RELATIVE PRONOUNS

✌RELATIVE PRONOUNS✌

CONCEPT BASIC 

We use relative pronouns to refer to a noun (a person or a thing) mentioned before and to which we want to add more information or modify. Relative pronouns can refer to something or someone in singular or plural. Some relative pronouns can be used only with people, others only with things and some with both. Below, you have a list of relative pronouns.

Pronombre	Persona	Cosa
that	x	x
which		x
who	x
whom	x
whose	x	x

•BASIC RULES•

The relative pronoun is found instead of a noun. This noun usually appears earlier in the sentence.

•THAS 

"That" is the relative pronoun most commonly used in spoken English, since it can be used with both people and things. It is used to replace "which", "who" or "whom" in clauses that define the noun.

Examples:

  This is the book that won the Pulitzer prize last year

  This is the restaurant that received the excellent reviews in the newspaper

•WHICH

"Which" can only be used with things.

Examples:

My new job, which I started last week, is already very stressful.

The house where we used to live when we were kids burned last week.

WHO

You can only use "who" with people.

Examples:

 My sister, who just moved in with me, is looking for a job

 I never met someone who did not like music

WHOM

"Whom" is used to refer to the indirect object of the verb, but we do not use it much in colloquial English. More often we use "who" instead of "whom".

Examples:

 The woman with whom I was talking to was my cousin

 This is Peter, whom I met at the party last week.

WHOSE 

The use of "whose" indicates possession, both for people and for things.

Examples:

 That is the girl whose parents got divorced last year.

 Paul, whose wife just had a baby, will be at work for a few weeks.

WHEN AND  WHERE AND  WHY

These relative adverbs are sometimes used instead of a relative pronoun to make the phrase easier to understand. These adverbs refer to expressions of time, places or motives.

Examples:

 The university where I teach is an excellent school

 Can you tell me when is the best time to call?

Note: The relative pronoun can be omitted when it is the object of the sentence.

Examples:

  The exam [that] I took this morning will not be corrected and returned until next week. 

  The woman [who] I'm dating is a teacher 

Relative Clauses

Relative pronouns are used to join two or more clauses, thus forming what we call "relative clauses". There are two types of relative clauses: those that add additional information and those that modify (or define) the subject of the sentence.

Non-defining Relative Clauses

These clauses add additional information. Commas are used to separate the relative clause from the rest of the sentence. You can not use "that" instead of "which" or "who" in this type of clause.

Examples:

 My friend Tony, who is an excellent writer, is helping me with my English paper.

 The report, which my boss asked me to write last week, still is not finished.

Defining Relative Clauses

These clauses define the noun and identify what thing or person we refer to. Commas are not used with this type of clause.

Examples:

I wrote the report that you asked for.

 She never met the man who saved her father's life.

Note: The meaning of the phrase changes depending on what type of relative clause is used.

Examples:

 The employees who worked long hours completed their projects on time.

Note: The employees, who worked long hours, completed their projects on time.

          (Only those who worked long hours finished the projects on time.)

Note: All employees completed projects on time.

          (All employees completed projects on time)

COMPLEMENTATION

📹:Here is a video to complement this lesson

Copyright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLkARyk4CTI


EXERCISES

Q1 of 7

I have a new job ____ pays very well. 

 where 
 that 
 who 
 whose 

Q2 of 7

This is the school ____ my sister works. 

 that 
 which 
 who 
 where 

Q3 of 7

There is ____ you can do. 

 nothing 
 anything 
 none 
 neither 

Q4 of 7

Brian, ____ is my best student, is going to study in England next year. 

 whose 
 that 
 who 
 which 

Q5 of 7

May I have ____ glass of water? 

 another 
 other 
 more 
 some 

Q6 of 7

Is there ____ in the classroom? 

 none 
 somebody 
 anybody 
 someone 

Q7 of 7

____ is coming to the party. 

 All 
 Everybody 
 You 
 Anybody