Have you ever wondered why we say “This is the best book that I have read” instead of “the best book which I have read”? Choosing between that, who, whom, and which is one of the trickiest parts of English grammar (Use of “That”)—especially when preparing for competitive exams like SSC, Banking, or UPSC.
ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਦੇ ਸੋਚਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ “This is the best book that I have read” ਕਿਉਂ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਨਾ ਕਿ “the best book which I have read”? that, who, whom, ਅਤੇ which ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਸਹੀ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣਨਾ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਵਿਆਕਰਣ (English Grammar) ਦੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉਲਝਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਿੱਸਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੈ—ਖਾਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਜਦੋਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ SSC, Banking, UPSC ਜਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ competitive exams ਦੀ ਤਿਆਰੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋਵੋ।
In English, certain special words and phrases automatically demand the relative pronoun “that”, leaving who or which completely incorrect.
ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਵਿੱਚ, ਕੁਝ ਖਾਸ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਅਤੇ ਵਾਕਾਂਸ਼ (phrases) ਅਜਿਹੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਿਰਫ਼ relative pronoun “that” ਹੀ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਉੱਥੇ who ਜਾਂ which ਵਰਤਣਾ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਗਲਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ।
In this article, we will break down 10 essential rules of relative pronouns—focusing on superlative degrees, the word “all,” and special limiting words like everything, the only, and little. With simple explanations and clear examples, you will never confuse these pronouns again!
ਇਸ article ਵਿੱਚ, ਅਸੀਂ Relative Pronouns ਦੇ 10 ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਸਾਨ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਝਾਵਾਂਗੇ—ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਿ superlative degrees, “all” ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ, ਅਤੇ ਖਾਸ ਸੀਮਤ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਿ everything, the only, ਅਤੇ little। ਸਧਾਰਨ ਉਦਾਹਰਣਾਂ ਨਾਲ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਆਸਾਨੀ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਝ ਜਾਵੋਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਕਦੇ ਗਲਤੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰੋਗੇ!
Rule (1): Use of “That” after Superlative Degree
When a sentence uses a superlative degree adjective (like best, finest, greatest, most laborious), the relative pronoun that follows must be “that.” In this position, who, whom, which are not correct. Using “that” after superlatives makes the sentence grammatically proper and clear.
ਜਦੋਂ sentence ਵਿੱਚ superlative degree adjective (ਜਿਵੇਂ best, finest, greatest, most laborious) ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun “that” ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ who, whom, which ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ। Superlative degree ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ “that” ਵਰਤਣ ਨਾਲ sentence grammar ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਹੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Mr. Mishra is the most laborious man that I know. (Correct)
Mr. Mishra is the most laborious man whom I know. (Incorrect) - This is the best book that has ever been written. (Correct)
This is the best book which has ever been written. (Incorrect)
Rule (2): Use of Who/That after “All”
When All refers to persons, the relative pronoun that follows must be who or that. Using whom or which in this position is grammatically incorrect.
ਜਦੋਂ All ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun who ਜਾਂ that ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ whom ਜਾਂ which ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- All who/that are interested to do this work can do it. (Correct)
→ All here refers to persons, so who/that is proper.
→ ਇੱਥੇ All ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਲਈ who/that ਸਹੀ ਹੈ। - All whom/which are interested to do this work can do it. (Incorrect)
→ Whom/which is wrongly used because they don’t follow All when it refers to persons.
→ ਇੱਥੇ whom/which ਗਲਤ ਹਨ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ All ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
Key Point
- Rule: After All (when it refers to persons), always use who/that, not whom/which.
ਜਦੋਂ All ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ who/that ਹੀ ਵਰਤੋ, whom/which ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (3): Use of That after “All” (for Things)
When All refers to things/objects, the relative pronoun that follows must be that. Using who, whom, or which in this position is grammatically incorrect.
ਜਦੋਂ All ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਵਸਤੂਆਂ/ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun that ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ who, whom, which ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- All that glitters is not gold. (Correct)
→ Here All refers to things, so that is proper.
