We already know about the pronouns such as he, she, it, etc.
Relative pronoun is different from the common pronoun. It is also a pronoun as it stands for a noun and gives the description of the noun.
Relative pronouns open relative clauses that describe nouns. So they are called adjective clauses.
The most common relative pronouns are who, which and, that.
Use of Relative Pronouns:
Ø The relative pronoun who is used only for person in the singular as well as in the plural.
Objective form of who is whom and possessive form is whose.
For example,
This is the boy who got injured.
This is the man whose paintings are amazing.
This is the girl whom everyone praises.
These are the boys who got injured.
These are the sailors whose ship was wrecked.
These are the girls whom everyone praises.
Ø The relative pronoun which refers to either animals or things in the singular as well as in the plural.
It has the same objective and subjective cases.
This is the mansion which belongs to my cousin.
The book which you lent me is very interesting.
The books which you lent me are very interesting.
Ø The relative pronoun that refers to either people or things in the singular as well as in the plural.
It has the same form in objective and subjective cases.
This is the girl that I told you of.
I have lost the key that you gave me.
Ø That is also used in preference to who or which.
· After adjectives in the superlative degree.
He is the tallest man that ever lived.
· After the words like all, any, none, nothing, only.
All that glitters is not gold.
There is nothing that a smartphone cannot do.
· With interrogative pronouns who and what
What is the song that you are listening to?
Ø Some of the other relative pronouns are what, as and but.
· What refers to things only.
I say what I mean.
He got what he wanted.
· The word as is used with such and the same.
My interests are not the same as yours.
They are such men as I honour.
· The word but is used with object pronouns (me, You, him, her, us).
Everyone but me has spoken.
WORKSHEET:
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable pronouns.
1. That is the man ___ we met yesterday
2. The book ___ you gave me was very interesting.
3. That old man ___ lived next door has just died.
4. I saw a man ___ eyes were green.
5. Take anything ___ you like.
Answers:
1.
That is the man whom we met yesterday
2.
The book that / which you gave me was
very interesting.
3.
That old man who lived next door has just
died.
4.
I saw a man whose eyes were green.
5.
Take anything that you like.