Writing Lab Pronoun Reference Relative Pronouns Relative Pronouns

Writing Lab Pronoun Reference – Relative Pronouns

Relative Pronouns • Whoever • Whomever • Whose • Which • That • This

Choosing a relative pronoun • “Who, ” “whoever, ” “whomever, ” and “whose” refer to people. • Example: She is the player who should win. • “Whose” can also refer to places and things. • Example: a local paper, whose name will be in tomorrow's paper • Note: this usage usually occurs when using “which” would be awkward: “a local paper, the name of which will be in tomorrow’s paper” is correct, but the sentence with whose is preferable. • “Which” refers to things and places. • Example: I enjoy books which have complex characters.

Choosing a relative pronoun, cont. • “Where” refers to places. • Example: College was a place where Miranda could meet talented people. • “That” refers to things or groups of different people. • In strictest usage, usually used only in restrictive clauses. • Example: I used the gown that I wore to my senior prom for my wedding dress. • “Who, ” “which, ” and “where” can be used in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses • Example: Ellis, who is a freshman, was expelled. Any students who plagiarizes a paper will be expelled.

That’s all, folks! • This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series • Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon • To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson