Introduction to relative pronouns for young foreign learners of English.

1. A relative pronoun is a word that:
1. Substitutes the noun which precedes it in the sentence.
2. Introduces a subordinate clause.
3. It is the subject or the complement in the sentence it introduces.
I saw Tom in the street yesterday. He is my best friend.
I saw Tom, who is my best friend, in the street yesterday.
+
who = Tom
subject
Who is my best friend.
verb complement

2. My birthday is on 22nd December. The Christmas lottery is held that day.
My birthday is on 22nd December, when the Christmas lottery is held.
+
when = 22nd December
subject
when the Christmas lottery is held
verbcomplement
I repaired the watch yesterday. + Jane bought it for my birthday.
I repaired the watch which Jane bought me for my birthday yesterday.
which = the watch which Jane bought me
complement subject verb complement

3. Relative pronouns:
who substitutes a person
which substitutes a thing, an animal or an idea
that substitutes a person, a thing, an animal or an idea
when substitutes a time
where substitutes a place
REMARK
whom It is used to
substitute a person
when it is preceded
by a preposition.
REMARK
that It is never used when
the relative clause is
non-defining (between
commas).
whose substitutes a possession

4. Relative clauses:
The train didn’t arrive on time.
I was travelling in it.
+
The train that I was travelling in
didn’t arrive on time.
The train in which I was travelling
didn’t arrive on time.
I have bought an old house.
+
My grandparents lived there.
I bought an old house where my
grandparents lived.
I bought an old house in which my
grandparents lived.

5. I am writing a letter to a man.
I worked for him three years ago.
+
I am writing a letter to a man who
I worked for three years ago.
I’m writing a letter to a man for
whom I worked three years ago.
The office closes at six.
+
The evening market opens at six
The office closes when the evening
market opens.