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

When the word ever or soever is annexed to a relative pronoun, the combination is called a compound pronoun; as, whoever or whosoever, whichever or whichsoever, whatever or whatsoever.

From English Grammar in Familiar Lectures by Kirkham, Samuel

When the subject is a relative pronoun, the number and the person of the antecedent determine the number and the person of the verb.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas

Relative clauses referring to the same thing require the same relative pronoun to introduce them; as, The book that we found and the book that he lost are the same.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas

Agreement, kinds of, 275. of adjective with noun, 303. of personal pronoun with antecedent, 287. of relative pronoun with antecedent, 291. of verb with subject, 148, 316.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt