and what :- Who is the boy that did it ? What is it that you want ?
- After two antecedents, one requiring who and the other which - Many are the men and countries that I saw
Can You Use "And Which" or "But Which"?
And which, but which — As the Relative itself is like a conjunction, it is wrong to use and or but before which except to join two clauses adjectival to the same antecedent:
I have seen the picture, which you have painted and which is very lifelike.
I went to his house, which is far away from the town but which can be reached easily by motor car.
But it is wrong to write :
He asked me to go there, but which I refused.
There was a shower of rain, and which confined us indoors.
How Do You Use "As" and "But" as Relative Pronouns?
As is a Relative Pronoun when it comes after the same, such, as much as many, and is applied to both persons and things :
- This is the same book as that.
- Only such boys as have passed need apply.
- I gave him as much (or, as many) as he required.
NOTE:
As is not always a Relative Pronoun whenever it comes after another as. Thus, in ''Come as soon as you can'', "I shall work as hard as possible'', the second as is a Conjunctive Adverb.
As is sometimes used independently as a Relative Pronoun for an unexpressed Antecedent to be gathered from the main sentence:
This is true, as (=a thing which) I said before.
Mr Bose, as (=which fact) is well-known, is a rich man.
The same is also followed by that :
This is the same book that I lost.
NOTE : Rules for the use of "that" or "as" after "the same":-
(a) Where the verb is expressed after it, we may use both as and that :- This is the same book as (or, that) I lost.
[But A.B.C. of English Usage condemns the use of that after same even in such case, and asserts that same should always be followed by as.]
(b) But when the verb is understood, we always use as -This is the same book as mine.
NOTE : The use of who or which after same and such is coming into vogue but it is better for students to avoid it.
But is used as a Relative Pronoun when it means that not. As it has a negative sense, and is used after a negative word, it is sometimes called a Negative Relative: There is no man but (who not) wishes to be happy.
Agreement and Omission of Relative Pronouns
Relative Pronouns agree in number, gender, and person with their antecedents.
- I who am your master say so.
- You are the person (or persons) who is (or are) guilty.
- This is the lady that lost her ring.
- It is useless to me who am ill.
How to Omit a Relative Pronoun
The Relative Pronoun is often omitted when it is the object of a verb or of a preposition : He is the man (whom) I saw.
The book (which or that) I bought is lost.
I know the day (on which) he came.
A noun or pronoun in the Possessive Case should not be used as the antecedent to a Relative Pronoun:
Thus, instead of writing, "I went to the man's house who is my friend," we should write, "I went to the house of the man who is my friend."
Key Takeaways
- Relative pronouns include who, which, that, what, as, and but, functioning as both pronouns and conjunctions.
- The antecedent is the word to which the relative pronoun refers.
- "Who" refers to persons, while "which" refers to things, animals, and babies.
- "That" is strictly restrictive and cannot follow a comma.
- Relative pronouns must agree in number, gender, and person with their antecedents.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of relative pronouns by filling in the blanks in the comments below:
- This is the man ________ helped me yesterday.
- Where is the book ________ I left on the table?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a relative pronoun in English grammar?
A relative pronoun is a word like who, which, or that that introduces a dependent clause and connects it to an independent clause, referring back to a noun called the antecedent.
How do you choose between "who" and "which"?
Use "who" exclusively to refer to persons, and use "which" to refer to things, animals, and babies.
Can a relative pronoun be omitted from a sentence?
Yes, a relative pronoun can often be omitted when it functions as the object of a verb or of a preposition.