“Which” as a Relative Pronoun
- Which as a relative pronoun. Use the pronoun which to introduce a clause that describes something previously mentioned in the sentence.
- When to use which. ...
- Which vs. ...
- Use of commas. ...
- Omitting which is / are. ...
- Which vs. ...
- Of which. ...
- Of which vs. ...
- Examples from literature. ...
How do I Use Your pronouns correctly?
Using the plural pronoun to refer to a single person of unspecified gender is an old and honorable pattern in English, not a newfangled bit of degeneracy or a politically correct plot to avoid sexism (though it often serves the latter purpose).
What are 10 examples of pronouns?
What are five examples of pronouns, and how are they used?
- Kate is a good girl. She helps everyone.
- Those beggars are idle. They refuse to work.
- Here is your book; take it away. 747 views Stephen Boyd , PhD English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1985) Answered 2 years ago · Author has 1.7K answers and 241.7K ...
- 5K views
What are some commonly used pronouns?
What are some commonly used pronouns?
- She, her, hers and he, him, his are common and more familiar pronouns. ...
- There are lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear: They, them, theirs (Xena ate their food because they were hungry.) This is a fairly ...
- Just say my name please! ...
What are proper pronouns?
Please excuse me if any spit-up gets on this column. More Grammar Guy: The ‘b’ that ruined the spelling bee Is “baby” ever a proper noun? Unless your stage name is DaBaby, the short answer is “no.” Baby is a common noun, just the same as lamp ...
What is which as a pronoun?
Typically, which is the preferred relative pronoun for indicating that a relative clause is non-restrictive. Non-restrictive relative clauses (also known as non-defining relative clauses) provide non-essential information about the antecedent in the main clause.
What type of a pronoun is which?
RelativeOther Types of PronounPronoun TypeMembers of the SubclassRelativethat, which, who, whose, whom, where, whenDemonstrativethis, that, these, thoseInterrogativewho, what, why, where, when, whateverIndefiniteanything, anybody, anyone, something, somebody, someone, nothing, nobody, none, no one3 more rows
Is which a pronoun or determiner?
Many determiners are also pronouns, and it's important to understand the difference. A determiner occurs at the beginning of a noun phrase and in some way qualifies the rest of the noun phrase. A determiner cannot exist alone: Those classic songs were great....Determiners versus Pronouns.determinerspronounswhat, which, whosewhat, which, whose14 more rows
Who is example of which pronoun?
Some examples of demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these and those. Interrogative Pronouns are pronouns that are used to ask questions. Some examples of interrogative pronouns are who, what, when, why and where. Indefinite Pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to any particular person, place or thing.
What does which mean?
1 : what one or ones out of a group —used as an interrogative which of those houses do you live inwhich of you want tea and which want lemonadehe is swimming or canoeing, I don't know which. 2 : whichever take which you like.
What are the 7 pronouns?
In Modern English the personal pronouns include: "I," "you," "he," "she," "it," "we," "they," "them," "us," "him," "her," "his," "hers," "its," "theirs," "our," "your." Personal pronouns are used in statements and commands, but not in questions; interrogative pronouns (like "who," "whom," "what") are used there.
Can which be used as a determiner?
Which can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a noun): Which colour do you like best? as a pronoun (without a following noun): Choose any card – it doesn't matter which.
Which is example sentence?
[M] [T] I didn't know for certain which train to take. [M] [T] She told me which clothes would be good to wear. [M] [T] Which do you like better, white wine or red wine?
Are pronoun is a word which is used instead of a?
A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase.
Why do we use which?
We use which in questions as a determiner and interrogative pronoun to ask for specific information: 'Which car are we going in? ' he asked Alexander.
What are the 20 examples of pronoun?
20 examples of pronouns in a sentenceSubject PronounsObject Pronouns1st person singularIMyself2nd person singularYouYourself3rd person singular (male)HeHimself3rd person singular (female)SheHerself4 more rows
What are the 8 types of pronouns with examples?
8 Types of Pronouns with Examples in EnglishIndefinite Pronouns. These are pronouns that does not refer to a particular person, place,or thing. ... Personal Pronouns: ... Reflexive Pronouns: ... Possessive Pronoun: ... Demonstrative Pronouns: ... Interrogative Pronoun: ... Intensive Pronoun: ... Relative Pronouns:
Which is a possessive pronoun?
