relative pronoun

American  

noun

1. one of the pronouns who, whom, which, what, their compounds with -ever or -soever, or that used as the subordinating word to introduce a subordinate clause, especially such a pronoun referring to an antecedent.

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Commonly Confused

See who.

Etymology

Origin of relative pronoun

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

The English language adds more physical weight and hard sound, with the audibility of the relative pronoun, "that", and the predominance of masculine line-endings contributory factors.

From The Guardian • Feb. 11, 2013

You cannot doubt which verbs to include in your bracket, for qui, which is a subordinate conjunction as well as a relative pronoun, serves as a sure signpost.

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund

Relative Clause—A clause joined to the rest of the sentence by a relative pronoun.

From Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)

The general rule is, that the relative pronoun agrees with its antecedent in person and number.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt

Antecedent—That to which a relative pronoun or a relative clause refers.

From Punctuation A Primer of Information about the Marks of Punctuation and their Use Both Grammatically and Typographically by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)