If you have ever stared at a sentence on an exam paper and felt completely stuck choosing between who, which, that, or whose, you are not alone. Relative pronouns are one of the most frequently tested—and most frequently misunderstood—topics in English grammar. Whether you are preparing for competitive exams like SSC CGL, Banking, UPSC, IELTS, or simply trying to elevate your professional writing, minor errors in pronoun placement can entirely break the grammatical structure of your sentence.
ਜੇ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਦੇ ਕਿਸੇ competitive exam ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਸੇ ਵਾਕ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਉਲਝਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਏ ਹੋ ਕਿ who, which, that ਜਾਂ whose ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਕੱਲੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ। English grammar ਵਿੱਚ Relative pronouns ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਪੁੱਛੇ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਗਲਤ ਸਮਝੇ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਹਨ। ਭਾਵੇਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ SSC CGL, Banking, UPSC, IELTS ਜਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆ ਦੀ ਤਿਆਰੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ, ਜਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਆਪਣੀ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਲਿਖਤ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਹਤਰ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹੋ, ਛੋਟੀਆਂ-ਛੋਟੀਆਂ grammar ਗਲਤੀਆਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨੰਬਰ ਕਟਵਾ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ।
Many learners know the basic definitions, but they lose crucial marks when faced with tricky exceptions: Should you use a possessive adjective or “the” before a relative pronoun? Is a double preposition always wrong? How do you handle clauses acting as antecedents?
ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਮੁੱਢਲੇ ਨਿਯਮ ਤਾਂ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਉਣ ’ਤੇ ਉਹ ਉਲਝ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ: ਕੀ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ possessive adjective ਵਰਤਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ‘the’? ਕੀ double preposition ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ?
In this comprehensive guide, we break down 8 advanced rules of relative pronouns complete with clear definitions, correct vs. incorrect examples, and quick takeaways to help you spot and fix errors instantly. Let’s dive in and clear up the confusion once and for all!
ਇਸ ਵਿਸਤ੍ਰਿਤ ਗਾਈਡ ਵਿੱਚ, ਅਸੀਂ Relative pronouns ਦੇ 8 advanced rules ਨੂੰ ਸਰਲ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਝਾਵਾਂਗੇ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਹੀ ਅਤੇ ਗਲਤ ਉਦਾਹਰਣਾਂ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹਨ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਗਲਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਪਛਾਣ ਸਕੋ। ਆਓ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰੀਏ!
Rule (1): Use of The before Noun with Relative Pronoun
When a noun is followed by a relative pronoun (who, which, whom, whose, that), the noun must be preceded by the.
Possessive adjectives like my, our, your, his, her, its, their are not used before such nouns.
ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ noun ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun (who, which, whom, whose, that) ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ noun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ the ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਇਸ ਥਾਂ my, our, your, his, her, its, their ਵਰਗੇ possessive adjectives ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ।
Examples
- The table that you bought yesterday is black. (Correct – Article “the” used)
- Your table that you bought yesterday is black. (Incorrect – Possessive adjective used)
Key Point
- Rule: Before a noun followed by a relative pronoun, use the, not possessive adjectives.
Relative pronoun ਵਾਲੇ noun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ the ਵਰਤੋ, possessive adjectives ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (2): Use of Those before Relative Pronouns after Emphasizing Words
After words like including, notably, mainly, especially, chiefly, namely, particularly, the relative pronoun must be preceded by those.
Without those, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect.
Including, notably, mainly, especially, chiefly, namely, particularly ਵਰਗੇ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ those ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਜੇ those ਨਾ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ sentence ਗਲਤ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- Most of the people, especially those who have committed a crime, are absent today. (Correct – with those)
Most of the people, especially who have committed a crime, are absent today. (Incorrect – without those) - All the employees, including those whom I have appointed, have gone against me. (Correct – with those)
All the employees, including whom I have appointed, have gone against me. (Incorrect – without those)
Key Point
- Rule: After including, notably, mainly, especially, chiefly, namely, particularly, use those before the relative pronoun.
Including, notably, mainly, especially, chiefly, namely, particularly ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ those ਵਰਤੋ।
Rule (3): No Double Preposition with Whom/Which
When a preposition is placed before whom/which, the same preposition must not be repeated after the verb.
Using the preposition both before and after whom/which is grammatically incorrect.
ਜਦੋਂ preposition whom/which ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਉਹੀ preposition verb ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ। Whom/which ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਅਦ preposition ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- This is the house in which she lives in. (Incorrect – double preposition)
This is the house in which she lives. (Correct) - The man to whom I spoke to. (Incorrect – double preposition)
The man to whom I spoke. (Correct) - The girls with whom I work with. (Incorrect – double preposition)
The girls with whom I work. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: After whom/which with a preposition, do not repeat the same preposition again.
Whom/which ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ preposition ਆਉਣ ’ਤੇ, ਉਸੇ preposition ਨੂੰ verb ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਨਾ ਵਰਤੋ।
Rule (4): No Double Subject after Relative Pronoun
In a clause following a relative pronoun (who, which, that), personal pronouns like I, we, you, he, she, it, they must not be repeated as the subject.
