1. Pronoun Reference – Relative Pronouns
Writing Lab
Pronoun Reference – Relative Pronouns

2. Relative Pronouns
Who
Whoever
Whom
Whomever
Whose
Which
That
This

3. Choosing a relative pronoun
“Who,” “whoever,” “whom,” “whomever,” and “whose” refer to people.
Example: She is the player who should win.
“Whose” can also refer to places and things.
Example: a local paper, whose name will be in tomorrow's paper
Note: this usage usually occurs when using “which” would be awkward: “a local paper, the name of which will be in tomorrow’s paper” is correct, but the sentence with whose is preferable.
“Which” refers to things and places.
Example: I enjoy books which have complex characters.

4. Choosing a relative pronoun, cont.
“Where” refers to places.
Example: College was a place where Miranda could meet talented people.
“That” refers to things or groups of different people.
In strictest usage, usually used only in restrictive clauses.
Example: I used the gown that I wore to my senior prom for my wedding dress.
“Who,” “which,” and “where” can be used in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses
Example: Ellis, who is a freshman, was expelled. Any students who plagiarizes a paper will be expelled.

5. That’s all, folks!
This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series
Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon
To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson