Relative pronouns are words like who, which, whom, whose and that. The question words what, why and where are sometimes used as relative adverbs.
A relative pronoun serves the same purpose as a conjunction. That means it connects two clauses. At the same time, it acts as the subject or object of the verb in the relative clause.
Study the examples given below.
- I talked to the girl.
- She came from Korea.
We can combine these two sentences using the relative pronoun who.
- I talked to the girl who came from Korea. (NOT I talked to the girl who she came from Korea.)
Here the relative pronoun who not only connects the two clauses but also serves as the subject of the relative clause ‘who came from Korea’.
Use who to refer to people.
Use which to refer to things and sometimes animals.
Use that to refer to things and sometimes people.
Relative pronouns worksheet
1. He died in the village ……………………. he was born. (where / which)
2. This is the hotel ………………………. the conference took place. (where / which)
3. He lived his entire life in the village in ……………………….. he was born. (where / which)
4. Last year I visited the town ………………………. my grandfather grew up in. (which / where)
5. This is the school in ………………………. I studied. (where / which)
6. Madhura is the city ……………………….. Lord Krishna was born in. (where / which)
7. The restaurant ……………………… we had dinner was expensive. (where / which)
8. The woman ………………………. answered the phone was polite. (who / which / whom)
9. The Minister …………………………. got involved in the scandal has denied all allegations. (who / which / whom)
10. The store ………………………… was vandalised by rowdies belonged to my brother. (which / that / who)
11. The vacuum cleaner ……………………….. I bought last week is not very expensive. (which / who / that)
12. The police dispersed the crowd …………………….. were protesting loudly. (who / which / whom)
13. The company ………………………… board members are facing various allegations is running out of business. (who / whose / which)
14. The man ……………………….. leg had been amputated wears a prosthetic leg now. (who / whose / which)
15. Chidambaram, …………………………. temples are famous for their exquisite carvings and architecture, is a town in Tamil Nadu. (which / whose / where)
16. The town ……………………….. has over two million residents is facing water shortage. (which / who / where)
17. The girl ……………………….. hair reaches her knee is now the brand ambassador of a shampoo company. (who / whose / whom)
18. The child ………………………… parents died in the accident now lives in a foster home. (who / whom / whose)
19. I have never met the people ……………………… live next door. (who / which / whom)
20. Susmita, ……………………… parents are teachers, also want to pursue a career in teaching. (who /whose / which)
21. Mrs. Bhat, …………………………. taught us literature at university, is now retired. (who / whom / which)
22. The child ……………………… opened the door was so cute. (who / which / whom)
23. The flowers ………………………. I sent her yesterday were plucked from my own garden. (that / which / whom)
24. Where is the man ………………………. ordered the drink? (who / which / whom)
25. I have lost the paper on ……………………….. I had written her number. (which / where)
Answers
1. He died in the village where he was born.
2. This is the hotel where the conference took place.
3. He lived his entire life in the village in which he was born.
4. Last year I visited the town which my grandfather grew up in.
5. This is the school in which I studied.
6. Madhura is the city which Lord Krishna was born in.
7. The restaurant where we had dinner was expensive.
8. The woman who answered the phone was polite.
9. The Minister who got involved in the scandal has denied all allegations.
10. The store which / that was vandalised by rowdies belonged to my brother.
11. The vacuum cleaner which / that I bought last week is not very expensive.
12. The police dispersed the crowd who were protesting loudly.
13. The company whose board members are facing various allegations is running out of business.
14. The man whose leg had been amputated wears a prosthetic leg now.
15. Chidambaram, whose temples are famous for their exquisite carvings and architecture, is a town in Tamil Nadu.
16. The town which has over two million residents is facing water shortage.
17. The girl whose hair reaches her knee is now the brand ambassador of a shampoo company.
18. The child whose parents died in the accident now lives in a foster home.
19. I have never met the people who live next door.
20. Susmita, whose parents are teachers, also want to pursue a career in teaching.
21. Mrs. Bhat, who taught us literature at university, is now retired.
22. The child who opened the door was so cute.
23. The flowers that / which I sent her yesterday were plucked from my own garden.
24. Where is the man who ordered the drink?
25. I have lost the paper on which I had written her number.