The independent possessive pronouns are mine, ours, yours, his, hers, its, and theirs. The possessive adjectives, also called possessive determiners, are my, our, your, his, her, its, and their.
What are the 8 types of pronouns?
Writing Tips: 8 Types of PronounPersonal Pronouns. Personal pronouns are used in place of a specific person or thing. ... Demonstrative Pronouns. ... Relative Pronouns. ... Reciprocal Pronouns. ... Indefinite Pronouns. ... Interrogative Pronouns. ... Reflexive Pronouns. ... Intensive Pronouns.
What are indefinite pronouns?
The term indefinite pronouns means pronouns that do not refer to any person, amount, or thing....(1) Singular Indefinite Pronouns:Anybody – Everybody – Somebody – Nobody.Each one – Anyone – Everyone – No one –Someone.Anything – Everything – Something – Nothing.Each – Either – Neither.
What are interrogative pronouns?
The five interrogative pronouns are what, which, who, whom, and whose. What – Used to ask questions about people or objects. Examples: What do you want for dinner?
What is the definition of pronoun?
In English, the part of speech used as a substitute for an antecedent noun that is clearly understood, and with which it agrees in person, number, and gender. Pronouns are classified as personal ( I, we, you, he, she, it, they ), demonstrative ( this, these, that, those ), relative ( who, which, that, as ), indefinite ( each, ...
Why do we use pronouns in sentences?
Pronouns are some of the most useful words in the English language. They are used in the place of a noun to avoid it having to be named twice. For example: Suzy threw the boomerang and it came back to her. In this sentence, "it" is a pronoun that represents the boomerang, and "her" is a pronoun that refers to Suzy.
What are pronominal adjectives?
There are also pronominal adjectives, sometimes called possessive adjectives ( my, your, his, her, our, their ). 1. Personal Pronouns / Subject Pronouns. You already know subject pronouns, even if you didn't know that's what they were called. Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject in a sentence.
What is the difference between "her" and "it"?
In this sentence, "it" is a pronoun that represents the boomerang, and "her" is a pronoun that refers to Suzy. Without pronouns, we'd have to say Suzy threw the boomerang and the boomerang came back to Suzy. Without pronouns, how would we even say "we"? Here's the full definition.
What are intensive and reflexive pronouns?
Intensive Pronouns. Intensive and reflexive pronouns are actually the exact same words (ending with "self" or "selves"), but they function differently in a sentence. Intensive pronouns not only refer back to a previously mentioned person or people, but they also emphasize.
What are subject pronouns?
Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject in a sentence. You might also see them called "personal" pronouns, as they designate the person speaking ( I, me, we, us ), the person spoken to ( you ), or the person or thing spoken about ( he, she, it, they, him, her, them ).
Which pronouns are the easiest to remember?
Reflexive pronouns might be the easiest group to remember because they all have one thing in common: the ending "self" or "selves." That's because reflexive pronouns show how the actions of an aforementioned person or group affects him or her (or them).
Who is an object pronoun?
Whom is an object pronoun, like me, him, her, us and them. When the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition, the object form is the one you want. Most people don’t have much trouble with the objective case of personal pronouns because they usually come immediately after the verb or preposition that modifies it.
What are the different types of pronouns?
There are a few different types of pronouns, and some pronouns belong to more than one category. She and her are known as personal pronouns. The other personal pronouns are I and me, you, he and him, it, we and us, and they and them. If you learned about pronouns in school, these are probably the words your teacher focused on.
What are relative pronouns?
Often, they introduce additional information about something mentioned in the sentence. Relative pronouns include that, what, which, who, and whom.
What is the distinguishing characteristic of pronouns?
The distinguishing characteristic of pronouns is that they can be substituted for other nouns. For instance, if you’re telling a story about your sister Sarah, the story will begin to sound repetitive if you keep repeating “Sarah” over and over again. Sarah has always loved fashion.
When to use reflexive pronouns?
Use a reflexive pronoun when both the subject and object of a verb refer to the same person or thing. Henry cursed himself for his poor eyesight. They booked themselves a room at the resort.
What are pronouns in English?
What are pronouns? Pronouns are short words that English speakers use in lieu of continually using someone's name. The most common pronouns are he/him/his and she/her/hers when you are talking about one person (e.g., Matthew took his dog for a walk.
