Your Guide to Relative Pronouns: Definitions and Examples

What are relative pronouns?

Relative pronouns are words like who, whom, whose, which and that. They usually go in the middle of a sentence, and they give extra information about the noun. Look at these two sentences:

• I bought a book. It explains grammar clearly.

The two sentences sound very simple. If we add a relative pronoun, we can add more detail about the noun (the book) in the same sentence. The clause after the relative pronoun is called a relative clause. A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause (or dependent clause), and it's not a complete sentence on its own.

Here, the relative pronoun 'that' introduces the relative clause.

• I bought a book that explains grammar clearly.
that = relative pronoun
that explains grammar clearly = relative clause (adds extra information about the book)

Here's another example with 'who':

• The teacher who inspired me retired last year.
who = relative pronoun
who inspired me = relative clause (adds extra information about the teacher)

Go to our explanation page to read more about relative clauses.

List of common relative pronouns

There are two types of relative clause.

1. Defining relative clauses (which give essential information).

• The book that I bought was expensive. (We need the clause to know which book.)

2. Non-defining relative clauses (which add extra information).

• My teacher, who is very kind, helped me a lot. (The clause 'who is very kind' provides extra detail about the teacher, but it's not essential.)

We don't use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses.

How to use relative pronouns in sentences

We can use relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when and why at the start of relative clauses. They add extra information to the sentence.

Relative pronouns usually come after the noun that they describe. Let's look at how we use them:

'Who'

We use 'who' for people. We can use it in defining clauses (essential) and non-defining clauses (extra information).

Defining: The woman who lives next door is very friendly.

• Main clause: The woman is very friendly ('the woman' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: who
• Relative clause: who lives next door (= gives essential information about the woman)

Non-defining: Mrs. Smith, who lives next door, is very friendly.

• Main clause: Mrs. Smith is very friendly ('Mrs. Smith' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: who
• Relative clause: who lives next door (= gives essential information about the woman)

'Whom'

We use 'whom' for people when they are the object of the verb. It's formal and mainly used in writing. In informal English, we usually use 'who' instead.

Defining: The man whom I saw yesterday is my neighbour.

• Main clause: The man is my neighbour ('the man' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: whom
• Relative clause: whom I saw (= gives essential information about the man)

Non-defining: Mr. Jones, whom I saw yesterday, is my neighbour.

• Main clause: Mr. Jones is my neighbour ('Mr. Jones' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: whom
• Relative clause: whom I saw (= gives extra information about Mr. Jones)

'That'

We can use 'that' for people, animals or things in defining relative clauses. However, we don't use it in non-defining clauses.

For things: This is the house that Jack built.

• Main clause: This is the house ('the house' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: that
• Relative clause: that Jack built (= gives more information about the house)

For people: The woman that lives next door is very friendly.

• Main clause: The woman is very friendly ('the woman' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: that
• Relative clause: that lives next door (= gives more information about the woman)

'Which'

We use 'which' for things and animals. It gives us extra information about the noun, so we can use it in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Defining: This is the train which has the comfortable seats.

• Main clause: This is the train ('the train' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: which
• Relative clause: which has the comfortable seats (= gives essential information about the train)

Non-defining: We caught the fast train, which had really comfortable seats.

• Main clause: We caught the fast train ('the fast train' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: which
• Relative clause: which had really comfortable seats (= gives extra information about the train)

We can use 'which' in non-defining relative clauses to give us extra information about something. This is especially common when we give our opinion about the noun.

• Lots of people came to my birthday, which was amazing.
• I have so much work to finish, which is stressful.

'Whose'

We use 'whose' to show possession. We use it in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Defining: I met a student whose English is excellent.

• Main clause: I met a student ('a student' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: whose
• Relative clause: whose English is excellent (= gives essential information about the student's English)

Non-defining: Lucy, whose English is excellent, helped me with my pronunciation.

• Main clause: Lucy helped me with my pronunciation ('Lucy' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: whose
• Relative clause: whose English is excellent (= gives extra information about Lucy's English)

To review how possession works, go to our explanation on possessive pronouns here.

'Where'

We use 'where' with places, and it gives us more information about the place. We use it in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Defining: That is the cafe where where we first met.

• Main clause: That is the cafe ('the cafe' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: where
• Relative clause: where we first met (= gives essential information about the cafe)

Non-defining: Hyde Park, where we first met, is my favourite park.

• Main clause: Hyde Park is my favourite park ('Hyde Park' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: where
• Relative clause: where we first met (= gives extra information about the place)

'When'

We use 'when' in time expressions. It connects the noun to a time. We use it in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Defining: I will never forget the day when we moved into this house.

• Main clause: I will never forget the day ('the day' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: when
• Relative clause: when we moved into this house (= gives essential information about the day)

Non-defining: July 1st, when we moved into this house, was the best day ever.

