A pronoun is a word that takes the place of another word. The most familiar type of pronouns are the personal pronouns such as she, he, it, we, you, they, and so on. Relative pronouns such as that, which, and who introduce descriptive relative clauses. Demonstrative pronouns such as that and this can stand for an entire sentence or idea, and they can also serve as adjectives modifying a noun.
-
-
-
Choosing the right relative pronoun
Relative pronouns are words like that and which, and they are used to replace a word or phrase in a previous phrase or sentence. Using relative pronouns correctly increases clarity, and makes a text more formal. It is important to note that that the use of these words in writing may differ slightly from their use in spoken English.
ESL Tips on the Use of Relative Pronouns
[Source: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/645/03/]
Although there is no one single rule to cover all the cases, the following summary may be helpful if you need to make a quick decision:
- Use that if the main clause poses the question WHAT? answered by the relative clause;
- Do not use that presenting non-essential, additional information (that is, in non-defining relative clauses); use who or which instead;
- Use who to refer to people;
- Use which to refer to things or to refer to the previous clause as a whole;
- If you choose between who or that, use who in writing;
- If you choose between which and that, use which in writing;
- Do not put a comma before that.
-
-
in which / where / when
Relative pronouns can function as objects in both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. If the pronoun refers to a human, then the word “whom” is used. When the pronoun refers to a non-human thing, in which, where, and when are used.
The book in which these concepts are first described was published in 2010.
The relative pronoun where is used when a physical location is being referred to. Where is also sometimes used instead of in which when referring to a printed source. This usage is not incorrect, although it is less formal.
Runic artefacts can appear in a wide variety of materials, in contrast to rune stones where letters are carved onto naturally resistant material.
The book where these concepts are first described was published in 2010.
The relative pronoun when can be used if a time period is being referred to, although in which can also be used.
Interpretations of cultures are inevitably influenced by the historical period when they were made.
-
-
-
Using that which / what
The phrase that which (or those which, in plural) and the word what can be used as pronouns to introduce a relative clause. The two alternatives are nearly equivalent in meaning, although that which is more formal than what.
Our conclusion is very much in line with that which others have made.
Our results are very much in line with those which have been found previously.
Our results are very much in line with what others have found.
In some cases, that which is clearly preferable to what.
When he first meets Daisy, his image of her and that of her house are closely connected because to him they both represent that which is forbidden.
-
-
-
who / that
Whenever the thing referred to is a human, it is more formal to use the relative pronoun who.
Expatriates who are new to a country will have much to learn.
Using that, while not incorrect, is somewhat less formal.
Expatriates that are new to a country will have much to learn.
In certain circumstance, who can be used instead of that, if the stylistic purpose is to anthropomorphize the referrent.
Firms who manage to attract high-level workers are undervalued be the market.
-
-
-
whose / of which
Things owned by a human or animal can be indicated by the word whose (“My sister, whose car I am borrowing, comes home tomorrow.”) However, English has no word for things owned by an inanimate object. In these cases, the word whose can be used, although this usage is considered by some to be less formal. The alternative is to use the phrase of which. Using of which will require re-writing certain parts of the sentence, and even then, such a re-write is not always feasible.
The second chapter describes numerical prediction models used in Sweden today, whose accuracies contribute to the dependability of forecast products.
The second chapter describes numerical prediction models used in Sweden today, the accuracies of which contribute to the dependability of forecast products.
-
-
-
why / that
When using a relative pronoun to introduce a cause of something, one can use either why or that.
This is the reason that both the web interface and the booking board show only seven days of reservations
[T]here must be an underlying ideological, ritual, sociological, or political, if not operative, reason why the dead and/or those who have buried them would choose to mark a person in death in a particular way (Costin 1996:119).
-
-
-
-
A person of unknown gender
It is often necessary to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant. In such cases, the plural pronoun they can be used.
Saving the game should allow the player to return to the real world when they need to.
Either of the personal pronouns she or he could also be used; sometimes she/he or he/she are used. The form s/he is generally considered less formal.
An alternative is to rewrite the sentence to avoid the pronoun.
Saving the game should allow the player to return to the real world when necessary.
-
-
-
Demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives
The phrases this is and these are are often seen at the beginning of clauses or sentences. The demonstrative pronouns this and these refer back to a word or idea in the previous clause or sentence.
Runic artefacts are both textual sources and archaeological artefacts. Because of this it will be important to classify runic artefacts according to both function and inscription.
However, demonstrative pronouns can reduce writing clarity when they are used in the following situations: 1) at the beginning of sentences; 2) in sentences in which several topics are covered; 3) in more complicated sentences containing several clauses. For example, in the second sentence, it is not clear which topic the pronoun this refers to.
The algorithms discussed in this paper, however theoretically fast, must also be implemented in an efficient way, and certain difficulties will be encountered. This is discussed in the framework of future exascale computers.
The word this could refer to the difficulties, the need for implementation of an efficient algorithm, or the theoretical speed of the algorithms. The problem is easily fixed by turning the demonstrative pronoun into a demonstrative adjective modifying the noun. In other words, simply add or repeat the relevant noun, like this:
The algorithms discussed in this paper, however theoretically fast, must also be implemented in an efficient way, and certain difficulties will be encountered. These difficulties are discussed in the framework of future exascale computers.
-
-