How to learn someone's pronouns?
One way to learn another person's pronouns is when you introduce yourself , you can include your pronouns for the other person . For example, I am Matthew and I use he/him/his pronouns.
What is the pronoun "she"?
The pronoun sequence, she/her/hers/herself, is most commonly attributed to those who identify as women. However, we cannot guess an individual's gender identity by knowing their chosen pronoun, even if society assumes those who use this sequence identify as women. Some examples of this pronoun in use are:
What is the pronoun sequence of "he"?
The pronoun sequence, he/him/his/himself, is most commonly attributed to those who identify as men. However, we cannot guess an individual's gender identity by knowing their chosen pronoun, even if society assumes those who use this sequence identify as men. Some examples of this pronoun in use are:
Is "they" a singular pronoun?
They/Them/The irs. The pronoun sequence, they/them/theirs/themself (themselves), is most commonly attributed to those in a group. However, we also can use they/them/theirs/themself as a singular pronoun, meant to be more encompassing of gender.
Is "ze" a pronoun?
The pronoun sequence, ze (zie)/hir/hirs/hirself, is a common gender inclusive pronoun. However, we cannot guess or assume an individual's gender identity by knowing their chosen pronoun. Some examples of this pronoun in its singular use are:
What are pronouns in a person?
What are Pronouns? Pronouns are the way that we refer to people in place of their name or in third person (referring to that person while talking to someone else). Often, pronouns have an implied gender such as “he” to refer to a man/boy or “she” to refer to a woman/girl.
What does it mean to not use pronouns?
Actively choosing to not use the pronouns someone has shared that they go by is harassment and implies that intersex, transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people do not or should not exist.
Why is it hurtful to use the wrong pronoun?
It is hurtful because it communicates that the person’s gender and experiences are not valid or respected. When someone is misgendered over and over, it can cause significant emotional pain.
What happens if someone isn't present when their pronouns are misused?
If someone isn’t present when their pronouns are misused, it is our job to hold others accountable to using the correct pronouns. When in a conversation with someone else who makes a mistake, there are a couple of ways to navigate the conversation.
What to do if you don't know what pronouns to use?
If you don’t know what pronouns someone uses, you can do one of three things: Use “They”: Use singular “they/them/theirs” for this person until you have the opportunity to ask about their pronouns. Ask!: It’s perfectly acceptable to ask someone what pronouns they use. See the next section for tips and methods!
Why avoid using the word preferred in front of pronouns?
Avoid using the word “preferred” in front of pronouns because it insinuates that the pronouns are optional. Instead, just say “my pronouns are” or “their pronouns are”.
Why do people get nervous when they ask for pronouns?
Sometimes people get nervous about asking for pronouns, because they aren’t sure how to ask. The easiest way to lean into asking someone about their pronouns is to share your own: “Hello, my name is Charlie and I go by ‘he, him, his’ pronouns.”. By opening the conversation with your pronouns, you are signaling to the other person ...
What are pronouns in a sentence?
Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence, such as “you,” “we,” or “they.”. Most of the time we use pronouns without giving them a second thought, but when we’re working to be inclusive of people from all gender identities, it is important to consider our use of gendered pronouns when referring to people.
How to get a person's pronouns right?
Move forward. Breaking your habits may take some time, but focus on why it’s important to get a person’s pronouns and names right. You may also find that if you misgender a person, they may want space from you. Respect what they need and commit yourself to the inclusive practices you value.
What is the difference between Ze and Hir?
It’s up to each individual to decide which pronoun best fits them and their identities. Ze is typically pronounced like the letter Z. Hir is typically pronounced like the word “here.”. Zir is typically pronounced like “here” with a z in front.
How is Xir pronounced?
Xir is typically pronounced like “here” with a z in front. Just use my name! Like identities, pronouns can be complex and fluid. Some people don’t use pronouns, some people use different pronouns in different settings, and sometimes we forget to ask for pronouns or aren’t comfortable doing so.
Why do people use "they" instead of "they"?
It’s also very important to honor that some people specifically use they/them/their pronouns instead of he or she to represent their identity outside of the gender binary. The ze/hir, ze/zir pronoun sets come from the trans community as another gender-neutral pronoun set.
Is "they" a plural pronoun?
