The Basics of Relative Pronouns

Oct 13, 2025 by leolavanderia.com.br 2 views

Understanding Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are words that introduce a dependent clause in a sentence, connecting it to an independent clause. They help to provide more information about a noun or a pronoun in the sentence. In English, there are three main relative pronouns: who, which, and that. However, the correct choice of relative pronoun depends on the type of clause and the noun it refers to.

The Basics of Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are used to introduce a dependent clause that provides additional information about a noun or a pronoun in the sentence. The three main relative pronouns are:

Who: used to refer to people
Which: used to refer to things or animals
That: used to refer to things or animals, but can also be used to refer to people in informal writing or speech

Choosing the Correct Relative Pronoun

In the given sentence, "I get to buy a new book today, _____ is exciting," we need to choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence. Let's analyze the options:

Option A: whose

Whose is a possessive pronoun, not a relative pronoun. It is used to show possession or ownership. For example: "The book whose cover is red is mine." In this sentence, whose shows that the book belongs to someone.

Option B: whom

Whom is an object pronoun, not a relative pronoun. It is used as the object of a verb or preposition. For example: "The person whom I met yesterday is very nice." In this sentence, whom is the object of the verb "met."

Option C: which

Which is a relative pronoun, used to refer to things or animals. In the given sentence, which is the correct choice because it refers to the book, which is a thing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the correct relative pronoun to use in the sentence "I get to buy a new book today, _____ is exciting" is which. This is because which is a relative pronoun used to refer to things or animals, and in this sentence, it refers to the book.

Tips for Choosing the Correct Relative Pronoun

Here are some tips to help you choose the correct relative pronoun:

Use who to refer to people
Use which to refer to things or animals
Use that to refer to things or animals, but can also be used to refer to people in informal writing or speech
Be careful not to use possessive pronouns like whose or object pronouns like whom as relative pronouns

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using relative pronouns:

Using whose as a relative pronoun: Whose is a possessive pronoun, not a relative pronoun. For example: "The book whose cover is red is mine." (Incorrect)
Using whom as a relative pronoun: Whom is an object pronoun, not a relative pronoun. For example: "The person whom I met yesterday is very nice." (Incorrect)
Using which to refer to people: Which is a relative pronoun used to refer to things or animals, not people. For example: "The person which I met yesterday is very nice." (Incorrect)

Practice Exercises

Here are some practice exercises to help you choose the correct relative pronoun:

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: "The person _____ I met yesterday is very nice."
- A. who
- B. which
- C. that
Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: "The book _____ cover is red is mine."
- A. whose
- B. which
- C. that
Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: "The thing _____ I lost is very valuable."
- A. which
- B. that
- C. who

Answer Key

A. who
A. whose
A. which

Conclusion

**Q: What is the difference between who and which?**

A: Who is used to refer to people, while which is used to refer to things or animals. For example: "The person who I met yesterday is very nice." (Here, who refers to a person.) "The book which is on the table is mine." (Here, which refers to a thing, the book.)

**Q: Can I use that instead of which?**

A: Yes, you can use that instead of which in informal writing or speech. However, in formal writing, it's generally recommended to use which instead of that. For example: "The book that is on the table is mine." (This is acceptable in informal writing or speech, but not in formal writing.)

**Q: How do I know when to use who and when to use which?**

A: To determine whether to use who or which, ask yourself: "Is the noun I'm referring to a person or a thing?" If the noun is a person, use who. If the noun is a thing, use which.

**Q: Can I use whom as a relative pronoun?**

A: No, whom is an object pronoun, not a relative pronoun. It's used as the object of a verb or preposition, not to introduce a dependent clause. For example: "The person whom I met yesterday is very nice." (Here, whom is the object of the verb "met.")

**Q: What is the difference between whose and which?**

A: Whose is a possessive pronoun, used to show possession or ownership. Which is a relative pronoun, used to introduce a dependent clause. For example: "The book whose cover is red is mine." (Here, whose shows possession.) "The book which is on the table is mine." (Here, which introduces a dependent clause.)

**Q: Can I use that as a relative pronoun in formal writing?**

A: No, in formal writing, it's generally recommended to use which instead of that. That is often used in informal writing or speech, but in formal writing, it's better to use which to introduce a dependent clause.

**Q: How do I know when to use that and when to use which in formal writing?**

A: To determine whether to use that or which in formal writing, ask yourself: "Is the noun I'm referring to a thing or a person?" If the noun is a thing, use which. If the noun is a person, use that.

**Q: Can I use who and which interchangeably?**

A: No, who and which have different meanings and uses. Who is used to refer to people, while which is used to refer to things or animals. While they can be used in similar contexts, they are not interchangeable.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using relative pronouns?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using relative pronouns include:

Using whose as a relative pronoun
Using whom as a relative pronoun
Using which to refer to people
Using that instead of which in formal writing
Using who and which interchangeably

Q: How can I practice using relative pronouns correctly?

A: To practice using relative pronouns correctly, try the following exercises:

Read sentences with relative pronouns and identify the correct pronoun to use.
Write your own sentences using relative pronouns and check them for accuracy.
Practice using who, which, and that in different contexts.
Read and analyze examples of correct and incorrect usage of relative pronouns.