• Main clause: July 1st was the best day ever ('July 1st' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: when
• Relative clause: when we moved into this house (= gives extra information about the day)

'Why'

We use 'why' to give a reason for something. We usually use it in defining relative clauses after 'the reason'.

Defining: This is the reason why I moved to Spain.

• Main clause: This is the reason ('the reason' is the noun that we're describing)
• Relative pronoun: why
• Relative clause: why I moved to Spain (= gives essential information about the reason)

To give a reason with 'why' in non-defining relative clauses, we usually use the phrase 'which is why'.

Non-defining: I didn't sleep well last night, which is why I'm so tired today.

• Main clause: I didn't sleep well last night (the reason)
• Phrase: which is why
• Relative clause: which is why I'm so tired today (= gives extra information explaining the result)

We can't say: I didn't sleep well last night, why I'm so tired today.

Here's one more example:

Non-defining: She failed her driving test, which is why she's so upset.

• Main clause: She failed her driving test (the reason)
• Phrase: which is why
• Relative clause: which is why she's so upset (= gives extra information explaining the result)

Subject and Object Relative Pronouns with Examples

Some relative pronouns are the subject of the relative clause (for example, who, which, that). They tell us who or what is doing the action in the clause. Other relative pronouns are the object (for example, whom, which, that), which is the person or thing that receives the action.

It's important to know whether the relative pronoun is the subject or the object because it affects the structure of the sentence.

If the pronoun is the subject, the verb comes immediately after it.

• I admire people who work hard.
• Yesterday I called our friend Julie, who lives in New York.
• I live in London, which has some fantastic parks.
• My boss, who is very nice, lives in Manchester.
• We visited a museum that has an incredible art collection.

If the pronoun is the object, the clause needs another subject after the pronoun, and we can drop the relative pronoun.

• He's the student whom the teacher praised.
• The book that you lent me was fascinating.
• She's the colleague whom I trust the most.
• The girl whom you saw at the party is my cousin.

'Whose' is never the subject or the object of a relative clause because it shows possession.

It doesn't do an action (like a subject) and it doesn't receive an action (like an object).

Instead, the noun after 'whose' (e.g., car, stories) becomes the subject or object of the relative clause.

• He's an author whose stories are loved around the world. (stories is the subject)
• I spoke to a man whose car was stolen last night. (car is the subject)
• There's a woman whose brother I met yesterday. (brother is the object)
• We have a neighbour whose dog everyone loves. (dog is the object)

Key rules and common confusions

Let's talk about some confusing things about relative pronouns.

Which vs. That

We can use 'that' for animals, things and people:

• The dog that barked all night kept me awake. (dog = animal)
• The book that I read was interesting. (book = thing)
• The man that called you is my uncle. (man = people)

We use 'which' for animals and things, but not for people.

• The dog which barked all night kept me awake. (dog = animal)
• The book which I read was interesting. (book = thing)
• NOT: The man which called you is my uncle.

We can use both 'which' and 'that' in defining relative clauses. It doesn't matter which one we choose. However, we can't use 'that' to give extra information in non-defining relative clauses. We can only use 'which'.

• Correct: My car, which I bought last year, already needs repairing.
• Incorrect: My car, that I bought last year, already needs repairing.

We always use commas with non-defining relative clauses.

• The dog, which barked all night, finally fell asleep. (extra; commas)

Who vs. That

We can use 'who' and 'that' for people.

Some grammar guides consider 'who' to be formal and 'that' to be more common in everyday English. Both are correct in defining relative clauses.

• Correct: The teacher who helped me was very kind.
• Correct: The teacher that helped me was very kind.

As we mentioned earlier, we can't use 'that' in non-defining relative clauses. So, we use 'who' to give extra information about a person.

• Correct: My neighbour, who is really old, has a big dog.
• Incorrect: My neighbour, that is really old, has a big dog.

Who vs. Whom

We use 'who' to talk about the subject of the clause (the person doing the action).

• I know the student who won the prize. ('the student' is the subject)
• The woman who called you is my aunt. ('the woman' is the subject)

We use 'whom' to talk about the object of the clause (the person receiving the action).

• She's the person whom we invited to dinner. ('the person' is the object)
• He is the man whom I saw. ('the man' is the object)

Note: In everyday spoken English, many people just use 'who' instead of 'whom', especially in the UK. In US English, 'whom' is still more common. For exams or formal writing, it's safer to use 'whom' correctly.

When vs. That

We use 'when' in relative clauses after nouns that talk about a specific time or event. This includes nouns like time, day, year, or moment.

• That was the time when I left my passport on the train.
• 2004 was the year when she moved to London.
• I remember the day when we first met.
• It was the moment when I realised the truth.

You can also use 'that' instead of 'when' for these nouns in defining relative clauses. This is common in everyday English.

