Relative pronouns are used to introduce clauses.
Defining relative pronouns introduce a clause which distinguishes the noun being described from the rest of its class hence they introduce adjectival clauses.
e.g. The boys who sneaked from school were punished.
This sentence implies that only those boys who sneaked from school were punished. Those who did not sneak from school were not punished.
Non-defining relative clauses simply augment (or are in apposition to the noun being described.
e.g. The boys, who sneaked from school, were punished.
The second sentence implies that all the boys sneaked from school; hence they were all punished.
Below is a list of relative pronouns used in defining relative clauses.
|
|
Subject |
Object |
Possessive |
|
For persons
For things
|
Who That
Which That |
Who /whom That
Which That |
Whose
Where /of which
|