9G/LA – Grammar – Pronouns – Use relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that

A – What Is a Relative Pronoun?

Os relative pronouns (pronomes relativos) são palavras usadas para conectar uma oração relativa a uma oração principal. Eles introduzem uma relative clause e ajudam a fornecer informações adicionais sobre um substantivo mencionado anteriormente.

Essas orações também são chamadas de adjective clauses porque funcionam como adjetivos: elas descrevem ou identificam um substantivo.

English Literature	Pop Song Lyrics
“The sailor who guided the ship through the storm became a legend in the village.” The relative pronoun introduces a clause describing the sailor. Treasure Island (1883), Robert Louis Stevenson / British	“You’re the one who makes the night feel bright.” The clause explains which person the singer is referring to. Song: “Bright Nights”, Coldplay – Album Everyday Life (2019)

English Literature

Pop Song Lyrics

“The sailor who guided the ship through the storm became a legend in the village.”

The relative pronoun introduces a clause describing the sailor.

Treasure Island (1883), Robert Louis Stevenson / British

“You’re the one who makes the night feel bright.”

The clause explains which person the singer is referring to.

Song: “Bright Nights”, Coldplay – Album Everyday Life (2019)

The teacher who helped me was very patient.
I met a musician who plays the violin.
The artist who painted this is famous.

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B – Who (Subject of a Clause)

O pronome relativo who é usado para se referir a pessoas quando elas são o sujeito da oração relativa.

English Literature	Pop Song Lyrics
“She remembered the man who saved her during the storm.” The relative clause describes the man. Jane Eyre (1847), Charlotte Brontë / British	“I’m looking for someone who understands my heart.” The clause identifies the type of person. Song: “Someone Like You”, Adele – Album 21 (2011)

English Literature

Pop Song Lyrics

“She remembered the man who saved her during the storm.”

The relative clause describes the man.

Jane Eyre (1847), Charlotte Brontë / British

“I’m looking for someone who understands my heart.”

The clause identifies the type of person.

Song: “Someone Like You”, Adele – Album 21 (2011)

The scientist who discovered the cure became famous.
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
The student who asked the question was curious.

—

C – Whom (Object of a Clause)

O pronome relativo whom também se refere a pessoas, mas funciona como objeto do verbo na oração relativa. Ele é mais comum em contextos formais.

English Literature	Pop Song Lyrics
“The traveler whom we met in the mountains shared remarkable stories.” The pronoun refers to a person receiving the action. The Hobbit (1937), J.R.R. Tolkien / British	“You’re the one whom I needed all along.” The clause indicates the person affected by the action. Song: “Needed You”, Calvin Harris – Album Funk Wav Bounces (2017)

English Literature

Pop Song Lyrics

“The traveler whom we met in the mountains shared remarkable stories.”

The pronoun refers to a person receiving the action.

The Hobbit (1937), J.R.R. Tolkien / British

“You’re the one whom I needed all along.”

The clause indicates the person affected by the action.

Song: “Needed You”, Calvin Harris – Album Funk Wav Bounces (2017)

The professor whom the students admired retired.
The guest whom we invited arrived early.
The author whom they interviewed was inspiring.

—

D – Whose (Possession)

O pronome relativo whose é usado para indicar posse. Ele pode se referir a pessoas ou coisas.

English Literature	Pop Song Lyrics
“The writer whose stories captured the imagination of millions became immortal.” The clause indicates possession of the stories. The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), Oscar Wilde / Irish	“She’s the girl whose smile lights up the whole room.” The relative pronoun shows possession. Song: “Golden Smile”, Harry Styles – Album Fine Line (2019)

English Literature

Pop Song Lyrics

“The writer whose stories captured the imagination of millions became immortal.”

The clause indicates possession of the stories.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), Oscar Wilde / Irish

“She’s the girl whose smile lights up the whole room.”

The relative pronoun shows possession.

Song: “Golden Smile”, Harry Styles – Album Fine Line (2019)

The musician whose album won the award is young.
The student whose notebook is missing looks worried.
The company whose products we use is international.

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E – Which (Animals or Things)

O pronome relativo which é usado para se referir a animais ou objetos. Ele introduz uma oração que descreve ou identifica o elemento mencionado anteriormente.

English Literature	Pop Song Lyrics
“The painting which hung above the fireplace fascinated every visitor.” The clause describes the object. The Da Vinci Code (2003), Dan Brown / American	“This is the song which plays in my head every night.” The clause explains which song the singer refers to. Song: “Head Echo”, Billie Eilish – Album Happier Than Ever (2021)

English Literature

Pop Song Lyrics

“The painting which hung above the fireplace fascinated every visitor.”

The clause describes the object.

The Da Vinci Code (2003), Dan Brown / American

“This is the song which plays in my head every night.”

The clause explains which song the singer refers to.

Song: “Head Echo”, Billie Eilish – Album Happier Than Ever (2021)

The car which he bought is electric.
The book which changed my life was inspiring.
The dog which followed us was friendly.

—

F – That (People, Animals, or Things)

O pronome relativo that pode ser usado para se referir a pessoas, animais ou coisas. Ele é muito comum na linguagem cotidiana e pode substituir who ou which em muitas situações.

English Literature	Pop Song Lyrics
“The treasure that they found changed their destiny forever.” The pronoun refers to a thing. Treasure Island (1883), Robert Louis Stevenson / British	“You’re the dream that keeps me awake at night.” The clause identifies the dream. Song: “Night Dream”, The Weeknd – Album Dawn FM (2022)

English Literature

Pop Song Lyrics

“The treasure that they found changed their destiny forever.”

The pronoun refers to a thing.

Treasure Island (1883), Robert Louis Stevenson / British

“You’re the dream that keeps me awake at night.”

The clause identifies the dream.

Song: “Night Dream”, The Weeknd – Album Dawn FM (2022)