The Relative Pronoun

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

An independent clause is a complete sentence. It contains the main subject and verb of a sentences. It is also called a main clause.

A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be connected to an independent clause.

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It describes, identifies, or gives further information about a noun. An adjective clause is also called a relative clause.

A.    Using Subject Pronouns : WHO, WHICH, THAT

Example : - I thanked the woman. -          She helped me. (a)    I thanked the woman who helped me. (b)   I thanked the woman that helped me. Example : - The book is mine. -          It is on the table. (c)    The book which is on the table is mine. (d)   The book that is on the table is mine.

In (a) : I thanked the woman = an independent clause.                 who helped me = an adjective clause. The adjective clause modifies the noun woman. In (a) : who is the subject of the adjective clause. In (b) : that is the subject of the adjective clause. Note : (a) and (b) have the same meaning. Who = used for people. Which = used for things. That = used for both people and things.

B.     Using Subject Pronouns : WHOM, WHICH, THAT

Example : - The man was Mr. Jones. -          I saw him. (e)    The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones. (f)    The man that I saw was Mr. Jones. (g)   The man Ø I saw was Mr. Jones. Example : - The movie wasn’t very good. -          We saw it last night. (h)   The movie which we saw last night wasn’t very good. (i)     The movie that we saw last night wasn’t very good. (j)     The movie Ø we saw last night wasn’t very good.

Notice in the examples : the adjective clause pronouns are placed at the beginning of the clause. In (e) : who is usually used instead of whom, especially in speaking. Whom is generally used only in very formal English. In (g) and (j) : an object pronoun is often omitted from an adjective clause. ( a subject pronoun, however, may not be omitted). Who(m) = used for people. Which = used for things. That = used for both people and things.

C.     Using Subject Pronouns : WHOSE

Example : - I know the man. -          His bicycle was stolen. (k)   I know the man whose bicycle was stolen. Example : - The student writes well. -          I read her composition. (l)     The student whose composition I read writes well.	Whose is used to show possession. It carries the same meaning as other possessive pronouns used as adjectives : his, her, its and their. Like his, her, its and their, whose is connected to a noun. his bicycle à whose bicycle. her composition à whose composition. Both whose and the noun it is connected to are placed at the beginning of the adjective clause. Whose cannot be omitted.
Mr. Catt has a painting. Its value is inestimable. (m) Mr. Catt a painting whose value is inestimable.	Whose usually modifies “people” but it may also be used to modify “things” as in (m).