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Woman on PhoneWho, Whom and That

Adding Descriptive Information for People and Things

 

 

 

An adjective clause uses pronouns to connect the dependent clause to the independent clause.

 

 

Subject who vs. Object whom Pronouns
WHO - SUBJECT OF THE CLAUSE WHOM - OBJECT OF THE CLAUSE

             blue arrow-whom modifies to the woman
The woman         who called you     is here.
                                She called you.

             blue arrow-whom modifies to the woman
The woman          (whom) you called      is here.
                                  You called her.

 

Option: You can omit the object pronoun.

 

 

 

 

 

Subject and  Object Pronoun – that

THAT / WHICH - SUBJECT OF THE CLAUSE THAT/ WHICH - OBJECT OF THE CLAUSE

          blue arrow-whom modifies to the woman
The phone         that is red     is here.
                             It is red.

          blue arrow-whom modifies to the woman
 The phone          that you bought     is here.
                               You bought it.

The phone          which is red      is here.
                               It is red

 

OPTION: "That" can also refer to a person; "which" cannot.

The phone          which you bought     is here.
                               You bought it.

 

Option: You can omit the object pronoun..

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERRORS FIXES 

The telephone is here that is yours. spacer    

The phone that is yours is here.
          blue arrow leftThe pronoun must be next to the word it modifies.

*The man which you are talking about isn't a friend.

The man that / whom/ who you are talking about isn't a friend.
"Which" cannot refer to a person. Use "that".

 

 

 

 

Omitting an Object Pronoun

CANNOT OMIT  - SUBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE CAN OMIT  - OBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE

         blue arrow-whom modifies to the woman
The woman         who called you     is here.
                              (She called you.)

         blue arrow-whom modifies to the woman
 The woman          [whom] you called      is here.
                                (You called her.)

The phone           that is red         is here.
                              (It is red.)

The telephone     [that] you bought        is here.

The phone          which is red      is here

The telephone     [which] you bought     is here.

 

 

 

 

 

Practice

Taking Classes

 

 

 

Which relative pronoun(s) can complete each sentence?

Select an option to the right.   (Internet Explorer users may need to click inside the feedback box to force the text to appear.)

 

# FEEDBACK OPTIONS

1
My friend told me about a student.  The student has taken the TOEFL test twelve times!



 


2 The professor didn't know the answer to my question. I talked to the professor.





3 I am looking for a college program. The program offers a lot of computer courses.





 


4 Some of the courses have been very useful.  I took the courses last semester.





5 My friend studies with me in the afternoon. My friend is in my Networks class.






0 (omit the pronoun)
6 Computer Information Systems is the kind of major.  The major will guarantee a good job after graduation.






7 The class was Programming with PHP.  I didn't do will in the class.





8 The courses are mostly graphic arts classes. 
The courses are taught in th evening.





9. You should always study the subjects.  You really like the subjects.





10. A person will do well in life.  A person has a positive outlook.




   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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