AI Courses Account

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns link clauses by referring back to a noun while adding extra information. This guide goes over the main relative pronouns and when to use each one.

Key Relative Pronouns

The basic relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that. They introduce clauses that describe or identify a noun.

English Example	English Example
The author who wrote this book will speak tonight.	The book, which has a blue cover, is on the table.
The editor whom I met yesterday was very kind.	The page that is folded needs to be smoothed out.
The journalist whose article won the prize smiled proudly.	The headline, which was in bold, caught my eye.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Who and Whom

Use who for subjects that are people; use whom for objects that are people, though who is common in speech. Whom appears more in formal contexts.

English Example	English Example
The writer who attended the conference gave a great talk.	The writer whom the editor praised felt very honored.
The poet who signed my book was very friendly.	The poet to whom I spoke thanked me for my kind words.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Whose

Whose shows possession and can refer to people, animals, or things. It introduces a relative clause that specifies ownership or association.

English Example	English Example
The author whose book was translated smiled during the Q&A.	The photographer whose images appeared on the cover received applause.
The editor whose deadline was tight worked late into the night.	The designer whose portfolio was showcased received many requests.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Which and That

Use which for things and sometimes animals; that can be used for things, animals, and sometimes groups of people. That often introduces essential clauses.

English Example	English Example
The novel that won the award will be adapted into a film.	The novel, which won the award, was praised by critics.
The article that explains the trend was shared widely.	The article, which included interviews, was very informative.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Clauses

Restrictive clauses are necessary to identify the noun and use relative pronouns like that; nonrestrictive clauses add extra info and are set off by commas, typically using which or who.

English Example	English Example
The journalist who writes for the magazine has a unique voice.	The journalist, who writes for the magazine, is also a novelist.
The book that features the new design is on display.	The book, which features the new design, sold out quickly.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Omission of Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns can be omitted when the pronoun would be an object and the clause remains clear without it. This often happens in short, restrictive clauses.

English Example	English Example
The editor I spoke with gave me useful feedback.	The manuscript that I submitted was accepted.
The photographer you mentioned is very talented.	The notes (that) she left were very clear.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Alternative Constructions

Prepositional phrases can precede relative pronouns, and sometimes rewriting with a possessive or a gerund improves clarity. Choosing between of which, whose, and other forms depends on style and emphasis.

English Example	English Example
The author is someone I really admire.	I really admire the author.
There are many books that I want to read this summer.	I want to read many books this summer.
The editor gave feedback, which I found very helpful.	I found the editor's feedback very helpful.

Sign In

Add an email to access exercises.

Summary

Relative pronouns tie clauses to nouns while adding defining or extra information. Practice identifying whether a clause is restrictive and which pronoun fits helps make sentences clear and natural.

Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025