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When I introduce relative pronouns to my students, I always start with the same joke: “There’s a club for relative pronouns, and you either belong to it or you don’t.” Half the class groans. But that’s actually the best way to understand them — a relative pronoun is the connector that lets you add extra information about someone or something you’ve already mentioned.
Relative pronouns are the bridge between two ideas. They let you combine sentences and add detail without repeating yourself. Here, I’ll break down the five main relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that), show you when to use each one, and give you a paradigm table you can reference anytime.
Key Takeaways
- Five main relative pronouns: who (subject, people), whom (object, people), whose (possession, people/animals), which (objects/animals), that (people, animals, or things — informal).
- Who vs. whom: “who” is subject (“The man who spoke”); “whom” is object (“the man whom I met”) — formal register.
- Which refers to things and animals — use it for non-people: “The car which is red…”
- That is the informal workhorse — can replace any relative pronoun in casual speech: “The person that I met…”
- Whose shows possession for people and animals — “The student whose essay won…”
What Is a Relative Pronoun?
A relative pronoun is a word that introduces a clause that gives more information about a noun you’ve already mentioned. It connects two related ideas into one sentence.
Example 1: “I met a woman. She is a journalist.” → “I met a woman who is a journalist.” (The relative pronoun “who” combines the two sentences.)
Example 2: “She was wearing a red dress. I noticed the dress immediately.” → “She was wearing a red dress that I noticed immediately.” (The relative pronoun “that” connects the two ideas.)
Example 3: “The book has an interesting plot. The book was published last year.” → “The book which was published last year has an interesting plot.” (The relative pronoun “which” links the ideas.)
The Complete Relative Pronoun Paradigm
Here’s a comprehensive table showing when to use each relative pronoun:
| Pronoun | Refers to | Function | Formality | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who | People only | Subject of clause | Neutral–formal | The teacher who taught us… |
| Whom | People only | Object of clause | Formal (rare in speech) | The teacher whom I met… |
| Whose | People, animals | Shows possession | Formal–neutral | The student whose essay won… |
| Which | Things, animals | Subject or object | Neutral–formal | The car which is red… |
| That | People, things, animals | Subject or object | Informal (everyday) | The person that I met… |
Who: The Subject Pronoun for People
Use who when the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause — the one doing the action. “Who” always refers to people.
Example 1: The teacher who teaches chemistry is excellent. (“who” is the subject of “teaches”)
Example 2: We’re inviting the friends who helped us move. (“who” is the subject of “helped”)
Example 3: The journalist who wrote this article interviewed five sources. (“who” is the subject of “wrote”)
Example 4: Everyone who attends the workshop will receive a certificate. (“who” is the subject of “attends”)
Example 5: I’m looking for someone who speaks Japanese. (“who” is the subject of “speaks”)
Test for who: Replace the relative pronoun with a personal pronoun. If you’d use “he,” “she,” “they,” or another subject pronoun, use “who.” (“The teacher who teaches chemistry” = “The teacher she teaches chemistry” — wait, that doesn’t work — actually, “The teacher teaches chemistry” — “she” is implied as the subject.)
Whom: The Object Pronoun for People
Use whom when the relative pronoun is the object of the clause — the one being acted upon. “Whom” always refers to people and is more formal than “who.”
Example 1: The woman whom you criticized has replied to your review. (“whom” is the object of “criticized”)
Example 2: The doctor whom we consulted recommended surgery. (“whom” is the object of “consulted”)
Example 3: The author whom I met at the conference was kind. (“whom” is the object of “met”)
Example 4: The candidate whom the company hired was overqualified. (“whom” is the object of “hired”)
Example 5: People whom you trust are rare. (“whom” is the object of “trust”)
Who vs. Whom test: Rephrase the clause as a statement. If you’d use “he” or “she,” use “who.” If you’d use “him” or “her,” use “whom.” Example: “The person whom I invited” — “I invited him” (object) → use “whom.” “The person who arrived” — “he arrived” (subject) → use “who.”
Whose: Showing Possession
Use whose to show that something belongs to or is connected to someone. “Whose” can refer to people or animals and is used before a noun.
Example 1: The student whose essay won first place is graduating next year.
Example 2: I found a dog whose collar was torn. (The collar belonged to the dog.)
Example 3: The architect whose designs impressed everyone won the contract.
Example 4: They adopted a cat whose previous owner had moved abroad.
Example 5: The musician whose concert I attended is performing again next month.
In formal writing, “whose” can also refer to things, though it’s uncommon:
Formal: The building whose architecture is unique… (meaning: the building’s architecture)
Which: For Things and Animals
Use which to refer to things and animals — not people. “Which” can be either the subject or object of the clause.
Example 1: His best movie, which won several awards, was about an undercover agent. (subject)
Example 2: The restaurant which they recommended is excellent. (object)
Example 3: The laptop which I bought last year still works well. (object)
Example 4: Her new car, which is a hybrid, uses very little gas. (subject)
Example 5: The painting which hangs in the hallway is from the 1800s. (subject)
Tip: Notice the difference in commas. “Which” is often used in a non-restrictive clause (set off by commas): “Her coat, which is blue, is beautiful.” But “that” is usually used in a restrictive clause (no commas): “Her coat that is blue is beautiful.”
