Micro-listening
Relative pronouns: choose the right word
How do I choose the right relative pronoun?
Choose 'who' for people, 'which' for things and animals, 'whose' for possession, and 'that' for essential identifying information. Use 'whom' formally when a person receives an action or follows a preposition. For example: 'The chef who prepared dinner greeted us.' You can omit an object pronoun, but not a subject pronoun.
Key points
- Use 'who' when a person performs the clause action.
- Use 'which' for things, animals, and abstract ideas.
- Use 'whose' to show possession or connection.
- Use 'that' in essential clauses without commas.
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At a glance
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | People acting as the clause subject | The guide who led us was helpful. |
| whom | Formal object or after a preposition | The colleague with whom I worked moved abroad. |
| which | Things, animals, or extra information | The bike, which is new, is very light. |
| that | Essential identifying information without commas | Choose the route that avoids traffic. |
| whose | Possession or connection | I met a student whose project won. |
The full explanation
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses that clarify or expand on a preceding noun. Words like who, which, that, whose, and whom tell your listener whether you are describing an individual, a thing, an owner, or someone receiving an action.
The technician who repaired the heat pump checked the thermostat before leaving.
Why it works: Who refers back to technician, a person acting as the subject of repaired.
2 more examples
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The package that arrived this afternoon contains the replacement cables.
That introduces an essential defining clause describing the package.
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Our supervisor spoke with an architect whose design reduced heating costs.
Whose shows that the design belongs to the architect.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exercise
Identify the noun before choosing a pronoun
Before choosing a relative pronoun, locate the exact noun that appears immediately before the clause. That noun dictates your grammatical options because relative pronouns connect descriptions back to an antecedent. If the noun refers to a person, you must select from personal pronouns like who or whose. If it names an object, animal, or concept, you need non-personal options such as which or that. Reading the noun first prevents you from guessing based on the verb inside the clause.
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The technician who repaired our network restored internet access quickly.
Why it works: Technician is a person, which requires the personal relative pronoun who.
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We ordered new software which tracks project deadlines automatically.
Why it works: Software is a thing, so which connects the noun to the descriptive clause.
Your turn
Which relative pronoun correctly completes this sentence: 'The architect ___ designed our community center won an award'?
Answer: who
Show the answer
Answer: who
Architect names a person who performs the action, making who the correct choice.
Select who when people perform the action
Use who when the relative clause describes a human being acting as the subject of the clause verb. In everyday spoken English and standard professional correspondence, who connects the person directly to their action. You will notice that who is immediately followed by a verb such as manages, helped, or organized. Testing the clause as an independent statement helps verify this role: if he or she fits naturally, who is the correct connector.
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The dentist who cleaned my teeth noticed a small cavity.
Why it works: Who functions as the subject of cleaned, referring back to dentist.
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I thanked the volunteers who organized the neighborhood cleanup.
Why it works: Who refers to volunteers and acts as the subject of the verb organized.
You can practise this again in Reflexive Pronouns: Choose the Right Form and Synonyms in English: Choose the Right Word.
Your turn
Select the pronoun that correctly fills the blank: 'The nurse ___ administered the vaccine explained the side effects.'
Answer: who
Show the answer
Answer: who
Nurse is a person performing the action of administering, so who serves as the subject pronoun.
Distinguish who and whom in formal sentences
Use whom when a person receives the action of the verb or follows a preposition in formal English. In relaxed daily speech, native speakers frequently replace whom with who, especially when the preposition moves to the end of the clause. However, formal academic papers and official business letters still expect whom directly after prepositions like to, with, or about. If you can substitute him or her into the clause, whom is the formal target form.
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The manager to whom we submitted the proposal approved our budget.
Why it works: Whom follows the preposition to in formal written style.
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The client whom you met yesterday signed the service contract.
Why it works: Whom acts as the grammatical object of met, representing the person who was met.
Your turn
Choose the appropriate word for this formal correspondence: 'The director with ___ I negotiated confirmed the partnership terms.'
