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

The relative pronoun takes the case required by the clause it introduces, not the case required by any word preceding it.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas

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

Mr. Ayres makes a feature of the fact that Who and Which are properly the co-ordinating relative pronouns, and that That is properly the restrictive relative pronoun.

From English as She is Wrote Showing Curious Ways in which the English Language may be made to Convey Ideas or obscure them. by Anonymous

The relative pronoun is so called because it relates or refers to another word, called its antecedent, to which it joins the clause that it introduces.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose