Are you a professional writer who often finds yourself scratching your head and asking, “What is a relative pronoun?” You’re not alone! It’s one of the many grammar topics that even experienced writers can struggle to understand. The good news is that by taking some time out to learn what these pronouns are and how they work, you can effectively use them in your writing.
In this blog post, we will look at exactly what is a relative pronouns are, their function in sentences as well as some examples – everything you need to know so that you can confidently identify and apply these vital linking words correctly. So let’s get started on our journey together into the fascinating world of relative pronouns!
What Is a Relative Pronoun?
A relative pronoun can be used to introduce adjectives clauses or noun phrases within a sentence and serves as the subject or object of these clauses or phrases. Most commonly, they are used to start dependent clauses when introducing information about people, animals, things, places, ideas or events. The most common relative pronouns are “who,” “whom,” “which,” and “that.” They can be used to introduce adjectival, adverbial, or noun clauses.
To help you understand how these pronouns work, here is an overview of their usage with some examples for each one:
- Who/Whom: Who is used for the subject of a sentence whereas whom is used for the object of a sentence e.g. The woman who I saw was my neighbor; She was the woman whom I saw.
- Whose: This relative pronoun is used to introduce a possessive adjective clause e.g. The man whose car was stolen is my neighbor; She was the woman whose house I visited.
- That: This relative pronoun can be used in place of who or whom when referring to people, as well as for animals, things and ideas e.g. The person that I saw was my neighbor; She was the cat that ran away.
- Which: This relative pronoun can be used in place of who or whom when referring to animals, things and ideas e.g. The cat which I saw was my neighbor’s; She was the car which had broken down.
Using these rules and examples together will help you correctly use relative pronouns in sentences to introduce clauses or phrases within a sentence without compromising its meaning or structure. Hopefully, this guide has helped explain what is a relative pronoun and how it works in sentences!
Reasons for Understanding Relative Pronouns
Understanding relative pronouns is essential for successfully utilizing the English language. They can be used to refer to nouns that preceded them and are vital for making complex sentences that accurately express thoughts and ideas. Relative pronouns can also allow a writer to maintain flow, as they provide an easy transition between ideas while simultaneously avoiding unnecessary repetition.
- For example, “The woman who was standing on the corner crossed the street” employs a relative pronoun to maintain smooth-flowing prose.
In this case, “who” functions to relate “woman” back to the statement from which it is derived. Having a commanding knowledge of relative pronouns is necessary for any competent speaker or writer of English.
Explanation of the Functionality of a Relative Pronoun
A relative pronoun is a type of pronoun used to connect clauses within a sentence. It is important because it helps the writer be more precise in expressing ideas by enabling them to join related clauses. Relative pronouns can help turn two shorter sentences into one longer, complex sentence;
- For instance, “The dog ran away” and “I saw the dog” can be combined into “I saw the dog which ran away.”
This simple but powerful tool strengthens sentences by condensing information and allowing feelings and nuances of a situation to be accurately conveyed. Knowing when and how to use relative pronouns can take your writing from merely clear to truly ambitious.
Examples of Commonly Used Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are a crucial part of everyday English, yet they can often be overlooked. Commonly used relative pronouns include “who,” “whom,” “which,” “that” and “whose.” This help to link a relative clause, which provides more information about the noun mentioned previously in the sentence, to the main clause.
- For example, “The dog, who was barking loudly, ran away.”
Here, the noun “dog” is in the main clause and the additional information (“was barking loudly”) is provided in the relative clause beginning with “who.” Knowing how to properly use these pronouns will add clarity and accuracy to your writing style.
Rules and Guidance for Using Relative Pronouns
While it is easy to use relative pronouns incorrectly in our writing, it doesn’t have to be that way. Knowing the rules and guidelines for using relative pronouns can help us create effective sentences and paragraphs. Generally speaking, relative pronouns are used when we want to introduce relative clauses into a sentence, which consist of a subject and a verb and provide information about the preceding noun.
We use ‘who’ to refer to people; ‘which’ to refer to animals or things; ‘where’ refers to places; ‘that’ can be used for both people and things; while ‘whom’ is an old-fashioned pronoun used to refer only to people. With these basic rules in mind, our writing can become more accurate, creative and interesting.
How to Choose Appropriate Subjective and Objective Forms of Relatives
Selecting the right forms of relatives to use in a sentence can be tricky, particularly when it comes to deciding between subjective and objective forms. Subjective pronouns do the work of a subject in a sentence, so they should always be used when the relative verb requires an antecedent as its subject—so typically with “be” verbs like are or was. On the other hand, if a relative verb does not need an antecedent for its subject you should use an objective form like me, us, him, her or them instead.
If you still aren’t sure which one is correct for your sentence, try context clues—ask yourself what nouns the pronoun would replace and use that information to help guide your decision. Ultimately, proper usage of subjects and objects for relatives can strengthen your written communication and make your writing clearer for readers.
How to Use Possessive Relative Pronouns with Possessive Noun Phrases
The correct use of possessive relative pronouns is an essential part of writing for both beginners and experts alike. Possessive nouns can be identified by their apostrophe-S form, such as ‘John’s dog’ or ‘Jane’s house. When a sentence includes multiple possessives, we can replace some of the phrases with proper possessive relative pronouns, such as ‘whose’, ‘hers’, or ‘its’.
- For example, instead of saying “John and Jane who own a cat whose fur is black” you could say “John and Jane whose cat has black fur”.
These two sentences mean the same thing but the second sentence makes use of the possessive relative pronoun to simplify the sentence – making it easier and more enjoyable to read.
Usage in Sentences with Prepositions
Prepositions are an essential part of the English language that provides vital grammatical and syntactical structure. They don’t typically stand-alone, but rather work within longer sentences to explain complex relationships between words, phrases, or clauses. Understanding how prepositions work in a sentence is key to effective communication and more dynamic writing.
Further, mastering proper usage can easily take your writing to the next level. Their precise application can highlight subtle nuances in meaning, which can distinguish a so-so writer from a truly accomplished one. As such, investing some time honing your proficiencies with prepositional phrases is well worth it.
Usage for Interrogative Relative Pronouns
Interrogative relative pronouns are a powerful tool for connecting ideas and making your speech or writing flow more smoothly. Used correctly, they can help you present complicated and intricate thoughts in a succinct and precise manner. Understanding how to use these pronouns can enable you to craft meaningful sentences that draw from multiple sources or points of view to support your main argument.
Moreover, interrogative relative pronouns will keep others engaged as you question the underlying motives of your opponent’s argument, demonstrating an astute understanding of the piece as a whole. Careful crafting of sentences using interrogative relative pronouns is sure to set any writer apart and could make the difference between a coherent argument and incomprehensible noise.
Usage for Indefinite Relative Pronouns
Indefinite relative pronouns are useful grammar tools that can used to join thoughts and ideas. While they often get overlooked in comparison to other types of pronouns, indefinite relative pronouns can help add clarity when joining sentences together. They are typically helpful when comparing two items or explaining how something relates to them.
- A sentence like “I don’t know what I should purchase, which is a dilemma,” utilizes the indefinite relative pronoun ‘which’ to emphasize the hurdle the speaker is facing.
As one of the most flexible parts of speech, indefinite relative pronouns are essential when writing conversationally and adding detail to an idea without going overboard with words.
How to Use Relative Clauses with Adjectives and Nouns
One of the most important elements of grammar is learning how to use relative clauses with adjectives and nouns. Relative clauses provide large amounts of information in one short sentence, as they link descriptions or clauses to a specific noun or pronoun. To fully understand how to use these powerful pronouns, it’s key to break down the structure- an adjective clause is typically composed of a relative pronoun, followed by a verb and any details connected to it.
- For example, “The girl who painted the walls yellow” – here the relative pronoun ‘who’ is linking ‘painted’ and ‘walls yellow’ to ‘girl’.
Similarly, when using relative clauses with nouns, start with a relative pronoun plus verb and then the linked thought or description. For instance, “The house which was built in the 80s” – in this case, the relative pronoun ‘which’ helps connect ‘was built’ to ‘house’. Once you understand how these dependent clauses are formed, you can easily learn what is a relative pronoun and how to incorporate them into your writing.
When to Omit the Relative Pronoun from a Sentence
Knowing when to omit the relative pronoun from a sentence can greatly improve your writing. Relative pronouns such as who, whom and which usually function as joining words between two phrases in a sentence. If you can combine these phrases without the help of an extra word then you can omit the relative pronoun.
- For example, “The author who wrote this book” could be changed to “The author written this book.”
As long as removing the relative pronoun does not confuse in understanding what is being said, it can be omitted from a sentence for conciseness and to help keep it flowing more smoothly. It’s quite easy if you remember your grammar basics!
Conclusion
Relative pronouns are versatile words that can be used to join ideas together in meaningful ways. They come in two types- interrogative, which are used when asking questions, and indefinite, which are used to explain how something relates to another item or clause. To correctly use these relative pronouns, start with a relative pronoun followed by any verbs and details connected to it. Additionally, you can omit the relative pronoun from a sentence if it does not confuse you.
FAQs
What is a relative pronoun?
A relative pronoun is a type of pronoun that introduces an adjective clause. It can be used to join two related sentences together. Relative pronouns include ‘who’, ‘whom’, ‘which’, ‘that’, and ‘whose’.
How do you use relative pronouns?
Relative pronouns are used to refer back to nouns (or people, places, or things) in the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The woman who works here was very helpful”, the word “who” refers back to the noun “woman”.
Are there any rules for using relative pronouns correctly?
Yes, there are a few rules to follow when using relative pronouns. First, the relative pronoun must be placed next to the noun or noun phrase it refers to and should not be separated by other words. Second, when referring to people, you should use ‘who’ or ‘whom’. For things, it’s usually appropriate to use ‘that’ or ‘which’. Finally, when introducing an adjective clause that modifies a noun, you should use the possessive form of the pronoun (‘whose’) instead of other forms.
Are there any exceptions to these rules?
Yes! In certain cases, you can omit the relative Can you give some examples of how to use relative pronouns?
Sure! Here are some examples: By following these rules and examples, you’ll be able to correctly use relative pronouns in your writing.
