Relative pronouns are also called 'Linking pronouns' as they link the Dependent Relative clause of a sentence to its main clause.
Read the following pairs of sentences and observe how these are joined with the help of Relative Pronouns.
I know the boy. The boy came from Calcutta.
= I know the boy who came from Calcutta.
This is the book. This belongs to my grandfather.
=This is the book which belongs to my grandfather.
This is the rat. It was caught by a cat.
=This is the rat that was caught by a cat.
It is you. You are to be blamed.
= It is you who are to be blamed.
*Note: The nouns or pronouns immediately before the Relative Pronouns are called the Antecedents.
Here is a table to classify different uses of Relative Pronoun.
Sometimes 'what', 'who' etc. relative pronouns can be used in the beginning of or in the middle of a sentence:
What has happened is not clear.
What cannot be cured must be endured. Who laughs last laughs best.
I don't know what has happened.
I say what I mean,
I know who he is.
Omission of the Relative Pronoun:
The Relative pronoun is generally omitted when it is in the objecting case.
The man (whom) I Invited is my friend.
The book (which) I am reading is good.
I am the monarch of all (that) I survey.
The tendency to omit the Accusative (objective) Relative is mo marked in the spoken language. In the written language is omission is often felt to be undignified.
- Wren & Martin.
Omisson of the Antecedent:
Sometimes the Antecedent of a Relative pronoun is left out.
Who does not work shall not eat.
= (He) Who does not work shall not eat.
Whom the gods love, die young.
= (Those) Whom the gods love, die young.
What is done cannot be undone.
= (That) What is done cannot be undone.
Agreement of the Relative Pronoun and its Antecedent:
As The Relative pronoun refers to a Noun or a Pronoun (i.e. Antecedent), it must be of the same number and person as its Antecedent.
The boy who was lazy was punished.
The boys who were lazy were punished.
I am the last person that is to blame.
You who are mighty should be merciful.
He that is down needs fear no fall.
They who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
The flowers which grow in our garden are not for sale.
But the case of the Relative pronoun depends upon its relation to the verb in the clause in which it occurs.
Ram is the boy who did it. (subject)
Ram is the boy whom I want. (object)
Ram is the boy whose pencil I want. (possessive)
Position of the Relative Pronoun:
To remove ambiguity, the Relative pronoun should be placed as near as possible to its Antecedent.
(i) The boy who was walking in the field saw a dead man.
We cannot say —
The boy saw a dead man who was walking in the field.
(ii) The boy who won the first prize is the son of my friend.
We cannot say —
The boy is the son of my friend who won the first prize.
Compound Relative Pronouns :
Compound Relative pronouns are formed by adding ever or soever to who, which or what.
Whoever (= any person who) comes is welcome.
Take whichever (= anything which) you like.
Whatever (= anything which) may happen, I'll do this.
Whatsoever (= anything what) may happen, I'll do this.
Whomsoever ( = anyone whom).
You can call whomsoever you see.
Short forms of pronoun & verb:
I am = I'm
I shall/will = I'll
We are = We're
We shall = We'll
You are = You're
You will = You'll
I have = I've
We have = We ve
He has = He's
He is = He's
She is = She's
They are = They're
He will = He'll
She will = She ll
They will = They'll
You have = You've
It is = It's
That is = That's
Note: Its = of it; It's= It is
These short forms of pronoun & verb are often used in Spoken English.
