Eduqo
English Grammar›Ch 8: Sentence Structures›Relative Pronouns and Clauses
Mastering Who, Whom, Which, and That for Error Spotting
A Relative Pronoun connects a clause to a noun or pronoun called an antecedent. The verb following it must always agree with this antecedent in number and person.
Quick Memory Hooks
| Pronoun | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Persons (Subject) | The man who called... |
| Whom | Persons (Object) | The girl whom I met... |
| Which | Things / Animals | The car which is red... |
| That | Special Cases/All | All that glitters... |
Who
(Human Subject)
Human Subject
The boy who plays.
Which
(Objects/Things)
Objects/Things
The bus which left.
Whose
(Possession)
Possession
Man whose car is lost.
That
(Specific Choice)
Specific Choice
The best that I have.
He is the best student who I know.He is the best student that I know.
After superlatives (best, tallest, most), always use 'that'.
One of the boys who is playing.One of the boys who are playing.
The verb agrees with 'boys' (plural), not 'one'.
This is the dog who bit me.This is the dog which bit me.
Use 'which' or 'that' for animals, not 'who'.
Q1.This is the most expensive car ______ I have ever seen.
Q2.She is one of the players who ______ selected for the team.