Relative pronouns are pronouns that introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun in a sentence. They help to connect the clause to the noun, making the sentence more informative and cohesive. The most common relative pronouns in English are:
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Who: Refers to people (subject of the clause).
- Example: "The teacher who taught me is retiring."
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Whom: Refers to people (object of the clause). It is less commonly used in informal speech.
- Example: "The student whom you met is my friend."
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Whose: Indicates possession and can refer to people or things.
- Example: "The artist whose work you admire is coming to town."
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Which: Refers to animals or things (usually non-defining clauses).
- Example: "The book which I borrowed was fascinating."
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That: Refers to people, animals, or things (often used in defining clauses).
- Example: "The car that I bought is blue."
Relative pronouns help to create more complex sentences by adding extra information while maintaining clarity and flow.