That: The Informal Workhorse
Use that to refer to people, animals, or things in informal, everyday speech. “That” can function as either subject or object and is the most flexible relative pronoun.
Example 1: The person that called yesterday wants to meet you. (people; subject)
Example 2: It’s the same cooker that my mother has. (things; object)
Example 3: The dog that barked at us is now sleeping peacefully. (animals; subject)
Example 4: Don’t take the money that doesn’t belong to you. (things; subject)
Example 5: The students that studied hard all passed the exam. (people; subject)
In formal writing, prefer “who” for people and “which” for things, but “that” is acceptable and increasingly common in modern English.
Relative Clauses: Essential vs. Non-Essential
There’s an important distinction in how relative clauses function:
Essential (restrictive) clauses give information that’s necessary to identify the noun. No commas:
The student who won the award is my friend. (Which student? The one who won the award.)
Non-essential (non-restrictive) clauses give extra information that’s not needed to identify the noun. Use commas:
My friend Sarah, who won the award, is graduating. (We already know who Sarah is; the clause adds extra detail.)
Example pairs:
Essential: The company that offers the best benefits will get more job applications. (Which company? The one offering the best benefits.)
Non-essential: Our company, which offers excellent benefits, attracts top talent. (Our company is already known; the clause adds detail.)
Common Mistakes with Relative Pronouns
✗ Incorrect: The teacher who I spoke to is kind.
✓ Correct: The teacher whom I spoke to is kind. (Or in casual English: “The teacher that I spoke to is kind.”)
Why: “Whom” is the object of “spoke to.” “Who” is for subjects only.
✗ Incorrect: The car who is red is mine.
✓ Correct: The car which is red is mine.
Why: “Who” refers to people only. For things, use “which.”
✗ Incorrect: The person whose book was stolen reported it to the police.
✓ Correct: The person whose book was stolen reported it to the police.
Why: This is actually correct. (Just checking you’re paying attention!)
✗ Incorrect: The movie that we watched, was really good.
✓ Correct: The movie that we watched was really good.
Why: No comma after “watched.” The clause is essential (it identifies which movie), so no comma is needed.
Sample Dialogues
Teacher and student discussing relative pronouns
Teacher: Why did you use “that” here instead of “who”?
Student: Because it was a person, and I thought I should use “who” for people.
Teacher: You can use either! In formal writing, “who” is preferred, but in everyday English, “that” is fine. Both are correct.
Student: What about “whom”?
Teacher: “Whom” is for when the person is the object — when something is done TO them. “The person whom I invited” — I invited them (object).
Discussing which vs. that
A: Is it “the book which I read” or “the book that I read”?
B: Both work, but there’s a comma difference. “The book that I read” — no comma — tells you WHICH book. “My favorite book, which I read in college,” — with commas — adds extra info about a book you already know.
A: So they’re not really wrong, just different styles?
B: Exactly. In modern English, “that” is more common even without commas.
Quick Quiz
- The teacher ________ I met gave great advice. (who / whom)
- The car ________ is parked outside is mine. (that / which — either acceptable, but choose the more formal)
- Do you know the student ________ won the prize? (who / that)
- The house ________ roof is leaking needs repairs. (that / whose)
- I like people ________ are honest. (that / who)
Answers: 1. whom (or “that” in casual speech) · 2. which · 3. who (or “that” in casual speech) · 4. whose · 5. who or that (both acceptable)
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Personal Pronouns in English
- Subject Pronouns: Master the Doers of Action
- Possessive Pronouns: Mine, Yours, His, Hers, Ours, and Theirs
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Pronouns (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a relative pronoun?
A relative pronoun is a word that introduces a clause that gives more information about a noun. The five main relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, and that.
What’s the difference between “who” and “whom”?
“Who” is for the subject of a clause (“The person who spoke”); “whom” is for the object (“The person whom I met”). “Whom” is more formal and less common in casual speech.
When should I use “which” vs. “that”?
“Which” is typically used for non-essential information set off by commas (“My car, which is red…”); “that” is used for essential information (“The car that is red…”). In modern English, “that” is increasingly common for both.
Can “that” replace all relative pronouns?
In casual, informal speech, yes — “that” can replace “who,” “whom,” “which.” In formal writing, it’s better to use “who” for people and “which” for things, but “that” is increasingly accepted in modern English.
What does “whose” mean?
“Whose” shows possession — that something belongs to or is connected to someone. It can refer to people (“the student whose essay won”) or animals (“the dog whose collar was torn”).
How do I know if a relative clause is essential or non-essential?
Essential clauses identify the noun and have no commas: “The person that I met was kind.” Non-essential clauses add extra information and are set off by commas: “My boss, whom I respect, is retiring.”
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