→ ਇੱਥੇ All ਵਸਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਲਈ that ਸਹੀ ਹੈ। - All which glitters is not gold. (Incorrect)
→ Which is wrongly used because after All (for things), only that is correct.
→ ਇੱਥੇ which ਗਲਤ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ All ਵਸਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
Notes
- All + Singular Uncountable Noun → that
- All the money that I gave her has been spent. (Correct)
- All the money which I gave her has been spent. (Incorrect)
→ Rule: With singular uncountable nouns, use that.
→ Singular uncountable nouns ਨਾਲ that ਵਰਤੋ।
- All + Plural Countable Noun → that
- All the pens that I gave him are new. (Correct)
- All the pens which I gave him are new. (Incorrect)
→ Rule: With plural countable nouns, use that.
→ Plural countable nouns ਨਾਲ that ਵਰਤੋ।
Key Point
- Rule: After All (when it refers to things/objects), always use that, not who/whom/which.
ਜਦੋਂ All ਵਸਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ that ਹੀ ਵਰਤੋ, who/whom/which ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (4): Use of That after Certain Words
After words like Everything, Nothing, The only, Any, All, Everyone, None, No, Nobody, Much, Little, The same, The few, The little, the relative pronoun must be that. Using who, which, whom in this position is grammatically incorrect.
Everything, Nothing, The only, Any, All, Everyone, None, No, Nobody, Much, Little, The same, The few, The little ਵਰਗੇ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun that ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ who, which, whom ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- My father has given me everything that he had. (Correct)
→ Here “everything” is followed by that.
→ ਇੱਥੇ “everything” ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ that ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। - My father has given me everything which he had. (Incorrect)
- This is the only pen that I bought yesterday. (Correct)
- This is the only pen which I bought yesterday. (Incorrect)
- My wife has spent the little money that I gave her. (Correct)
- My wife has spent the little money which I gave her. (Incorrect)
- He has read the few books that I gave him. (Correct)
- He has read the few books which I gave him. (Incorrect)
Key Point
- Rule: After words like Everything, Nothing, The only, Any, All, Everyone, None, No, Nobody, Much, Little, The same, The few, The little, always use that, not who/which/whom.
ਇਹਨਾਂ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ that ਵਰਤੋ, who/which/whom ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (5): Use of That vs As after “The Same”
After words like Everything, Nothing, The only, Any, All, Everyone, None, No, Nobody, Much, Little, The same, The few, The little, the relative pronoun must be that. Using who, which, whom in this position is grammatically incorrect.
Everything, Nothing, The only, Any, All, Everyone, None, No, Nobody, Much, Little, The same, The few, The little ਵਰਗੇ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun that ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ who, which, whom ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- My father has given me everything that he had. (Correct)
→ Here “everything” is followed by that.
→ ਇੱਥੇ “everything” ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ that ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। - My father has given me everything which he had. (Incorrect)
- This is the only pen that I bought yesterday. (Correct)
- This is the only pen which I bought yesterday. (Incorrect)
- My wife has spent the little money that I gave her. (Correct)
- My wife has spent the little money which I gave her. (Incorrect)
- He has read the few books that I gave him. (Correct)
- He has read the few books which I gave him. (Incorrect)
Key Point
- Rule: After words like Everything, Nothing, The only, Any, All, Everyone, None, No, Nobody, Much, Little, The same, The few, The little, always use that, not who/which/whom.
ਇਹਨਾਂ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ that ਵਰਤੋ, who/which/whom ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (6): Use of That after “It + Verb to be + Proper Noun”
After the structure It + Verb to be + Proper Noun, the relative pronoun can be who/whom, but the use of that is considered better and more proper.
ਜਦੋਂ sentence ਵਿੱਚ It + Verb to be + Proper Noun ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun who/whom ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ that ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਵਧੀਆ ਅਤੇ ਸਹੀ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- It is Mukesh who teaches my children. (Correct)
It is Mukesh that teaches my children. (Better usage)
Key Point
- Rule: After It + Verb to be + Proper Noun, who/whom may be used, but that is preferred.
