Relative Pronouns

Relative Pronouns

• The shark, which had just eaten a seal, slowly swam into the depths.

If you are unsure whether to use which or that, ask yourself whether the phrase is essential information on something and is NOT preceded by a comma or dash.

• The player that scored the most goals won the award.

If you are unsure whether to use which or that, ask yourself whether the phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Remember:

• If removing the clause will change the meaning of the sentence, then use that.
• If removing the clause has no major effect on the sentence and just adds extra details, then use which.

• Who is my teacher?    He is my teacher.

Whom replaces an object noun or pronoun (me/you/him/her/them)

• To whom will you report in the morning?    I will report to him.

When you’re unsure whether to use who or whom, try rewriting the sentence with alternate object and subject pronouns, as in the examples above. Which one is correct? That will tell you whether you need who or whom. Here’s another example:

• I have no idea to (whom/who) this belongs. 
  • It belongs to she. → Subject pronoun, incorrect
  • It belongs to her. → Object pronoun, correct

Since the object pronoun is correct, the answer is whom.

• The park is where the boy took his dog.

“When” is used for time.

• Alina enjoyed doing yoga in the morning when her children were still asleep.

If you are unsure whether to use where or when, ask yourself whether the noun refers to time (when) or place (where).