Answer: whom
Show the answer
Answer: whom
In formal English, the preposition with requires the objective relative pronoun whom.
Use which to describe objects and animals
Choose which whenever the antecedent is an inanimate object, an animal, or an abstract idea. This pronoun never refers to individual human beings. You will encounter which both in clauses that define essential characteristics and in clauses set apart by commas that provide background details. When reading or listening, treat which as a clear signal that the speaker is expanding on a non-human noun previously mentioned.
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The application which manages our inventory requires a security update.
Why it works: Application is an inanimate tool, making which the accurate relative pronoun.
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She adopted a rescue dog which responds well to gentle training.
Why it works: Which describes an animal and introduces the descriptive clause.
Your turn
Complete the sentence correctly: 'The heating unit ___ warms the workshop shut down unexpectedly.'
Answer: which
Show the answer
Answer: which
Heating unit is an inanimate machine, which requires the non-human pronoun which.
Apply that in essential identifying clauses
Use that in defining relative clauses that provide indispensable information needed to identify a specific noun. Without this clause, the sentence loses its intended meaning or leaves the listener wondering which item or person you mean. In modern American English, that is preferred over which for defining clauses about things, and it frequently replaces who in informal talk about people. Importantly, that never follows a comma.
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The bus that stops near the public library arrives every twenty minutes.
Why it works: That identifies the specific bus route rather than buses in general.
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Discard any milk cartons that show an expiration date from last week.
Why it works: The defining clause specifies exactly which cartons must be discarded.
Your turn
Identify the pronoun that best specifies the object without commas: 'Return the manual ___ contains the safety instructions.'
Answer: that
Show the answer
Answer: that
That introduces an essential defining clause specifying exactly which manual to return.
Express possession clearly using whose
Use whose to show that the noun inside the relative clause belongs to the antecedent. While who and which distinguish people from things, whose functions flexibly for people, animals, and organizations alike. The word whose is always followed immediately by the noun being possessed, without an article like a or the between them. Be careful not to confuse whose with the contraction who's, which means who is or who has.
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We assisted a homeowner whose roof sustained storm damage.
Why it works: Whose indicates that the roof belongs to the homeowner.
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The committee reviewed a startup whose founders graduated last spring.
Why it works: Whose shows that the founders belong to the startup organization.
Your turn
Select the pronoun showing possession: 'I spoke with a photographer ___ portfolio features urban architecture.'
Answer: whose
Show the answer
Answer: whose
Whose shows that the portfolio belongs to the photographer.
Handle commas in non-identifying clauses
When a relative clause merely adds extra background detail about a noun that is already specifically identified, enclose the clause in commas. In these non-identifying clauses, you must use who for people and which for things. You cannot use that after a comma. If you remove a non-identifying clause, the remaining sentence still communicates a complete, unambiguous thought. Listeners hear brief pauses where commas appear in print.
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My laptop, which I purchased three years ago, still runs demanding software.
Why it works: The commas indicate that the clause provides supplementary background, not identification.
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Dr. Patel, who joined our clinic last month, specializes in pediatric care.
Why it works: Dr. Patel is already identified by name, so the clause between commas adds extra information.
Your turn
Choose the correct pronoun for this non-identifying clause: 'Our main office, ___ sits across from city hall, opens at eight.'
Answer: which
Show the answer
Answer: which
Because the clause is set off by commas to add extra information, which is required instead of that.
Determine when to omit object relative pronouns
You can omit that, which, or who when the relative pronoun serves as the grammatical object of the clause verb. In the phrase 'the jacket I bought,' the missing pronoun that is the object because I did the buying. Omitting object pronouns makes everyday speech and informal writing sound natural and concise. However, you must never omit a relative pronoun that acts as the subject, because doing so creates an ungrammatical double verb.
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The report we reviewed yesterday contained accurate market data.
Why it works: The object relative pronoun that or which is omitted before the subject we.
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The technician who repaired the furnace arrived on time.
Why it works: Who cannot be omitted because it serves as the grammatical subject of repaired.
Your turn
In which sentence can the relative pronoun be naturally omitted in conversation?