It + Verb to be + Proper Noun ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ who/whom ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ that ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਵਧੀਆ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (7): Use of That after “It + Verb to be + Other Nouns”
After the structure It + Verb to be + Other Nouns, the relative pronoun must be that. Using who, whom, which in this position is grammatically incorrect.
ਜਦੋਂ sentence ਵਿੱਚ It + Verb to be + ਹੋਰ Nouns ਆਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun that ਹੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ who, whom, which ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- It is milk that I have ordered. (Correct)
It is milk who/whom/which I have ordered. (Incorrect)
Key Point
- Rule: After It + Verb to be + Other Nouns, always use that, not who/whom/which.
It + Verb to be + ਹੋਰ Nouns ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ that ਵਰਤੋ, who/whom/which ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (8): Use of That after “It + Verb to be + Pronoun”
After the structure It + Verb to be + Pronoun, the relative pronoun must be that. However, the use of who is also grammatically correct, though that is considered better and more proper.
ਜਦੋਂ sentence ਵਿੱਚ It + Verb to be + Pronoun ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ relative pronoun that ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਪਰ who ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਵੀ ਗਲਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ, ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ that ਵਧੀਆ ਅਤੇ ਸਹੀ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples
- It is he that has said so. (Better usage → that)
- It is he who has said so. (Correct, but less preferred)
Key Point
- Rule: After It + Verb to be + Pronoun, that is preferred, though who is also acceptable.
It + Verb to be + Pronoun ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ that ਵਰਤਣਾ ਵਧੀਆ ਹੈ, ਪਰ who ਵੀ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ।
Rule (9): Use of Which/Whom after Preposition
After a Preposition, the relative pronoun used must be which/whom. The use of Preposition + that is grammatically incorrect.
Preposition ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ relative pronoun which/whom ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। Preposition + that ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples
- This is the student to whom I have taught English. (Correct)
- This is the hotel in which I stayed. (Correct)
Notes
- Preposition + that is not used
- This is the student to that I have taught English. (Incorrect)
- This is the hotel in that I stayed. (Incorrect)
- Alternative Constructions
- This is the student to whom I have taught English. (Correct) (Preposition before whom)
- This is the student whom I have taught English to. (Correct) (Preposition at the end)
- This is the student that I have taught English to. (Correct) (Preposition at the end with that)
- This is the student I have taught English to. (Correct) (Preposition at the end without relative pronoun)
- This is the hotel in which I stayed. (Correct) (Preposition before which)
- This is the hotel which I stayed in. (Correct) (Preposition at the end)
- This is the hotel that I stayed in. (Correct) (Preposition at the end with that)
- This is the hotel I stayed in. (Correct) (Preposition at the end without relative pronoun)
- Rule Clarification
- When the preposition is placed after the verb, the relative pronoun (whom, which, that) may be omitted.
- Important Point
- That has no possessive form, nor is it used directly after a preposition.
Key Point
- Rule: After a preposition, use which/whom, not that.
Preposition ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ which/whom ਵਰਤੋ, that ਨਹੀਂ।
Rule (10): No Use of That in Comparative Structure
In the structure The + Comparative + Subject + Verb, The + Comparative + Subject + Verb, the relative pronoun that must not be used.
The + Comparative + Subject + Verb, The + Comparative + Subject + Verb ਵਾਲੇ structure ਵਿੱਚ relative pronoun that ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ।
If that is inserted, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect because here that does not refer to any antecedent.
ਜੇ that ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ sentence ਗਲਤ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇੱਥੇ that ਕਿਸੇ antecedent ਨੂੰ refer ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦਾ।
Examples
- The more we get, the more we want. (Correct)
- The more that we get, the more we want. (Incorrect)
- The more we get, the more that we want. (Incorrect)
- The more that we get, the more that we want. (Incorrect)
Note
- Relative pronoun “that” is not used when it does not refer to an antecedent.
- The sooner that we start, the sooner we shall arrive. (Incorrect)
- The sooner we start, the sooner we shall arrive. (Correct)
- The older that we get, the wiser we become. (Incorrect)
- The older we get, the wiser we become. (Correct)
Key Point
- Rule: In comparative structures (The + Comparative + S + V, The + Comparative + S + V), never use that.
Comparative structures ਵਿੱਚ that ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ।