1. What are relative pronouns?
Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
What are relative pronouns?

2. A relative pronoun introduces a clause.
Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
A relative pronoun introduces a clause.
The pronoun “relates” the clause back to a noun, noun group or clause. Which rider needed a shower? The rider who won the race.
The rider ___________________ needed a shower.
who won the race

3. Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
Use who, whom and whose to refer to people. Whose may also refer to things and animals.
the woman _____ gave a speech
who
Use who to refer to the subject of the clause (the woman).
John lent his camera to a friend _______ he trusted.
whom
Use whom to refer to an object in the sentence (the friend).
the author _______ book we performed
whose
Use whose to show possession (by the author)
the company _______ employees were very keen
whose
Use whose to show possession (by the company).

4. Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
Use which to refer to an animal or thing. Use that to refer to people, animals or things.
The swarm of bees, _______ appeared when Yogi shook the hive, chased us away.
which
You catch the bus ______ leaves at 5 pm.
that
Where are the rescuers _____ Mr French said would come?
that
Your dinner, _______ I must say looks delicious, is getting cold.
which

5. Not just any shoes — the shoes needed for the game.
Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
When do you use that? When do you use which?
Use that if the clause that the pronoun introduces is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Where are the shoes that you need for tomorrow’s game?
Not just any shoes — the shoes needed for the game.
Use which if the clause that the pronoun introduces could be deleted without affecting the meaning of the sentence. If you use which, put a comma before it.
Your tennis shoes, which need cleaning, are under the bed.
The shoes need cleaning, but the sentence makes sense without that information.

6. Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
A pronoun stands in place of a noun. A relative pronoun introduces a clause and “relates” it back to a noun, noun group or clause.
Use who, whom and whose to refer to people. Whose may also refer to things and animals.
Use which to refer to an animal or thing. Use that to refer to people, animals or things.
Use that if the clause that the pronoun introduces is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use which if the clause that the pronoun introduces could be deleted without affecting the meaning of the sentence.
In the following sentence, the relative pronoun is red. The kangaroo that escaped from the zoo has been found.

7. Grammar Toolkit
Relative pronouns
The End