This is something that I’m very proud of.
In theory anyone who lives or works in the area may be at risk.
We want to thank everyone who supported us through this.
They are sometimes used after some, many, much, several, all, or those.
Like many who met him I was soon in love.
…the feelings of those who have suffered from the effects of crime.
They can also be used after personal pronouns, but only in formal or old-fashioned English.
He who is not for reform is against it.
…we who are supposed to be so good at writing.
-ing participle clauses
8.88 Relative clauses can sometimes be reduced to -ing participle clauses.
For example, instead of saying Give it to the man who is wearing the sunglasses, you can say Give it to the man wearing the sunglasses. Similarly, instead of saying The bride, who was smiling happily, chatted to the guests, you can say The bride, smiling happily, chatted to the guests.
These uses are explained in paragraphs 8.129 to 8.145. See also paragraphs 2.300 and 2.301.
Using relative pronouns in defining clauses
8.89 The following paragraphs explain which pronouns you use in defining relative clauses.
referring to people
8.90 When you are referring to a person or group of people, you use who or that as the subject of a defining clause. Who is more common than that.
The man who employed me was called Tom.
…the people who live in the cottage.
…somebody who is really ill.
…the man that made it.
You use who, that, or whom as the object of a defining clause, or you do not use a pronoun at all.
…someone who I haven’t seen for a long time.
…a woman that I dislike.
…distant relatives whom he had never seen.
…a man I know.
You use that as the complement of a defining clause, or you do not use a pronoun.
…the distinguished actress that she later became.
Little is known about the kind of person she was.
After a superlative, you do not usually use a pronoun.
He was the cleverest man I ever knew. …the best thing I ever did.
For more information about superlatives see paragraphs 2.112 to 2.122.
referring to things
8.91 When you are referring to a thing or group of things, you use which or that as the subject of a defining clause. That is much more common than which in American English.
…pasta which came from Milan.
We need to understand the things which are important to people.
There are a lot of things that are wrong.
You use which or that as the object of a defining clause, or you do not use a pronoun.
…shells which my sister had collected.
…the oxygen that it needs.
…one of the things I’ll never forget.
After much or all, you use that. You do not use which.
There was not much that the military men could do.
Happiness is all that matters.
Using relative pronouns in non-defining clauses
8.92 The following paragraphs explain which pronouns you use in non- defining relative clauses.
These clauses cannot be used without a relative pronoun.
referring to people
8.93 When you are referring to a person or group of people, you use who as the subject of a non-defining clause.
Heath Robinson, who died in 1944, was a graphic artist and cartoonist.
The horse’s rider, who has not been named, was too distressed to talk to police.
You use who or whom as the object of a non-defining clause.
Brian, who I do not like, had no idea how to behave properly.
He then became involved in a row with the party chairman, whom he accused of lying.
referring to things
8.94 When you are referring to a thing or group of things, you use which as the subject or object of a non-defining clause.
The treatment, which is being tried by researchers, has helped a large number of patients.
The company, which has about 160 shops, is in financial trouble.
He was a man of considerable wealth, which he spent on his experiments.
…this offer, which few can resist.
Using relative pronouns with prepositions
8.95 A relative pronoun can be the object of a preposition. Usually the preposition goes towards the end of the clause, and not in front of the pronoun.
…the job which I’d been training for.
…the universe that we live in.
…the woman who Muller left his money to.
no pronoun
8.96 Often, in ordinary speech, no pronoun is used.
…that place I used to go to last term.
That’s all we have time for this week.
indirect objects
8.97 When a relative pronoun is the indirect object of a verb, you use to or for. For example, you say the man that she wrote the letter to, not the man that she wrote the letter.
…pieces of work that we give a mark to.
You also use to or for when there is no relative pronoun.
…the girl I sang the song for.