Relative Clauses and Pronouns Relative pronouns: The most common relative pronouns are: Pronoun Who (subject) whom (object) Which That Whose When Where Why Note: What is not a relative pronoun Use Refer to people Refers to things Refers to people/things Possessive of who/which Used after nouns referring to time Used after nouns referring to a place Used to refer to reasons Relative pronouns replace the subject or object • People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones • The vase, which I bought years ago, is very valuable Defining relative clauses: Defining relative clauses define or identify the person, thing, time, place or reason • • • • He is the son of a woman who works in television That’s the man whose son is an actor Winter was the time when people tended to eat more beans I know where the play is set • I can’t imagine why she would want to marry you That can be used instead of who/which • The girl that (who) lives next door is blond • The sports centre that (which) is opening soon will have a wonderful pool Relative pronouns can be left out if they are the object of the verb in the relative clause • The person (who/that) I spoke to yesterday said it would be ok • Sue bought the watch (which/that) she had seen No commas are used before and after the relative clause Non-defining relative clauses: Provides extra information which can be omitted Commas are used before and after the relative clause That cannot be used instead of who/which • The museum, where you can see Roman pottery, is free • The witness, who refused to testify, was killed by the murderer Prepositions in relative clauses: They can come before the relative pronoun or at the end of the relative clause (depends on whether it is formal/informal) • The person to whom I spoke told me the hotel had been destroyed (formal) • John, who I bought my car from, is a cheat and a liar (informal)