English Relative Pronouns

A complete guide to who, which, that, whose, whom & where

What are relative pronouns?
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses — subordinate clauses that give more information about a noun (the antecedent). They connect two ideas into one sentence, replacing repetition with elegance. Choosing the right pronoun depends on whether the antecedent is a person, a thing, or a place, and on the grammatical role within the clause.

who

Subject – People

Used when the antecedent is a person (or sometimes a pet) and acts as the subject of the relative clause.

The woman who called you is my sister.

The doctor who treated me was very kind.

whom

Object – People

The object form of who. Used when the antecedent is a person and acts as the object of the relative clause. More formal; often replaced by who in spoken English.

The man whom she loves is an artist.

The colleague whom I trust most has left.

which

Things & Animals

Used when the antecedent is a thing, idea, or animal. In non-defining clauses, only which is possible (not that).

The book which I borrowed was fascinating.

He drove a car which cost a fortune.

that

People & Things – Defining

Used in defining relative clauses for both people and things. Cannot be used in non-defining clauses (those with commas).

The film that won the Oscar was amazing.

The man that helped me was a stranger.

whose

Possession

The possessive relative pronoun. Used for people, animals, and things to show belonging or relationship.

A student whose grades improved got a scholarship.

The house whose roof collapsed was abandoned.

where

Places

Used when the antecedent is a place. Equivalent to "in/at/on which" — but far more natural in everyday usage.

The café where we met is closing down.

This is the town where I grew up.

Defining vs. Non-Defining Clauses

Type	Purpose	Commas?	Can use "that"?
Defining	Identifies which person or thing. Essential information — removing the clause changes the meaning.	No commas	Yes
Non-defining	Adds extra information about an already-identified noun. The clause can be removed without changing the core meaning.	Commas required	No — use who / which

Compare:
The students who study hard will pass. — Defining (only those who study hard)
My sister, who lives in London, is a nurse. — Non-defining (extra info about one specific sister)

Quick Reference Table

Pronoun	Antecedent	Role	Clause type
who	People	Subject	Both
whom	People	Object	Both (formal)
which	Things, animals	Subject or Object	Both
that	People or things	Subject or Object	Defining only
whose	People, things, animals	Possessive	Both
where	Places	Adverbial	Both

Common Mistakes & Tips

❌ Common Error	✅ Correct Form	Why?
The man which called	The man who* called*	which is not used for people
The city which I live	The city where* I live*	where is more natural for places
My brother, that is tall, …	My brother, who* is tall, …*	that cannot be used in non-defining clauses
A girl who bag was stolen	A girl whose* bag was stolen*	Use whose for possession
The house who was old	The house that/which* was old*	who is only for people

💡 Tip: When you can substitute "him/her" for the pronoun in the relative clause, use whom. If "he/she" fits, use who.
"The man whom I met" → I met him ✓ → whom is correct.

Practice Exercise

Choose the correct relative pronoun for each sentence

Question 1 / 20

Correct 0

Wrong 0

Score 0%

Progress 0%

🔊 Click the speaker to hear the sentence read aloud

🏆

Exercise Complete!

-Correct

-Wrong

Pronunciation Practice

Tricky sounds for German speakers — listen, identify & repeat

Question1 / 15

Correct0

Wrong0

🔊 Listen carefully and choose the word you hear

Tap to hear again