1. Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs
© Rafael Moreno Esteban

2. © Rafael Moreno Esteban
Relative pronoun
Use
Example
Who
subject or object pronoun for people
I told you about the woman who lives next door.
Which
subject or object pronoun for animals and things
Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?
referring to a whole sentence
He couldn’t read which surprised me.
Whose
possession for people animals and things
Do you know the boy whose mother is a nurse?
Whom
object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we colloquially prefer who)
I was invited by the professor whom I met at the conference.
That
subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things in defining relative clauses (who or which are also possible)
I don’t like the table that stands in the kitchen.
© Rafael Moreno Esteban

3. © Rafael Moreno Esteban
Relative Adverbs
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. This often makes the sentence easier to understand.
This is the shop in which I bought my bike. → This is the shop where I bought my bike.
Relative adverb
Meaning
Use
Example
When
in/on which
refers to a time expression
the day when we met him
Where
in/at which
refers to a place
the place where we met him
why
for which
refers to a person
the reason why we met him
© Rafael Moreno Esteban

4. LINKING WORDS

5. LINKING WORDS

6. Relative Pronouns Practice
Identify the adjective clause and circle the relative pronoun
1. The book that I wanted to read had been checked out.
2. Betsy wrote to the man who returned her lost dog.
3. The play in which those lines appear is Hamlet.
4. The player who has the fewest points wins.
5. Columbus is a person whose name everyone knows.

7. Relative Adverbs Practice
Identify the adjective clause and circle the relative adverb.
1. Areas where flooding was severe have been evacuated.
2. We couldn’t imagine the reason why Laura was so late.
3. An x marks the spot where the treasure is buried.
4. In the days before the telegraph was invented, news traveled slowly.
5. No one was in the building at the time when the fire occurred.

8. Closing Quiz on Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs
1. How many relative pronouns are there?
2. How many relative adverbs are there?
3. Give 3 examples of relative pronouns.
4. Give 3 examples of relative adverbs.
5. Write one sentence each using a relative pronoun and a relative adverb. (2 sentences)

9. CRCT QOTD