Relative Pronouns / Relative Clauses

Relative Pronouns are who, whom, that, which, whose, where, and when. We use relative pronouns to connect a clause or phrase to a noun​ (in the main clause) that it modifies. The clause with relative pronoun is called a relative clause (all the below underlined clauses). It functions as an independent clause.

We use who and that for people.

• My teacher has a luxury car. He is also an online freelancer.
  My teacher who/that is also an online freelancer has a luxury car.
• JK Rowling is an author. She wrote Harry Potter series.
  JK Rowling is the author who/that wrote Harry Potter series. 

We use whom for people as an object. Who and that can also be used in an informal way.

• He is the traveler. I saved him.
  He is the traveler whom I saved.

We use which and that for things.

• The film was horrible. We watched it last night.
  The film which/that we watch last night was horrible.
• I lost the pen. You lend it to me.
  I lost the pen which/that you lend to me.

We use whose for possessions.

• She's a lucky woman. Her husband is a billionaire.
  She's a lucky woman whose husband is a billionaire.
• They are the people. Their houses were burnt down a few days ago.
  They are the people whose houses were burnt down a few days ago.

We use where for places.

• This is the city. We grew up here.
  This is the city where we grew up.
• That is the park. I lost my wallet there.
  That is the park where I lost my wallet.

We use when for time.

• It was yesterday. The committee announced its winner at that time.
  It was yesterday when the committee announced its winner.

Articles - a, an & the

A/An

We use "a/an" with singular countable nouns. It is used to mention something for the first time, or to say that the thing is one of a number of things.

• I've got a skateboard. (mention something for the first time). It is a homemade skateboard. (the thing is one of a number of things)
• She has a sister. (mention something for the first time)

We use articles "a/an" to mention someone's profession.

• I am a professor.
• She is an engineer.

We use "a" before a consonant sound and we use "an" before a vowel sound.

• He's an artist.
• It is a German car.

The

We use "the" with countable (singular and plural) nouns and uncountable nouns. We use it to refer to something or somebody previously mentioned. (Compare to "a/an" above).

• I've got a skateboard. The skateboard was a birthday present from a penfriend.
• They need a house. The house must be big enough for the whole family. 

We use "the" talk about specific things or people.

• The restaurant we went to last night was horrible.
• Do you remember the gift I got from Mom for my birthday?

We use "the" to talk about something "unique".

• The government should promote the local products. (There is only one government in a country)
• The world is facing a serious problem. (There is only one world or I am referring to the one we are living in)

No Articles

We do not use an article when we are talking about people or things in general.

• I like oranges.
• People are sometimes selfish.
• Education is very important in the world.
• I love drinking tea in the afternoon.