Relative pronouns in English : complete course

What Are Relative Pronouns?

A relative pronoun is a word that connects two parts of a sentence. It introduces a clause that gives more information about a noun. In English, the most common relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, and that.

Think of relative pronouns as a bridge. They link the main sentence to an extra piece of information, making your sentences richer and more precise.

Simple Examples to Get Started

• The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
• This is the book that I told you about.
• The car which he bought is very fast.
• The student whose bag was stolen called the police.

In each sentence, the relative pronoun connects the two ideas and tells us more about the noun before it.

The Key Elements of Relative Pronouns in English

Let us look at each relative pronoun and how to use it correctly.

Who and Whom — For People

Who is used when we talk about people. It replaces the subject of the relative clause.

• The teacher who helped me was very kind.
• Do you know the man who called this morning?

Whom is more formal. It is used when the person is the object of the relative clause.

• The manager whom I met yesterday was very professional.
• The friend whom she invited did not come.

In everyday English, who is often used instead of whom, especially in speaking.

Which — For Things and Animals

Which is used for objects, animals, and ideas — not for people.

• The movie which we watched last night was amazing.
• She has a cat which loves sleeping on the sofa.
• The report which was sent yesterday had an error.

That — For People and Things

That can replace both who and which in many situations. It is very common in informal English.

• The book that I borrowed is on the table.
• The boy that won the race is my cousin.

Note: That cannot be used after a comma or in formal writing. Use which or who in those cases.

Whose — For Possession

Whose shows that something belongs to someone. It can be used for people and sometimes for things.

• The woman whose car was damaged filed a complaint.
• I know a family whose house is very big.

Why Relative Pronouns Matter in English

Using relative pronouns correctly helps you speak and write more naturally. Instead of using short, disconnected sentences, you can combine ideas smoothly.

Compare these two versions:

• Without: I have a friend. She speaks five languages.
• With: I have a friend who speaks five languages.

The second sentence sounds much more fluent. Relative pronouns also help you add detail without repeating words or starting new sentences all the time. This is a key step toward sounding more confident in English.

Comparison with Other Languages

If your first language is French or Spanish, you may already know a similar concept. Here is a quick comparison to help you understand the differences.

In French and Spanish, the relative pronoun changes depending on whether it is the subject or object of the clause. In English, the rules are simpler, but you still need to choose the right pronoun for people, things, or possession.

One key difference: in French you often use que for both people and things. In English, you must use who for people and which for things (or that for both in informal speech).

A Complete Example

Let us put everything together in a short paragraph:

My neighbour, whose name is Clara, works at a hospital. She is a nurse who helps patients every day. The hospital that she works in is very modern. The doctor whom she works with is very experienced. She also has a dog which she takes for a walk every morning.

In this short text, we used five different relative pronouns. Each one connects information smoothly and naturally.

Key Points to Remember

• Use who for people (subject of the clause).
• Use whom for people (object of the clause, formal).
• Use which for things and animals.
• Use that for both people and things in informal English.
• Use whose to show possession.
• Do not use that after a comma or in formal writing.
• Relative pronouns help you write longer, more natural sentences.

Start by practising one pronoun at a time. Listen to how native speakers use them, and try to include them in your own writing and speaking. Little by little, it will become natural!

Sources

• Swan, M. (2005). Practical English Usage (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman.
• Murphy, R. (2019). English Grammar in Use (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.