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
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) in sentences.
Correctly differentiate between 'who' (subject) and 'whom' (object) based on their grammatical function.
Use 'whose' to indicate possession in relative clauses.
Correctly apply 'which' for non-essential clauses and 'that' for essential clauses.
Construct complex sentences using relative pronouns to add descriptive detail.
Revise sentences to correct errors in relative pronoun usage.
Explain the role of relative pronouns in connecting ideas and forming complex sentences.
Ever wonder how to connect ideas smoothly and add rich detail to your writing? 🤔 Relative pronouns are like super-connectors that help your sentences flow!
In this...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative PronounA word that introduces a dependent clause (a relative clause) and connects it to an independent clause. It refers back to a noun or pronoun in the main clause.The student **who** aced the test studied diligently.
Relative ClauseA type of dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun and modifies a noun or pronoun. It provides additional information about the antecedent.The book, **which was a bestseller**, is now being made into a movie.
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a relative pronoun refers back to and replaces in the relative clause.The dog, **which** barked loudly, chased the squirrel. (The antecedent for 'which' is 'dog'.)
Essential ClauseA relative clause that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. If remove...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
Who vs. Whom: Subject vs. Object
'Who' is used when the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb in the relative clause. 'Whom' is used when the relative pronoun is the object of the verb or a preposition in the relative clause.
To decide between 'who' and 'whom,' try replacing the relative pronoun with 'he/she' (for 'who') or 'him/her' (for 'whom') in the relative clause. If 'he/she' fits, use 'who.' If 'him/her' fits, use 'whom.'
Whose: Possession
'Whose' is a possessive relative pronoun used to show ownership or relationship. It can refer to people or things.
Use 'whose' when you want to indicate that the antecedent possesses somet...
5 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Which of the following sentences contains an error in relative pronoun usage?
A.The musician whom we hired for the party was excellent.
B.That is the store that sells the best ice cream.
C.My friend, who's parents are from Italy, speaks fluent Italian.
D.The project, which took three weeks to complete, earned a high grade.
Challenging
Which sentence best combines these three ideas? 'A new student joined our class. His name is Alex. I sat with him at lunch.'
A.new student, whose name is Alex, joined our class that I sat with at lunch.
B.Alex is the new student who joined our class and whom I sat with at lunch.
C.The new student, whom I sat with at lunch and whose name is Alex, joined our class.
D.I sat with the new student at lunch, who joined our class, whose name is Alex.
Challenging
Consider: 'The company's computers, which are all brand new, run very quickly.' How does the meaning change if you remove the commas and change 'which' to 'that'?
A.The meaning does not change; it is only a grammatical preference.
B.The new sentence would be grammatically incorrect.
C.It implies that only the brand-new computers run quickly, and the company might have other, older computers.
D.It changes the subject of the sentence from 'computers' to 'the company'.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free