Relative Pronouns (e.g.: who, that, which, etc.)

Relative Pronouns

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).

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Common English Relative Pronouns

The most common relative pronouns are:

• who

• that

• which

• whose

• where

• whoever

• whatever

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Who

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.

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Common ESL Error

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.

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That

That can refer to people, animals, or things.

Examples:

• The person that works here is French.

• The dog that barked all night belongs to my neighbour.

• The book that I bought is interesting.

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Subject and Object Uses

That can be the subject:

• The student that studies the most usually succeeds.

Or the object:

• The student that I met was very helpful.

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Common ESL Error

Do not add an object pronoun if that is already present.

• The person that I saw him yesterday. ❌

• The person that I saw yesterday. ✅

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Which

Use which to refer to things or to an entire idea.

Examples:

• 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.

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Compare

• The book that I bought was expensive.

• The book, which was expensive, is now on sale.

Both are correct but have slightly different meanings.

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Whose

Use whose to show possession.

Examples:

• 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"

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Common ESL Confusion

whose vs. who's

• whose = possession

  • The man whose car was stolen.

• who's = who is

  • Who's coming to the party?

Examples:

• I know a woman whose daughter lives in France. ✅

• I know a woman who's daughter lives in France. ❌

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Where

Use where to refer to places.

Examples:

• 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.

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Common ESL Confusion

where vs. were

• where = place

  • Where do you live?

• were = past tense of be

  • They were tired.

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Whoever

Use whoever to refer to an unknown or unspecified person.

Examples:

• I will help whoever asks for assistance.

• Whoever finishes first can leave early.

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Whatever

Use whatever to refer to an unknown or unspecified thing.

Examples:

• Take whatever you need.

• I'll eat whatever you cook.

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Relative Pronouns After Prepositions

Relative pronouns can follow prepositions.

Examples:

• 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.

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Common ESL Errors

Repeating the Subject

• The woman who she works here is friendly. ❌

• The woman who works here is friendly. ✅

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Repeating the Object

• The person that I saw him yesterday. ❌

• The person that I saw yesterday. ✅

• The movie which I watched it was excellent. ❌

• The movie which I watched was excellent. ✅

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Confusing Whose and Who's

• The student whose book is missing. ✅

• The student who's book is missing. ❌

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Confusing Where and Were

• The town where I grew up. ✅

• The town were I grew up. ❌

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Quick Rule

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 subject after who.

• Do not repeat the object after that or which.

• Do not confuse whose and who's.

• Do not confuse where and were.