The relative pronoun itself already acts as the subject of the clause, so adding another subject makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
Relative pronoun (who, which, that) ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ clause ਵਿੱਚ I, we, you, he, she, it, they ਵਰਗੇ personal pronouns ਨੂੰ subject ਵਜੋਂ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ।
Relative pronoun ਆਪ ਹੀ subject ਦਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਹੋਰ subject ਜੋੜਨਾ sentence ਨੂੰ ਗਲਤ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- The student who has come late he is intelligent. (Incorrect – double subject)
The student who has come late is intelligent. (Correct) - The book which costs Rs. 50 it is selling well. (Incorrect – double subject)
The book which costs Rs. 50 is selling well. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: Do not repeat personal pronouns (I, we, you, he, she, it, they) as subjects in clauses after a relative pronoun.
Relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ clause ਵਿੱਚ personal pronouns ਨੂੰ subject ਵਜੋਂ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਨਾ ਵਰਤੋ।
Rule (5): No And between Antecedent and Relative Pronoun
Between an antecedent (the noun or noun‑equivalent word before the relative pronoun) and the relative pronoun, the word “and” must not be used.
The relative pronoun directly connects the antecedent with its clause.
However, when two relative pronouns are used for the same antecedent, then “and” is correctly placed before the second relative pronoun.
Antecedent (noun ਜਾਂ noun‑equivalent word ਜੋ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ) ਅਤੇ relative pronoun ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ “and” ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ।
Relative pronoun antecedent ਨੂੰ ਉਸਦੀ clause ਨਾਲ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਜੋੜਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਪਰ ਜਦੋਂ ਦੋ relative pronouns ਇੱਕੋ antecedent ਲਈ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜੇ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ “and” ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- He is Binay, and who is my brother. (Incorrect)
He is Binay, who is my brother. (Correct) - I have a plan, and which will change your life. (Incorrect)
I have a plan, which will change your life. (Correct)
Correct Use with Two Relative Pronouns
- Amitabh is a popular actor, who lives in Mumbai, and who wants to help the helpless. (Correct)
- Amitabh is a popular actor, who lives in Mumbai, who wants to help the helpless. (Incorrect – missing “and”)
- Amitabh is a popular actor, and who lives in Mumbai, who wants to help the helpless. (Incorrect – “and” wrongly placed before first relative pronoun)
- He is a famous teacher, who lives in Patna, and who wants to open a school for the poor. (Correct)
- He is a famous teacher, who lives in Patna, who wants to open a school for the poor. (Incorrect – missing “and”)
- He is a famous teacher, and who lives in Patna, who wants to open a school for the poor. (Incorrect – “and” wrongly placed before first relative pronoun)
Key Point
- Rule: Do not use “and” between antecedent and relative pronoun.
Antecedent ਅਤੇ relative pronoun ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ “and” ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ। - Exception: If two relative pronouns describe the same antecedent, place “and” before the second relative pronoun.
ਜੇਕਰ ਇੱਕ antecedent ਲਈ ਦੋ relative pronouns ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜੇ relative pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ “and” ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (6): Use of That after Interrogative Pronouns
After interrogative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, what), the relative pronoun used must be that.
Using who or which in this position is grammatically incorrect.
Interrogative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, what) ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun that ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਇਸ ਥਾਂ who ਜਾਂ which ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- Who is here that does not love his country? (Correct)
Who is here who does not love his country? (Incorrect) - What is it that will last for ever? (Correct)
What is it which will last for ever? (Incorrect) - Whose is this house that looks exceptionally beautiful? (Correct)
Whose is this house which looks exceptionally beautiful? (Incorrect)
Key Point
- Rule: After interrogative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, what), use that, not who or which.
Interrogative pronouns ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ that ਵਰਤੋ, who/which ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (7): Relative Pronoun According to Second Antecedent
When two pronoun antecedents are used together, the relative pronoun must agree with the second antecedent.
If the relative pronoun matches the first antecedent instead of the second, the sentence becomes incorrect.
ਜਦੋਂ ਦੋ pronoun antecedents ਇਕੱਠੇ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਦੂਜੇ antecedent ਦੇ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਜੇ relative pronoun ਪਹਿਲੇ antecedent ਦੇ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ sentence ਗਲਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- I hold in high esteem everything and everybody who reminds me of my attainments. (Correct – relative pronoun matches everybody)
I hold in high esteem everything and everybody which reminds me of my attainments. (Incorrect – relative pronoun wrongly matches everything) - I hold in high esteem anybody and anything which reminds me of my attainments. (Correct – relative pronoun matches anything)
I hold in high esteem anybody and anything who reminds me of my attainments. (Incorrect – relative pronoun wrongly matches anybody)
Key Point
- Rule: When two pronoun antecedents are used, the relative pronoun must follow the second antecedent.
ਜਦੋਂ ਦੋ pronoun antecedents ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਦੂਜੇ antecedent ਦੇ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (8): Use of Which when Clause is Antecedent
When a clause functions as an antecedent, the relative pronoun used must be which.
In this case, who, whom, or that are not correct because they refer to persons or direct antecedents, not to an entire clause.
ਜਦੋਂ ਕੋਈ clause antecedent ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun which ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਇਸ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ who, whom, ਜਾਂ that ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਹ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਸਿੱਧੇ antecedent ਲਈ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਨਾ ਕਿ ਪੂਰੇ clause ਲਈ।
Examples
- He passed the +2 examination in 2006 with 94% marks, which proved that he was an intelligent student. (Correct – clause antecedent with which)
He passed the +2 examination in 2006 with 94% marks, that/who/whom proved that he was an intelligent student. (Incorrect – wrong relative pronoun)
Key Point
- Rule: When a clause acts as an antecedent, use which, not who, whom, or that.
ਜਦੋਂ clause antecedent ਵਜੋਂ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ which ਵਰਤੋ, who/whom/that ਨਹੀਂ।