Answer: The proposal that we submitted outlined three realistic solutions.
Show the answer
Answer: The proposal that we submitted outlined three realistic solutions.
That is the object of submitted (we submitted the proposal), so it can be omitted naturally.
Common mistakes
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
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Not this:
The musician which played last night was excellent.Say: The musician who played last night was excellent.
'Musician' refers to a person, so use 'who', not 'which'.
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Not this:
The shop that, sells handmade cards, is nearby.Say: The shop that sells handmade cards is nearby.
An essential clause cannot use commas around 'that'.
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Not this:
The woman works in reception helped me.Say: The woman who works in reception helped me.
The subject relative pronoun 'who' cannot be omitted before the verb.
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Not this:
The book who I borrowed was fascinating.Say: The book that I borrowed was fascinating.
'Book' is a thing, and 'that' introduces this essential clause.
Before you go
Remember this
Connect clauses by identifying the noun first. Select who for people, which for things, whose for ownership, and that for defining details without commas. Remember that object relative pronouns can be dropped in conversational English, but subject relative pronouns must stay.
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Listening 1 of 4
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Meet an instructor who organizes every morning clinic.
Who functions as the subject pronoun referring to instructor, followed smoothly by the vowel-initial verb organizes.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listening 2 of 4
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Read the transcript
We know an artist whose uncle owns an agency.
Whose expresses possession, connecting the artist to their uncle, with a clear vowel following the pronoun.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Listening 3 of 4
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Read the transcript
Elena chose a laptop which operates on solar power. She values tools that run reliably during power outages because her design studio needs steady energy.
Which and that connect inanimate objects (laptop and tools) to clauses defining their functional characteristics.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
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Read the transcript
Rachel manages an evening academy which offers cooking lessons. She welcomes applicants who express genuine interest in regional dishes. Yesterday she spoke with a baker whose artisan loaves won local honors. Students appreciate instructors who explain every technique patiently, because clear guidance creates confidence in a busy kitchen.
The text demonstrates which for institutions, who for people performing actions, and whose for possession, all positioned before vowel sounds for acoustic clarity.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Describe a person or organization in your town that provides an essential service, explaining what they do and who benefits from their work.
Use: relative pronouns: choose the right word
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Meet an instructor who organizes every morning clinic.
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Questions about "Relative pronouns: choose the right word"
When should I choose that instead of which?
Use that in defining clauses that identify the specific item you are talking about. In American English, that is standard when the clause is essential to the sentence meaning and has no commas. Use which when the clause provides non-essential background information between commas. While British English sometimes accepts which in defining clauses, using that for essential clauses and which for comma clauses keeps your writing clear across both dialects.
The computer that sits on my desk belongs to the company.
My computer, which sits on my desk, needs a software update.
Can I use whose to talk about inanimate objects and organizations?
Yes, whose can show ownership or connection for objects, companies, and inanimate entities as well as people. While whose originally applied only to people, modern English uses whose for non-human antecedents to avoid awkward phrasing like of which. Saying 'the company whose headquarters relocated' is natural and accepted in both conversation and formal business writing.
The committee chose a proposal whose budget remained realistic.
We rented a house whose windows overlook the harbor.
How do I know if I can drop that or who from my sentence?
Check whether the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a verb or by another subject noun or pronoun. If the relative pronoun is immediately followed by a subject like I, you, we, or a name, the pronoun is an object and can be omitted. If the relative pronoun is immediately followed by a verb, it is the grammatical subject of that verb and cannot be removed.
The book I finished yesterday was fascinating.
The author who wrote that book visited our library.
Is whom necessary in daily conversation?
In casual conversation, native speakers rarely use whom. Most people say who even when the pronoun acts as an object, such as 'Who did you invite?' or 'The person who I called.' However, whom remains important in formal correspondence, academic writing, and directly after prepositions like to whom or with whom. Using who in daily speech is normal and does not sound uneducated.
The representative whom we contacted responded within an hour.
The representative who we spoke with was very helpful.
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