English Language Arts
Grade 7
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 with varying grammatical complexity, as assessed by a formative quiz.
- Analyze the grammatical function of relative pronouns within complex sentences and explain the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses in a written paragraph of at least 150 words, demonstrating comprehension on a rubric with specific criteria for clarity and accuracy.
- Apply the correct usage of relative pronouns to revise and improve a provided text containing at least 5 errors in relative pronoun usage, achieving a score of 80% or higher on a teacher-graded assignment based on accuracy and clarity.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of different relative pronouns in conveying precise meaning within a given context by rewriting 3 complex sentences using alternative relative pronouns and justifying the choice of the most effective pronoun in each case, as judged by a rubric focusing on clarity and nuance.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the five main relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) and their antecedents in complex sentences.
Differentiate between the subjective case 'who' and the objective case 'whom' by analyzing the pronoun's role within its clause.
Correctly use 'whose' to indicate possession for people, animals, and things.
Distinguish between 'which' (for non-essential clauses about things) and 'that' (for essential clauses about things).
Combine simple sentences into a single, clear complex sentence using an appropriate relative pronoun.
Revise sentences to correct vague pronoun references, particularly those involving 'which' and 'that'.
Ever read a sentence and thought, 'Wai...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun (e.g., he, she, it, they).Instead of 'Maria threw the ball,' you can say 'She threw it.'
AntecedentThe specific noun that a pronoun refers back to. 'Ante-' means 'before.'In 'The student who raised her hand answered the question,' the antecedent of 'who' and 'her' is 'student.'
Relative PronounA pronoun that starts a descriptive clause (a relative clause) and connects it to an antecedent.The dog THAT chased the squirrel is tired. ('that' starts the clause and connects it to 'dog').
Relative ClauseA dependent clause that starts with a relative pronoun and functions like an adjective, describing a noun.The book, WHICH HAS A RE...
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Key Rules & Conventions
People vs. Things
Use 'who,' 'whom,' and 'whose' for people. Use 'which' and 'that' for animals and things.
This is the first and most important rule. Choosing the right pronoun starts with identifying whether the antecedent is a person or a thing.
Subject vs. Object: Who vs. Whom
Use 'who' when the pronoun is the subject of the clause. Use 'whom' when it is the object.
To test this, isolate the relative clause. If you can replace the pronoun with 'he' or 'she,' use 'who.' If you can replace it with 'him' or 'her,' use 'whom.'
Possession: Whose
Use 'whose' to show ownership or possession.
This is the possessive relative pronoun....
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Challenging
Read the original sentence: 'The team captain gave a speech after the game, which inspired everyone.' Why does the pronoun 'which' create a vague reference?
A.Because 'which' should only be used for animals, not for an event like a game.
B.Because it is unclear if 'which' refers to the speech or to the entire event of the game.
C.Because 'which' should be 'that' since the information is essential to the sentence.
D.Because the antecedent 'speech' is too far away from the pronoun 'which'.
Challenging
Which of the following sentences contains a vague or incorrect relative pronoun reference?
A.The director, to whom the actors are very loyal, announced the new play.
B.Please hand me the folder that is on the top of the filing cabinet.
C.My cousin, whose car is a vintage Mustang, is a talented mechanic.
D.In the report, it says that the project which was approved will begin next month.
Challenging
Combine the following two sentences into one clear, grammatically sophisticated sentence: 'The city council is debating a new proposal. I have little confidence in the city council.'
A.The city council, who I have little confidence in, is debating a new proposal.
B.The city council, in which I have little confidence, is debating a new proposal.
C.The city council, in whom I have little confidence, is debating a new proposal.
D.The city council, that I have little confidence in, is debating a new proposal.
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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 7 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 with varying grammatical complexity, as assessed by a formative quiz; Analyze the grammatical function of relative pronouns….
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This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.