This is Lesson 14 of our Basic English Series.
Parts of Speech 2.5
Pronouns Part 5 – Relative Pronouns
Interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite pronouns are not difficult to identify. Now we will consider the more complicated aspects of some of the pronouns we covered in the previous lessons but in other applications and scenarios.
Relative pronouns connect groups of words to another idea in the same sentence. That, which, who, whom, and whose are relative pronouns.
Let us see a few examples before we discuss further.
Example 1: The principal commended the teacher who was reported by the students after the evidences were verified. (Who is an interrogative pronoun but in this case it was used as relative pronoun.)
Example 2: My students are using the book that you gave as their reference. (That is a demonstrative pronoun but in this sentence it was used as relative pronoun.)
Example 3: The book which was considered as the most translated in different languages in history is the Bible. (Which is an interrogative pronoun but in this sentence it was used as relative pronoun.)
Example 4: The book that was considered as the most translated in different languages in history is the Bible. (That is a demonstrative pronoun but in this sentence it was used as relative pronoun.)
Note: In examples 3 and 4, we used the same sentence but with different pronouns. This will be explained in our Rule number 18 of the English Grammar below.
ELGR18: Who is used when the antecedent is a person. That is used to refer to either persons or things. Which is used to refer to anything except persons.
Let’s see a few more examples for you to see the principle behind the ELGR18.
Example 1: He was the one who captured the image on his camera. (Who is an interrogative pronoun but in this case it was used as relative pronoun. The antecedent is He, a person, so the use of who was correct.)
Example 2: The mechanic was using the tools that you designed and was very proud of it. (That is a demonstrative pronoun but in this sentence it was used as relative pronoun. The antecedent here is the tools and therefore the relative pronoun that is correct.)
Example 3: The tools which you designed was chosen by the mechanic and was very proud of it. (Which is an interrogative pronoun but in this sentence it was used as relative pronoun. The antecedent was The tools and as the rule above stated, using which is also correct.)
We have learned all of the five types of pronouns. The next one (Lesson 15) will discuss about ownership or possession. This will also include the same aspects of nouns.
See you there.
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