8.84 relative pronouns

Many relative clauses begin with a relative pronoun. The relative pronoun usually acts as the subject or object of the verb in the relative clause.

• He is the only person who might be able to help.
• Most of the mothers have a job, which they take both for the money and the company.

Here is a list of the most common relative pronouns:

• that, which, who, whom, whose

Relative pronouns do not have masculine, feminine, or plural forms. The same pronoun can be used to refer to a man, a woman, or a group of people.

• She didn't recognize the man who had spoken.
• I met a girl who knew Mrs Townsend.
• There are many people who find this intolerable.

Some relative clauses do not have a relative pronoun.

• Nearly all the people I used to know have gone.

This is explained in paragraphs 8.90, 8.91, and 8.96.