Using relative pronouns in defining clauses

8.89 The following paragraphs explain which pronouns you use in defining relative clause.

8.90 When you are referring to a person or group of people, you use 'who' or 'that' as the subject of a defining clause. 'Who' is more common than 'that'.

The man who employed me would transport anything anywhere.

...the people who live in the cottage.

...somebody who is really ill.

...the man that made it.

You use 'who', 'that', or 'whom' as the object of a defining clause, or you do not use a pronoun at all.

...someone who I haven't seen for a long time.

...a woman that I dislike.

...distant relatives whom he had never seen.

...a man I know.

You use 'that' as the complement of a defining clause, or you do not use a pronoun.

...the distinguished actress that she later became.

That was the kind of person she was.

After a superlative, you do not usually use a pronoun.

He was the cleverest man I ever knew.

...the best boy we ever had.

For more information about superlatives see paragraphs 2.117 to 2.127.

8.91 When you are referring to a thing or group of things, you use 'which' or 'that' as the subject of a defining clause.

...pasta which came from Milan.

In fact there are strategies which are much more reliable.

There are a lot of things that are wrong.

You use 'which' or 'that' as the object of a defining clause, or you do not use a pronoun.

...shells which my sister had collected.

...the oxygen that it needs.

...one of the things I'll never forget.

After 'much' or 'all', you use 'that'. You do not use 'which'.

There was not much that the military men could do.

Happiness is all that matters.

Using relative pronouns in non-defining clauses

8.92 The following paragraphs explain which pronouns you use in non-defining relative clauses.

Unlike defining clauses, these clauses cannot be used without a relative pronoun.

referring to people 8.93 When you are referring to a person or group of people, you use 'who' as the subject of a non-defining clause.

Heath Robinson, who died in 1944, was a graphic artist and cartoonist.

The horse's rider, who has not been named, was too distressed to talk to police.

You use 'who' or 'whom' as the object of a non-defining clause.

That's one of the things which Heath, who I do not like, had a clear idea about.

He then became involved in a row with the party chairman, whom he accused of lying.

referring to things 8.94 When you are referring to a thing or group of things, you use 'which' or 'that' as the subject or object of a non-defining clause.

The treatment, which is being tried by researchers at four hospitals, has helped patients who have been failed to respond to other remedies.

British Rail, which has launched an enquiry, said one coach was badly damaged.

He was a man of considerable inherited wealth, which he ultimately spent on his experiments.

...this offer, which few can resist.

Using relative pronouns with prepositions

8.95 A relative pronoun can be the object of a preposition. Usually the preposition goes towards the end of the clause, and not in front of the pronoun.

...the job which I'd been training for.

...the universe that we live in.

...the woman who Muller left his money to.

no pronoun 8.96 Often, in ordinary speech, no pronoun is used.

Angela was the only person I could talk to.

...that place I used to go to last term.

That's all we have time for this week.

indirect objects 8.97 When a relative pronoun is the indirect object of a verb, you use 'to' or 'for'. For example, you say 'the man that she wrote the letter to', not 'the man that she wrote the letter'.

...pieces of work that we give a mark to.

You also use 'to' or 'for' when there is no relative pronoun.

...the girl I sang the song for.

8.98 In formal English, the preposition can go at the beginning of a clause in front of 'whom' or 'which'.

These are the people to whom Catherine was referring.

...a woman friend with whom Rose used to go for walks.

...questions to which there were no answers.

Note however that you cannot put the preposition at the beginning of a clause in front of 'who' or 'that'.

8.99 If the verb in a relative clause is a phrasal verb ending with a preposition, you cannot move the preposition to the beginning of the clause.

...all the things I've had to put up with.

...the kind of life he was looking forward to.

There are other problems, which I don't propose to go into at the moment.

8.100 Words such as 'some', 'many', and 'most' can be put in front of 'of whom' or 'of which' at the beginning of a non-defining relative clause.

At the school we were greeted by the teachers, most of whom were middle-aged.

It is a language shared by several quite diverse cultures, each of which uses it differently.

Numbers can be put before or after 'of whom'.

They act mostly on suggestions from present members (four of whom are women).

Altogether 1,888 people were prosecuted, of whom 1,628 were convicted.