Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are that, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, and why. They are used to join clauses to make a complex sentence. Relative pronouns are used at the beginning of the subordinate clause which gives some specific information about the main clause.

This is the house that Jack built.
I don't know the day when Jane marries him.
The professor, whom I respect, was tenured.

In English, the choice of the relative pronoun depends on the type of clause it is used in. There are two types of clauses distinguished: defining (restrictive) relative clauses and non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clauses. In both types of clauses the relative pronoun can function as a subject, an object, or a possessive.

Exercises

Put in the relative who, which or whose where necessary. Type an x if the relative pronoun can be left out.

Example:

Peter is the boy ____ rides the blue bike.

Answer: Peter is the boy who rides the blue bike.

1) This is the boy_______had an accident.
2) Yesterday I saw a car_______was really old.
3) Mandy is the girl_______I met on Friday.
4) I haven't seen Frank,_______brother is five, for a long time now.
5) The robber stole the car_______the lady parked in front of the supermarket.
6) This is the man_______house is on fire.
7) Can I talk to the girl_______is sitting on the bench?
8) The book_______you gave me is great.
9) She likes hamburgers_______are hot.
10) Bill Clinton,_______was President of the USA, has only one daughter.