When learning English, you will often come across relative pronouns such as why, whom, whose, which, and that. But have you mastered how to use them correctly? In this guide, IDP provides a complete overview of relative pronouns along with exercises to help you check your understanding.
1. What Are Relative Pronouns?
Relative pronouns are words used to connect phrases or clauses within a sentence. These pronouns usually follow a noun and act as a bridge, replacing the noun that was previously mentioned. Common relative pronouns include: why, whom, whose, which, and that.
Main functions of relative pronouns in English:
Connect a main clause with a relative clause
Add additional information to the clause that follows
Replace nouns or pronouns that precede them
Examples:
The book that I borrowed from the library was really interesting.
The person who called you is my friend.
2. Relative Pronouns: Structure and Usage
There are several commonly used relative pronouns in English. Here is how to use each of them correctly:
Who
Who là một đại từ quan hệ chỉ người, có thể đóng vai trò là chủ ngữ hoặc tân ngữ thay cho danh từ chỉ người, chỉ đối tượng thực hiện hành động.
Ví dụ: The man who is sitting by the car is my father.
Whom
Tương tự với Who, Whom là một đại từ quan hệ chỉ người bị tác động bởi một hành động bất kỳ. Vì thế, đại từ quan hệ này thường đóng vai trò làm tân ngữ trong mệnh đề quan hệ và đứng sau giới từ. Whom thường được dùng trong văn phong trang trọng.
Ví dụ: Afterwards he spent five minutes with the President of whom he is an unashamed admirer.
Whose
Whose là một đại từ quan hệ được dùng để thay thế cho những đại từ sở hữu trong câu. Sau whose luôn là một danh từ.
Ví dụ:
I saw a man shouting at a driver whose car was blocking the street.
They take pains to hire people whose personalities predispose them to serve customers well.
Which
Bạn có thể dùng đại từ quan hệ Which khi muốn chỉ vật, thường đóng vai trò là chủ ngữ hoặc tân ngữ trong câu.
Ví dụ: The car which was parked outside is mine.
That
Đại từ quan hệ “That” là một đại từ đa năng, thay thế được cho cả người lẫn vật, thường đóng vai trò là chủ ngữ hoặc tân ngữ trong mệnh đề quan hệ xác định.
Ví dụ: A horse stumbles that has four legs.
3. When to Omit Relative Pronouns
Concept: In some relative clauses, the relative pronoun can be omitted to make the sentence more concise, without changing the meaning or causing grammatical errors.
Rules for omission: You can omit the relative pronoun when it acts as an object in the sentence.
Example: The girl (whom) I met yesterday lives near my house. ➡ "Whom" is the object, so it can be omitted.
You can also omit both the relative pronoun and the verb to be when followed by adjective phrases, prepositional phrases, or participles.
Example: The man who is interested in my car will call later. ➡ "Who is" can be removed, as it is followed by an adjective phrase.
Note: In non-defining clauses, you cannot omit the relative pronoun.
Example: Chinh, who is working with me, is running the China marathon this year.
4. Notes on Using Relative Pronouns
Use commas in relative clauses when the noun is a proper name or a known entity.
Do not use commas before "that."
Use "that" when the noun it replaces is an indefinite pronoun or a compound subject that includes both people and things.
5. Practice Exercises on Relative Pronouns (With Answers)
Exercise 1: Combine the following sentences using suitable relative pronouns.
I met a man. He had a dog with three legs. → The man who had a dog with three legs.
My new school looks very beautiful. I moved to it a month ago. → The school where I moved to a month ago looks very beautiful.
The man was injured in the accident. He is now in the hospital. → The man whose injuries came from the accident is now in the hospital.
The building was destroyed in the fire. It is now being rebuilt. → The building where the fire occurred is now being rebuilt.
Helen works for a company. The company makes furniture. → Helen works for the company which makes furniture.
The police arrested the man. The man had stolen a wallet. → The police arrested the man who had stolen a wallet.
The shuttle bus goes to the airport. It runs every half an hour. → The shuttle bus that goes to the airport runs every half an hour.
1984 was written by George Orwell. His real name was Eric Blair. → 1984 was written by George Orwell, whose real name was Eric Blair.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with Who, Whom, Whose, Which, or That
The girl who won the singing competition is my friend.
The man to whom I gave the book is my neighbor.
The car that belongs to my brother is parked outside.
The dog which is playing in the park is very friendly.
The house whose roof was damaged in the storm is being repaired.
The teacher who teaches math is very knowledgeable.
The restaurant that serves delicious food is always crowded.
The boy who won the race is my brother.
The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
The laptop that I bought last week stopped working.
Exercise 3: Choose the correct answer using relative clauses
Attendance is mandatory for the staff meeting ………. for next Tuesday in the council hall D. scheduled
The Perfect Pet Parlor is a chain of stores ………….. a large selection of pet food and accessories D. selling
All commuters …………….. the main highway to get to the city center will face delays today C. using
Executive Transportation is a premier limousine company ………. the Houston metropolitan area A. serving
No liability can be accepted for any damage ………….. by passengers due to a delay B. incurred
Master Relative Pronouns with IDP
With the above explanation and practice exercises, we hope you now understand how to use relative pronouns effectively in English. From structure and usage to how to simplify sentences, this guide helps build your confidence and grammar skills.
In addition to relative pronouns, you can explore more grammar topics with IDP's free learning resources, including sample questions and mock tests. If you're looking for a reliable IELTS test center, IDP offers IELTS on Computer with faster results in as little as 2 days.
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