English Language Arts
Grade 5
15 min
Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that
Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that
What you'll learn
- Identify the correct relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) to complete 8 out of 10 sentences, demonstrating understanding of pronoun case and reference.
- Apply knowledge of relative pronoun usage to combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using 'who,' 'whom,' 'whose,' 'which,' or 'that' with 80% accuracy.
- Analyze the grammatical function of relative clauses within complex sentences, explaining how they modify nouns or pronouns in at least 3 out of 4 examples.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of different relative pronouns in conveying precise meaning within a given context, justifying their choices in a short paragraph with at least three supporting reasons.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the function of relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) in a sentence.
Choose the correct relative pronoun to connect a clause to a noun within dialogue.
Differentiate between using 'who' for subjects and 'whom' for objects in spoken sentences.
Use 'whose' to show possession in a character's speech.
Distinguish between using 'which' for things and 'who/whom' for people in quotations.
Combine two simple sentences into one complex sentence using a relative pronoun to create more descriptive dialogue.
Have you ever wanted to describe a character or object in a story without starting a whole new sentence? 🤔 Let's learn the secret words that connect your ideas!
In this lesson, you...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative PronounA word that introduces a clause giving more information about a noun. It acts as a connector.The student, who raised her hand, asked, "Can you explain that again?" ('who' connects the clause 'raised her hand' to 'the student').
WhoA relative pronoun used for people when they are the subject (the one doing the action).The coach said, "I need a player who can run fast."
WhomA relative pronoun used for people when they are the object (the one receiving the action).The detective asked, "Who is the person to whom you gave the letter?"
WhoseA relative pronoun that shows possession or ownership for people, animals, or things.A girl, whose dog had run away, cried, "Has anyone seen a beagle?"...
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Key Rules & Conventions
People vs. Things
Use 'who' and 'whom' for people. Use 'which' and 'that' for animals or things.
This is the most important rule. Never use 'which' to refer to a person in a sentence. For example, say 'The boy who is my friend,' not 'The boy which is my friend.'
The 'He/Him' Trick for Who/Whom
If you can replace the word with 'he' or 'she', use 'who'. If you can replace it with 'him' or 'her', use 'whom'.
To check your choice, try rephrasing the clause as a sentence. For 'The man who/whom I saw,' rephrase it as 'I saw him.' Since 'him' fits, 'whom' is correct. For 'The man who/whom saw me,...
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Challenging
A character says, "The new student is very friendly. He is from Canada." Which revision uses a relative pronoun to create the most descriptive and natural-sounding dialogue?
A."The new student, who is from Canada, is very friendly."
B."The new student, whom is from Canada, is very friendly."
C."The new student that is from Canada is very friendly."
D."The new student is very friendly, which is from Canada."
Challenging
In the line of dialogue, "The magician, for whom the crowd cheered loudly, took a bow," what is the specific grammatical role of 'whom'?
A.It is the subject of the verb 'cheered'.
B.It is the object of the preposition 'for'.
C.It shows that the crowd belongs to the magician.
D.It is the subject of the verb 'took'.
Challenging
A character in a draft of a story says, "My teacher, which I respect a lot, gave me this book." How should this dialogue be corrected to be grammatically accurate?
A.Change "which" to "who".
B.Change "which" to "whose".
C.Change "which" to "whom".
D.The sentence is already correct.
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What grade level is "Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that"?
Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that is a Grade 5 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that?
You'll be able to: Identify the correct relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) to complete 8 out of 10 sentences, demonstrating understanding of pronoun case and reference; Apply knowledge of relative pronoun usage to combine two simple….
Is "Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that" free to practice?
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This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.