1. Who/Whom
The relative pronoun “who” is commonly used to refer to people.
Example: The girl who won the race received a gold medal.
“Whom” is also used to refer to people, but it is more formal and is generally used as the object of a verb or preposition.
Example: The gentleman whom you met is my boss.
2. Which
“Which” is used to refer to animals or things.
Example: The new laptop, which I bought yesterday, is very fast.
3. That
“That” is commonly used to refer to people, animals, or things. It is a more general relative pronoun and can be used interchangeably with “who” or “which.”
Example: The book that I recommended is a bestseller.
4. Whose
“Whose” is used to indicate possession and is applicable to both people and things.
Example: The man whose car was stolen reported it to the police.
5. Whichever
“Whichever” is used to refer to a choice among a specific group.
Example: You can choose whichever movie you want to watch.
Using these relative pronouns correctly helps to provide clarity and coherence in sentences. It is important to choose the appropriate relative pronoun based on the noun or pronoun it refers to.
Now that you are familiar with the relative pronouns in English, you can use them effectively to enhance your writing and communication skills.