English Language Arts
Grade 12
15 min
Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that
Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between the subjective case (who) and objective case (whom) in complex sentence structures.
Correctly apply the possessive relative pronoun (whose) to both animate and inanimate antecedents.
Distinguish between restrictive (that) and non-restrictive (which) clauses, using appropriate punctuation.
Analyze the stylistic and rhetorical effects of relative pronoun choice in literary and academic texts.
Construct sophisticated, multi-clause sentences using a variety of relative pronouns to enhance clarity and precision in their own writing.
Identify and correct common errors in relative pronoun usage in their own and others' writing.
Is the person *who* wrote this responsible, or is the person *for whom* it was written? 🤔 In law, literature...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative PronounA pronoun that introduces a dependent (or relative) clause and connects it to an antecedent (the noun it refers to). The five main relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that.In 'The author *who* won the prize is my mentor,' the relative pronoun 'who' introduces the clause 'who won the prize' and connects it to 'author'.
AntecedentThe noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to. A relative pronoun's antecedent is in the main clause.In 'She read *Beowulf*, which is an Old English epic poem,' the antecedent for 'which' is 'Beowulf'.
Relative ClauseA type of dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun. It functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Who (Subject) vs. Whom (Object)
Use 'who' when the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause. Use 'whom' when the pronoun is the object of the verb or a preposition in the relative clause.
To test this, isolate the relative clause and substitute 'he/she' for 'who' or 'him/her' for 'whom'. If 'he/she' fits, use 'who'. If 'him/her' fits, use 'whom'. Example: The critic (who/whom) they admire wrote the review. Clause: 'they admire (who/whom)'. Test: 'they admire him'. Correct: 'The critic whom they admire...'
That (Restrictive) vs. Which (Non-Restrictive)
Use 'that' to introduce a restrictive clause (essential information, no commas). Use...
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Challenging
How does the choice of a relative pronoun create a stylistic and rhetorical difference between these two sentences?
1. 'The theory that ignores cultural context is flawed.'
2. 'The theory, which ignores cultural context, is flawed.'
A.Sentence 1 is more formal, while Sentence 2 is more conversational.
B.Sentence 1 implies that only some theories are flawed (those ignoring context), while Sentence 2 makes a blanket statement about a specific, already-identified theory.
C.Sentence 1 uses the objective case, while Sentence 2 uses the subjective case.
D.There is no significant stylistic or rhetorical difference between the two sentences.
Challenging
From the given components, construct the most precise and grammatically sophisticated sentence using relative pronouns.
Components: [a literary movement] [it was known as Modernism] [its influence is still felt today] [it challenged Victorian conventions]
A.Modernism is a literary movement that challenged Victorian conventions and which its influence is still felt today.
B.The literary movement that is known as Modernism, its influence is still felt today, challenged Victorian conventions.
C.Modernism, a literary movement that challenged Victorian conventions, is a force whose influence is still felt today.
D.Modernism was a literary movement which challenged Victorian conventions, that influence is still felt today.
Challenging
In the sentence, 'The theorist, for whom this entire school of thought is named, argued against empirical positivism,' what is the grammatical justification for using 'whom'?
A.'Whom' is the subject of the verb 'is named'.
B.'Whom' is the direct object of the verb 'argued'.
C.The clause 'for whom this entire school of thought is named' is non-restrictive.
D.'Whom' is the object of the preposition 'for'.
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