HOW TO REMEMBER : RELATIVE PRONOUNS ((Interrogative Pronouns)

C. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

When a pronoun is used to ask a question, it is an interrogative pronoun. An interrogative pronoun has no antecedent as the antecedent is not known. What, who, which, whom, whose are interrogative pronouns.

Examples:

• What is your name? 
• Who is the winner?
• Who won?
• Which man will take the seat?
• Which girl will answer this question?
• Whom did you give the book to?
• Whom did he go with?
• Whose pen is this? 
• Whose child is that?

Interrogative pronouns can also assume suffixes like-ever and -so ever. Whatever, Whatsoever, Whoever, Whomsoever, Whichever.

D. DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS

Pronouns that simultaneously indicate the nouns are called distributive pronouns. These pronouns are in the singular form and they always come after the verbs.

1. EACH

"Each" is used to indicate every one of the two or more people or things that are distinct "Each" goes before a singular noun and is followed by a singular verb.

Examples: 

• Each sentence is divided into two parts.

(Singular noun = "Sentence", singular verb= "is"

• Each worker has been provided with his own instrument.
• Each boy was in the pool.

"Each" used after a plural subject assumes a plural verb.

Examples: They each have their own costumes

(They plural subject their plural verb)

They each have a pair of their own skis In case of numerals "each is used after the numeral

Examples:

The correct answers are worth two points each

The books are worth fifty rupees each

"Each of assumes a plural noun/pronoun and a singular verb.

Examples:

Each of the three people was blind and deaf.

people" plural noun, "was" singular verb)

Each of the trees was marked. 

Each of the houses was demolished.

2. EITHER AND NEITHER

A singular verb is used after "either" and "neither".

Examples:

Either plot is available.

(ls" = singular verb)

Neither student was qualified for the test.

"Neither of and "Either of" precede a pronoun/noun, but assume a singular verb.

Examples:

Either of the bags was empty. 

Neither of the glasses was full.

Neither of the schools was qualified for the award.

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HOW TO REMEMBER : RELATIVE PRONOUNS ( use of WHO/WHOM/WHOSE )

 3.WHO/WHOM/WHOSE

These pronouns are used in accordance with the case. "Who" is used as the subject of the verb and "whom" is used as the object of the verb/preposition.

Examples:

• This is the man who stole my purse. (Nominative) 
• This is the man whom I longed to meet. (Objective).
• This is the man whose life was shattered after the earthquake. (Possessive)

4. WHAT "What" is used instead of "that which". "What" does not assume a possessive case.

Examples:

•  What happened at the hospital is known only to me. (Nominative)
• Why don't you practice what you preach? (Objective)

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HOW TO REMEMBER : RELATIVE PRONOUNS ( use of which )

 

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

2. WHICH

"Which" is applied to animals, inanimate objects, and at times to sentences.

Examples:

• This is the typewriter which I used, (which" in the nominative case.)
• The leopard which is in the cage will be rescued. ("which" in the objective case.)

"Who" and "which" are used in two instances.

i. To emphasise the antecedent when the clause brought in by the relative pronoun is defining (or) to limit the antecedent when the clause brought in by the relative pronouns is restrictive.

Examples:

• The man, who was painting a picture, turned around.
• The man who was painting a picture turned around.

In example 1, the clause "who was painting a picture" defines the "man" from among many others. In example 2, he is the only man who is being spoken about.

ii. To provide more information about the antecedent when the clause brought in by the relative pronoun is continuative.

Examples:

• I found the lady, who was spotted on the beach.
• I saw the crown, which was owned by the prince.

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HOW TO REMEMBER : RELATIVE PRONOUNS

 

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

When a pronoun is used to join one phrase/clause to another phrase/cause, it is called relative pronoun, Who, whom, that, which, are relative pronouns.

Examples:

• He invented a car, which runs on gas.
• He bought the house, which was on sale.

Relative pronouns are so called because they refer to the nouns that immediately precede them. The nouns that precede them are called antecedents. 

Relative pronouns relate to the antecedents and at the same time link them with the remainder of the sentence. Thus, they also function as conjunctions.

1. THAT

"That" is applied to animals, people and inanimate objects.

Examples:

• Ones that are fresh will be used for the decoration.

 ("That" in the nominative case)

• The candidate that is selected will attend the next interview. ("That" in the nominative case).

• You can take the papers that have been already used. 

("That" in the objective case)

"That" is used:

i. To indicate people, objects or defining clauses

Example:

•  He is the man that the police are looking for.

ii. To replace adverbial clauses like "on which", "at which", "for which" and "in which

Examples:

•  I remember the day that I met you. (the day "on which")
• This is the chest that cost me a thousand rupees. ("for which I paid)
•  I remember the college that the function took place at. ("at which the function took place) . I have seen the film that you acted in. ("in which you acted)

iii. To replace "which"/"who"

a. "That" is used after adjectives in the superlative degree.

Example:

•  He is the most wonderful person that I've ever met.

b. "That" is used after "all", "only", "same", "nothing", "any".

Examples:

• There is nothing that can be done about the design. • Are these the only colours that are available?
• Can you show me any designs that are ready?
• All that you can do is forget the accident.

c. That is used after two nouns or antecedents when the first indicates a person and the second indicates an object or an animal.

Example:

• The master and his loins that won the prize were also the national context.

d. "That" is used after "what" and "who" 

Examples:

• What is it that he was looking for?
• What is the reason that he looks so dull?
• Who are the people that will meet me at the function?

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HOW TO REMENBER PERSONAL PRONOUN

I. The personal pronoun that takes the place of a noun must conform to the person, number and gender of the noun it replaces.

Example:-

1. Ramesh is feeling sick. He will not attend his class tomorrow.

2. The doors are locked. They will not open now. 

3. The people in the forest were hungry. They had not eaten anything all morning.

4. The weather was pleasant. It made Ramesh feel good.

II.Two or more nouns or pronouns connected with "and"

-When two nouns (joined by "and") refer to two separate people or ideas:

-the plural "they" is used after the latter noun.

-the definite article "the" is used before each noun.

Example:

1 The farmer and the soldier were sitting in a tavern. They looked unhappy. 

2 The girl and the woman stood at the door. They refused to come in.

3. Revi and Sam were playing with their toys. They were very happy.

III. When a pronoun is used to refer to two distinct people (nouns or pronouns), assumes the first or the second person plural and not the third.

Example:

1. He and you have been assigned your duties. 

2. He and I are rehearsing our dialogues.

3. She and you can proceed with your discussion. 

IV. When two or more nouns or pronouns are connected with pronoun is used.

Example :

1. Either Neel or Nilesh has to lend his bag 

2. Neither Neel nor Nilesh has to lend his bag.

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