• That was the time that I left my passport on the train.
• 2004 was the year that she moved to London.
• I remember the day that we first met.
• It was the moment that I realised the truth.

Nouns referring to longer or more general periods

For nouns that describe a longer or less specific period, like month, period, era, age, we can use 'when' or 'in which'.

• Correct: August is the month when everyone goes away.
• Formal: August is the month in which everyone goes away.
• NOT: August is the month that everyone goes away.

• Correct: It was a period when people had little money.
• Formal: It was a period in which people had little money.
• NOT: It was a period that people had little money.

• Correct: It was an era when technology changed rapidly.
• Formal: It was an era in which technology changed rapidly.
• NOT: It was an era that technology changed rapidly.

Where vs. 'that + preposition'

We use 'where' or 'that + preposition' to talk about the place that something happens. Normally the preposition is 'in'.

• Correct: I went to the town where I was born.
• Correct: I went to the town that I was born in.

Let's have a look at another example.

• Correct: We went to the restaurant where she met her husband.
• Correct: We went to the restaurant that she met her husband in.

Both ways are correct. However, if we're talking about the place itself, not something that happens there, we use 'that' in the normal way.

• I went to a town that has a long name. ('That' describes the place)
• NOT: I went to a town where has a long name.
• NOT: I went to a town that has a long name in.

Keep relative pronouns close to the noun

Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where, etc.,) should be as close as possible to the noun they describe. This makes it easier to know which noun the relative clause is describing.

• I bought a book that was very interesting from the shop. (It's clear that 'that was very interesting' is about the book.)
• NOT: I bought a book from the shop that was very interesting. (It's unclear whether the shop or the book was interesting.)

So, remember to put the relative clause right after the noun it describes.

Leaving out the relative pronoun

We can drop that, who, or which when they are the object of the verb. This makes sentences shorter and it sounds more natural in spoken or informal English.

Let's look at this sentence with the relative pronoun 'who':

Here 'who' is the object of the verb 'were talking about', so we can drop it:

• I met the teacher who you were talking about.

Here are some more examples:

• I met the girl that knew my mother. (The relative clause is 'that knew my mother'. 'That' is the subject of the relative clause and so can't be dropped.)

• I met the girl that David knew. (The relative clause is 'that David knew'. 'That' is the object of the relative clause and so we can't drop it.)

Let's take one more:

• There's the coffee that was on the table. (The relative clause is 'that was on the table'. 'That' is the subject of the relative clause and so we can't drop it.)
• There's the coffee that Julie bought. (The relative clause is 'that Julie bought'. 'That' is the object of the relative clause and so we can drop it.)

If you're not sure whether the relative pronoun is the object of the clause, look at the word that comes after it. If that word is a subject (like he, she, they, a name, or a noun), then the relative pronoun is the object and you can drop it.

Compound relative pronouns (whoever, whichever, whatever)

We use compound relative pronouns to talk about an unknown or general person or thing. We put the relative pronoun (who/whom/which/what/where) with -ever. They include forms such as whoever, whomever, whichever, whatever, wherever.

We use them when we don't specify exactly who or what or where we mean.

They introduce the relative clause, and they can be the subject or object. The main clause can go before or after the relative clause. Look at these examples:

• Whoever arrives first will get a prize. (subject of the relative clause)
• You can choose whichever option you like. (object of the relative clause)
• Whatever happens, stay calm and focused. (subject of the relative clause)
• I'll go wherever you go. (object of the relative clause)

Here are the main compound relative pronouns:

Note: 'Whomever' is now really old-fashioned in modern English, and we don't use it in speaking.

Relative vs. interrogative pronouns

Some words, like who, what, and which, can have two roles in English, so sometimes we need to be a bit careful.

1. They can be interrogative pronouns, which are used to ask questions.
2. They can be relative pronouns, which connect two ideas and give more information.

For example, look at this question:

• "Which book did you want to read?" = which is an interrogative pronoun because it introduces a question.

But in this sentence:

• "The book which you wanted to read is on the table" = which is a relative pronoun because it introduces a clause that gives more information about 'the book'.

Here are some more examples:

• Interrogative: Who is coming to the party? = asking about a person
• Relative: The person who is coming to the party is my friend. = describes the person

• Interrogative: What did you eat for lunch? = asking about a thing or action
• Relative: I didn't understand what he said. = describes the thing he said

• Interrogative: Which film do you want to watch? = asking to choose between options
• Relative: The movie which you chose is very popular. = describes the film

Conclusion

We use relative pronouns to connect clauses to nouns, give extra information, and make sentences more detailed and interesting. If you use relative pronouns correctly, it can help to improve the quality of your writing and give more detail in your speaking.

You can also read our related explanations on relative clauses or possessive pronouns, which include examples and exercises.

Here are all of our exercises on relative pronouns: