relative pronoun
mediumformal/academic
Definition
Meaning
A pronoun that introduces a relative clause, referring back to an antecedent noun or pronoun.
In English grammar, relative pronouns such as 'who', 'whom', 'which', 'that', and 'whose' are used to connect relative clauses to main clauses, providing additional information about the antecedent, with usage depending on factors like animacy, case, and clause type.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Relative pronouns serve a dual function: they replace a noun in the subordinate clause and link it to the main clause, often indicating syntactic roles like subject or object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English sometimes uses 'which' in restrictive clauses where American English prefers 'that', but this is a stylistic preference rather than a strict rule.
Connotations
None significant; the term is neutral and technical in both variants.
Frequency
Equally common in grammatical discussions and educational contexts across both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
antecedent + relative pronoun + subordinate clauserelative pronoun + verb + complementVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used directly; may appear in formal documents or reports when specifying terms or conditions.
Academic
Frequently used in linguistics, grammar textbooks, and language teaching materials.
Everyday
Seldom mentioned in casual conversation; primarily encountered in educational or explanatory settings.
Technical
Common in syntactic analysis, language pedagogy, and grammatical descriptions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The book that I bought is interesting.
- She is the girl who sits next to me.
- The man whom we met yesterday is a famous actor.
- This is the house which has a red door.
- The company, whose profits increased last year, is expanding overseas.
- The decision that was made yesterday will affect everyone.
- The theory, upon which the entire argument rests, has been challenged by recent data.
- Individuals for whom this applies should contact the authorities immediately.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a relative pronoun as a 'link' that relates back to someone or something already mentioned, like a family relative connecting generations.
Conceptual Metaphor
A bridge that carries additional information from a subordinate clause to anchor it in the main clause.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, relative pronouns like 'который' must agree in gender, number, and case with the antecedent, while English relative pronouns are often invariant.
- Russian speakers may overuse 'what' as a relative pronoun due to direct translation from 'что', but English uses 'that' or 'which'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'who' for objects instead of 'whom' in formal contexts.
- Omitting the relative pronoun when it is the object in restrictive clauses, leading to ambiguity.
- Confusing 'which' for people or 'who' for things in non-standard usage.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a relative pronoun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A relative pronoun is a word like 'who', 'which', or 'that' that introduces a relative clause, providing more information about a noun or pronoun mentioned earlier in the sentence.
Yes, relative pronouns can often be omitted when they are the object of the relative clause in restrictive clauses, such as in 'The book (that) I read was good.'
'Who' is used as the subject of a relative clause, while 'whom' is used as the object, though 'whom' is increasingly rare in informal speech and writing.
Minor differences exist, such as British English occasionally using 'which' in restrictive clauses where American English prefers 'that', but overall, the core usage is similar.