Relative Pronouns

Relative Pronouns (A lesson for my ESL Students)

There are three (3) “Relative Pronouns” in English–THAT, WHICH, WHO.  Their job is to come after a noun and introduce more information about that object.  Basically, they answer the question “What _____?  I need more information please!”

Especially helpful if you need more information in order to correctly identify that specific object from a group of similar items.  

1. THAT – is used for things and people.  “Tom is the man that is going to teach you.” (Tom is the man. What man? – more information please.  The man going to teach you.)
2.  WHICH – is used only for things. “Here is the car which I used to pick you up.” (This is the car. What car? – more information please. The car I used to pick you up.)
3. WHO – is used only for people. “Mary is the woman who helped me study for the test.” (Mary is the woman. What woman? – more information please.She helped me study for the test.)

EXAMPLE:

We are at the airport, and I say “Go get the car.” But you don’t know my car, you have never seen my car. How do you pick my car from a group of cars?

Well, I could have given you more information about the car using “Relative Pronouns.” 

Since “Car” is a thing, I could use either “that” or “which.”  

1. “Go get the car that is on the right side of the parking lot.”
2. “Go get the car which is green and parked close to the building.”

Both of these would give you more information so you can pick the correct car.

Tags: English, English as a Second Language, ESL, foreign language, Relative Pronouns, That, Which, Who