Relative pronouns can be used to combine two clauses into one sentence. A relative pronoun acts as the subject or object of its verb. It also serves as a conjunction connecting the two clauses.
Study the examples given below.
- The pen has been stolen.
- I bought it yesterday.
We can combine these two sentences using a relative pronoun. Since the noun pen refers to a thing, we can use the relative pronoun which or that.
- The pen which I bought yesterday has been stolen. OR The pen that I bought yesterday has been stolen.
Another example is given below.
- The house is small.
- We live in the house.
- The house which we live in is small. OR The house that we live in is small.
Now consider another example.
- The boy was called Jack.
- He cleaned the table.
Here the pronoun he refers to a person. Therefore, we use the relative pronoun who or that to combine these two clauses.
- The boy who cleaned the table was called Jack. OR The boy that cleaned the table was called Jack.
- The man is my uncle.
- You met him yesterday.
Here the pronoun him is the object of the verb met. We can replace it with the object relative pronoun whom or that.
- The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle. OR The man that you met yesterday is my uncle.
Note that whom is only used in a very formal style. In an informal style, we use who.
- The man who you met yesterday is my uncle.