The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.
The word is a relative pronoun when it introduces a relative clause by taking the place of the noun that the clause relates to. Example:
The word is an adjective when it's placed before the noun it describes. Example:
Adjective ClausesAdjective clauses (or relative clauses) are a type of subordinate clause that act as adjectives.
The whole clause does the job of an adjective. I'll show you what I mean with some examples below.
Quick Refresher: Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. Clauses are groups of words with a subject and a verb, and subordinate clauses cannot stand alone.
ExamplesTake a look at this sentence:The happy woman danced across the street.Happy is an adjective modifying the noun woman.
It is telling us which woman.
(Remember that Which one? is one of the adjective questions.)
Which woman? The happy woman.
Now, look at this sentence:The woman who looks happydanced across the street.
This time, a whole clause is modifying the noun woman.
The clause is still telling us which woman.
Which woman? The woman who looks happy.
This clause is an adjective clause. It is a group of words with a subject and a verb, and it is acting as one part of speech - an adjective.
Relative Pronouns Introduce ThemMost of the time, relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns.There are only five relative pronouns:who, whom, whose, that, which
Here are examples using these relative pronouns:
Relative pronouns link the clause with the word that the clause is modifying.
Did you notice that the noun that comes directly before the clause is the noun that the clause is modifying?
Good. I'm glad that you saw that. :)
The cool thing about relative pronouns is that they also act as the subject, object, or some kind of modifier within the adjective clause.
Let's use this sentence as an example:This is the house that Jack built.
The independent clause is This is the house. The relative clause is that Jack built. (Notice that both clauses have a subject and a verb.)
That is introducing the realtive clause. It is linking the word house with the whole clause.
That is also acting as the direct object within the clause.
Jack = subject built = verb that = direct object
Look at the sentence diagram, and it will help you see what I mean.
You'll find more information and sentence diagrams on the relative pronounspage.
No Relative Pronoun?Sometimes the relative pronoun is missing from the relative clause.Don't fret!
You can still have an adjective clause without the relative pronoun.
Here is an example of a sentence with the relative pronoun that.
The adjective clause is that I love.
Can you think of how you could express that same idea without the relative pronoun?
Now the adjective clause is just the words I love, but the word that is implied. It's as if the sentence says:
Whenever words are implied in a sentence, it is called an elliptical.
The technical name for a missing relative pronoun is an elliptical relative pronoun.
If you want to diagram the sentence, diagram the implied relative pronoun in parenthesis.
Relative AdverbsWhile most of the time relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns, sometimes they are introduced by relative adverbs (where, when, why, before, since).Here are some examples. Notice that the clause is still modifying a noun.
A form of personal pronouns are the possessive adjectives, they are: my, your, our, his, her, their, its.
The demonstrative pronouns are used as adjective when placed just before a noun, they are: this, that, these, those.
Some of the relative pronouns are used as an adjective when placed just befor a noun.
Some of the indefinite pronouns are also used as adjectives when placed just before a noun. Examples:
An adjective clause (also called a relative clause) begins with a relative pronoun. The clause is a group of words introduced by a relative pronoun which 'relates' to the antecedent, and the clause 'describes' (give information about) the antecedent. Examples:
The lawyer who sent the letter can meet with us on Tuesday.
I brought mom some tulips, which are her favorite flower.
Relative pronouns are clue words for adjective clauses.
Yes, relative pronouns do introduce noun clauses. The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.The word is called a relative pronoun when it introduces a relative clause by taking the place of the noun that the clause relates to. Example:The book, which I left in my locker, is overdue at the library.The word is an adjective when it's placed before the noun it describes. Example:I don't know which tie goes better with this suit.
A relative pronoun introduces an adjective clause, a clause that modifies its antecedent (a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun).The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.Example: The car that she is driving is not hers. ('that she is driving' describes car; 'that' is a relative pronoun)
The 'introductory' pronoun is 'who', which introduces the relative clause 'who died for you'.Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses; they are: who, whom, whose, which, that.
Yes, the relative pronoun "who" begins adjective clauses, those that modify nouns. The same applies to the words whom, whoever, whose, that, and which.
The term "relative adjective" can refer to the "relative pronouns" that introduce adjective clauses. These are who/whom, whoever/whomever, whose, that, and which (and in some circumstances when, where, or what). For example, the adjective clause in "That is the car that I saw."
When the pronouns who, whom, whose, which, and that are used to introduce dependent clauses they are relative pronouns.When the pronouns who, whom, whose, and which are used to introduce a question, they are interrogative pronouns.
Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns are clue words for adjective clauses.
Yes, relative pronouns do introduce noun clauses. The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.The word is called a relative pronoun when it introduces a relative clause by taking the place of the noun that the clause relates to. Example:The book, which I left in my locker, is overdue at the library.The word is an adjective when it's placed before the noun it describes. Example:I don't know which tie goes better with this suit.
A relative pronoun introduces an adjective clause, a clause that modifies its antecedent (a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun).The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.Example: The car that she is driving is not hers. ('that she is driving' describes car; 'that' is a relative pronoun)
No, "we" is a personal pronoun used to refer to oneself and others. Relative pronouns include "who," "which," and "that" and are used to introduce relative clauses in sentences.
introduce subordinate clauses and refer back to the noun or pronoun that the clause modifies.
Yes, that is true. The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that. The word is called a relative pronoun when it introduces a relative clause by taking the place of the noun that the clause relates to. Example: The book, which I left in my locker, is overdue at the library. The word is an adjective when it's placed before the noun it describes. Example: I don't know which tie goes better with this suit.
The 'introductory' pronoun is 'who', which introduces the relative clause 'who died for you'.Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses; they are: who, whom, whose, which, that.
"A relative clause is another name for an adjective clause. This is because both perform a function similar to an adjective in a sentence--they add information to a noun.There are two types of relative/adjective clauses: restrictive and nonrestrictive.Restrictive Clauses"I want a car that is red."In this sentence, the relative clause "that is red" answers the question, "Which car do you want?" or "What kind of car do you want?" Because it answers this question, it is a restrictive relative clause.Nonrestrictive Clause"My mother, who lives in Kansas City, is 62."In this sentence, the relative clause "who lives in Kansas City" does not answer the question, "Which one?". Instead, it gives extra information. Because it gives extra information, it is a nonrestrictive relative clause.
Adjective clauses modify nouns and pronouns, typically starting with a relative pronoun (such as who, which, that). Adverb clauses modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often starting with subordinating conjunctions (such as because, although, if). Look for these clues to identify them in a sentence.