Relative Pronouns in English Grammar – 5 Key Rules Explained

Relative pronouns are important connectors in English grammar. They link a noun (antecedent) with a clause that provides extra information about it. Without them, sentences would sound incomplete or awkward. Relative pronouns such as who, whom, whose, which act as connectors between nouns and clauses. Each pronoun has a specific grammatical role — subject, object, possession, or reference to animals/objects/clauses.
Relative pronouns ਜਿਵੇਂ who, whom, whose, which noun (antecedent) ਨੂੰ clause ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ sentence ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਅਤੇ grammatically ਸਹੀ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹਰ pronoun ਦਾ ਆਪਣਾ grammatical role ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ — subject, object, possession ਜਾਂ non‑human antecedent ਲਈ ਵਰਤੋਂ।

Rule (1): Use of Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns who, whom, whose are used to connect a noun (antecedent) with a clause that gives more information about it. Each pronoun has a specific grammatical role:
Relative pronouns who, whom, whose noun (antecedent) ਨੂੰ clause ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜਦੇ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਉਸ noun ਬਾਰੇ ਹੋਰ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹਰ pronoun ਦਾ ਆਪਣਾ grammatical role ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ:

1. Who → Nominative Case (Subject)

“Who” acts as the subject of the verb in the relative clause. It is used for humans, gods, angels, fairies, and even pets when treated like persons.
“Who” verb ਦਾ subject ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ, ਰੱਬ, ਦੇਵਤੇ, ਪਰੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਲਤੂ ਜਾਨਵਰਾਂ (ਜੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੇਖੇ ਜਾਣ) ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Example:

• The man who is standing here is my uncle. (Correct)
• The man whom is standing here is my uncle. (Incorrect)
• The man which is standing here is my uncle. (Incorrect)

Note: “Who” is always followed by a verb, just like pronouns I, we, you, he, she, they.

2. Whom → Objective Case (Object)

“Whom” acts as the object of the verb or the object of a preposition in the relative clause. It is used for humans, gods, angels, and pets (treated as persons).
“Whom” verb ਜਾਂ preposition ਦਾ object ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ, ਰੱਬ, ਦੇਵਤੇ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਲਤੂ ਜਾਨਵਰਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Example:

• This is the girl whom I love. (Correct)
• This is the girl which I love. (Incorrect)
• This is Lord Krishna whom I worship. (Correct)

Note:

“Whom” is equivalent to pronouns like me, us, him, her, them. It is not directly followed by a verb but by a subject. After prepositions, always use “whom,” not “who.”
“Whom” ਦਾ ਵਰਤੋਂ me, us, him, her, them ਵਰਗੇ pronouns ਵਾਂਗ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹਦੇ ਬਾਅਦ verb ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ, subject ਆਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ। Preposition ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ “whom” ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, “who” ਨਹੀਂ।

Example:

• He is the man with whom Deepak Babu lives. (Correct)

3. Whose → Possessive Case (Ownership)

“Whose” shows possession or belonging. It is used for humans, animals, and even objects.
“Whose” ਮਾਲਕੀ ਜਾਂ ਸੰਬੰਧ ਦਿਖਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ, ਜਾਨਵਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Example:

• This is the boy whose brother lives in Patna. (Correct)
• This is the boy whom/which/who brother lives in Patna. (Incorrect)
• This is the dog whose name is Tommy. (Correct)
• This is the dog whom/which/who name is Tommy. (Incorrect)

Note:

“Whose” cannot be replaced by who/whom/which.
“Whose” ਨੂੰ who/whom/which ਨਾਲ ਬਦਲਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।

Rule (2): Use of “Which”

The relative pronoun which is used for animals and inanimate objects (non‑living things) in both the nominative case (subject) and the objective case (object).
Relative pronoun which ਦਾ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਜਾਨਵਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਅਜੀਵ ਪਦਾਰਥਾਂ (non‑living things) ਲਈ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ nominative case (subject) ਅਤੇ objective case (object) ਦੋਵੇਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

• Nominative Case (Subject)
  • “Which” acts as the subject of the verb when referring to an animal or object.
    “Which” verb ਦਾ subject ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਜਾਨਵਰ ਜਾਂ ਚੀਜ਼ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।
  • Example:
    • The dog which is black is mine. (Correct)
    • The dog who/whom is black is mine. (Incorrect)
• Objective Case (Object)
  • “Which” acts as the object of the verb when referring to an animal or object.
    “Which” verb ਦਾ object ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਜਾਨਵਰ ਜਾਂ ਚੀਜ਼ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।
  • Example:
    • This is the car which I have bought is red. (Correct)
    • This is the car who/whom I have bought is red. (Incorrect)

Important Note:

• Do not use who or whom in place of “which” when referring to animals or objects.
  ਜਾਨਵਰਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ “who” ਜਾਂ “whom” ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ।
• “Which” is the standard choice for non‑human antecedents.
  “Which” ਹੀ ਸਹੀ relative pronoun ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ non‑human antecedent ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਵੇ।

