Reading and Writing · 21 · Sentence Rules
Relative Pronouns
Notes
Key points
- who = people, subject. whom = people, object. whose = possession.
- which = things, non-essential, commas. that = things, essential, no commas.
- whose works for things too: “a tree whose leaves turn red”.
- where only for places, when only for times.
- Never that right after a comma.
Rules
whom after a preposition (him → whom).
The student to whom I lent the book moved away.
The student to who I lent the book moved away.
After a comma, “which”, not “that”.
The canal, which opened in 1914, links two oceans.
The canal, that opened in 1914, links two oceans.
who for people, which for things.
The nurse who treated me was kind.
The nurse which treated me was kind.
whose shows possession; who's means “who is”.
The painter whose work hangs here is local.
The painter who's work hangs here is local.
Common traps
- “where” for a non-place: “a theory where…” should be “a theory in which…”.
- Choosing “that” after a comma, or wrapping a “that” clause in commas.
SAT tip
who or whom? Answer with he or him: him → whom. Then check the comma: comma → which, none → that.
Test yourself
10 official SAT questions on Relative Pronouns, easiest first.