Rule (3): Use of “Which” for Clauses

When a whole clause (a complete sentence idea) is used as the antecedent, the relative pronoun which must be used — not who, whom, or that.
ਜਦੋਂ ਪੂਰਾ clause (ਇੱਕ ਪੂਰਾ ਵਾਕ) antecedent ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun which ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ — who, whom, that ਨਹੀਂ।

Example

• She has obtained eighty percent of marks, which proves that she is intelligent. (Correct)
  Here, the entire clause “she has obtained eighty percent of marks” acts as the antecedent. The pronoun which refers back to this clause and introduces the result “proves that she is intelligent.”
  ਇੱਥੇ ਪੂਰਾ clause “she has obtained eighty percent of marks” antecedent ਵਜੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। Which ਇਸ clause ਨੂੰ refer ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਨਤੀਜਾ ਦਿਖਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ “proves that she is intelligent.”
• She has obtained eighty percent of marks, who/whom/that proves that she is intelligent. (Incorrect)
  Wrong because who, whom, that cannot refer to a whole clause. They only refer to nouns or pronouns, not entire sentences.
  ਗਲਤ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ who, whom, that ਪੂਰੇ clause ਨੂੰ refer ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ। ਇਹ ਸਿਰਫ਼ noun ਜਾਂ pronoun ਨੂੰ refer ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।

Key Point:

• Use which when the antecedent is a clause or sentence, not a single noun.
  ਜਦੋਂ antecedent ਇੱਕ ਪੂਰਾ clause ਜਾਂ sentence ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ which ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
• This makes the sentence grammatically correct and logically clear.
  ਇਸ ਨਾਲ sentence grammatically ਸਹੀ ਅਤੇ logically ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ।

Rule (4): Possessive Form of “Which”

The relative pronoun which does not have a direct possessive form. Instead, possession is shown using of which or whose.
Relative pronoun which ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਸਿੱਧਾ possessive form ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਇਸ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ of which ਜਾਂ whose ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

1. Whose / Of which + Clause
   • Both “whose” and “of which” can be used to show possession in a clause.
     “Whose” ਅਤੇ “of which” ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮਾਲਕੀ ਦਿਖਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
   • Example:
     • A room whose doors are painted looks attractive. (Correct)
     • A room of which doors are painted looks attractive. (Correct)
   • Here, “whose” and “of which” connect the noun room with the clause doors are painted, showing ownership.
     ਇੱਥੇ “whose” ਅਤੇ “of which” noun room ਨੂੰ clause doors are painted ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਮਾਲਕੀ ਦਿਖਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
2. With + Phrase (Alternative)
   • Instead of using “whose” or “of which,” possession can also be expressed with “with + phrase.”
     “Whose” ਜਾਂ “of which” ਦੀ ਥਾਂ “with + phrase” ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਮਾਲਕੀ ਦਿਖਾਈ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ।
   • Example:
     • A room with painted doors looks attractive.
   • This is a simpler and more common way to express the same idea.
     ਇਹ ਤਰੀਕਾ ਆਮ ਬੋਲਚਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਧਾਰਨ ਹੈ।

Key Point:

• For objects, you can use whose, of which, or simply with + phrase.
  ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ whose, of which, ਜਾਂ with + phrase ਤਿੰਨੇ ਹੀ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।
• All are grammatically correct, but “with + phrase” is often preferred in everyday English for simplicity.
  Grammar ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਤਿੰਨੇ ਸਹੀ ਹਨ, ਪਰ “with + phrase” ਆਮ English ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਆਸਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਚਲਿਤ ਹੈ।

Rule (5): Preposition + Which → Relative Adverbs

The relative pronoun which is often used after prepositions (in which, on which, at which, for which, etc.). Depending on the meaning, these structures can be replaced by relative adverbs (when, where, why).
Relative pronoun which ਅਕਸਰ preposition ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ (in which, on which, at which, for which ਆਦਿ)। ਇਸਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇਸਨੂੰ relative adverbs (when, where, why) ਨਾਲ ਬਦਲਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

1. Time → When
   • In which / On which / During which (used for time) can be replaced by when.
     In which / On which / During which ਜਦੋਂ ਸਮਾਂ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਾਂ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ when ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
   • Example:
     • Monika forgot the year in which she was born. (Correct)
     • Equivalent: Monika forgot the year when she was born. (Correct)
2. Place → Where
   • In which / At which (used for place) can be replaced by where.
     In which / At which ਜਦੋਂ ਥਾਂ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਾਂ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ where ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
   • Example:
     • This is the hotel at which my father was staying. (Correct)
     • Equivalent: This is the hotel where my father was staying. (Correct)
3. Reason → Why
   • For which (used for reason) can be replaced by why.
     For which ਜਦੋਂ ਕਾਰਣ ਦੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸਦੀ ਥਾਂ why ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
   • Example:
     • He does not know the reason for which my friend was arrested. (Correct)
     • Equivalent: He does not know the reason why my friend was arrested. (Correct)

Key Point:

• Preposition + which is grammatically correct.
  Preposition + which grammar ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ।
• But in everyday English, it is often replaced by relative adverbs (when, where, why) for simplicity.
  ਪਰ ਆਮ English ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸਦੀ ਥਾਂ relative adverbs (when, where, why) ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਧਾਰਨ ਹਨ।