They/them/their. In addition to its use as a plural pronoun, they/them/their has a rich history of use as a gender-neutral singular pronoun in the English language. The Oxford English Dictionary sources the singular they as far back as 1375. They is often used in reference to a singular person whose gender pronouns are unknown, ...
Restrictive and Unrestrictive Clauses
Before we begin, you should be warned that it’s time to put your grammar pants on, since we’re about to dive into the world of restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. (If you don’t know what grammar pants are, they are itchy woolen slacks that are too tight, and magically make you mildly dissatisfied with the choices of everyone around you.)
Rules for 'Which' and 'That'
Soon, grammarians tried to establish a set of rules to govern the use of these words. As is so often the case when a grammatical rule is established based on the preference of usage writers, rather than actual usage, there was a great deal of disagreement as to what the rules should actually be.
Why does it matter?
In English, our most commonly used pronouns (he/she) specifically refer to a person’s gender. For queer, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and transgender people, these pronouns may not fit, can create discomfort, and can cause stress and anxiety.
Dive Deeper with LGBT Life Center
Get up to speed on terms, cultural sensitivity, and more with our virtual and in-person trainings and workshops.
Common terms
First, let’s get on the same page with some words that are commonly used when talking about the LGBTQ+ community, as well as gender experience and identity. Please be aware that even though someone may fit the generally used definition of one of these terms, they may not personally identify this way.
What if I make a mistake?
It happens, we all make mistakes! Apologize, do better, and move on quickly. If you make a mistake in front of a group of people, you may want to apologize to the person in private later on – no need to make scene or draw a lot of attention. No one likes that! The best thing to do is to use the correct pronoun the next time.
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that refers to either the people talking (I or you) or someone or something that is being talked about (like she, it, them, and this). Gender pronouns (he/she/they/ze etc.) specifically refer to people that you are talking about.
What happens when you use the wrong pronoun?
When someone is referred to with the wrong pronoun, it can make them feel disrespected, invalidated, dismissed, alienated, or dysphoric ( often all of the above. ) It is a privilege to not have to worry about which pronoun someone is going to use for you based on how they perceive your gender.
Is "he/his" a pronoun?
use “he/his” when referring to a generic individual in the third person.
Is "they" a gender neutral pronoun?
There are also lots of gender-neutral pronouns in use. Here are a few you might hear: They/them/theirs (Shea ate their food because they were hungry.) This is a pretty common gender-neutral pronoun and it can be used in the singular. In fact, “they” was voted as the Word of the Year in 2015.
When to Use Which
- Use whichto introduce additional details that describe a noun phrase or an entire clause or sentence. Grammatically, the relative pronoun which can be used in two ways: In restrictive (or defining) clauses, it provides information necessary to the meaning of the sentence. In nonrestri…
Which vs. That
- Both which and that are relative pronouns that help describe or define nouns. While which provides an optional description, thatintroduces essential information that defines or identifies a person or a thing. In edited American texts, which is generally used only in nonrestrictive clauses, where it provides optional information not essential to meaning. To provide essential informatio…
Use of Commas
- Use commas to set off a whichclause that presents an additional, optional description. The commas indicate that the information is parenthetical and can be omitted without loss of basic meaning. When which is used in its restrictive sense to present information essential to meaning—for example, in British usage where it can replace that—commas are omitted.
Omitting Which is/are
- Which is and which are can often be omittedfrom relative clauses without loss of meaning. Such omission is possible when the relative clause can be reduced to an appositive, adjective, or participle phrase. (An appositive is a noun that appears beside another noun and describes or identifies it. Adjectives are words that describe nouns, while a participle is a verb form that funct…
Which vs. Who
- Use which to refer to things rather than people, and whofor people. Which also refers to animals, but when an animal is known or named, whois used instead.
of Which
- The preposition of is used before which to form the possessive. Like which, the phrase of which can be used in restrictive or nonrestrictive clauses. When the clause is essential to meaning (restrictive), commasare omitted. When it provides extra, optional information (nonrestrictive), the clause is enclosed in commas. Which can also function as the complement of other preposition…
of Which vs. Whose
- Both whose and of which can be used as possessives to refer to things. Of whichis less common, seen mainly in formal styles. Here are examples from published writing that show whose being used (rather than of which) to refer to things.
Examples from Literature
- The following examples from writing show how whichis used as a relative pronoun to describe a thing. In the following sentences, whichdescribes not just a noun phrase, but the entire clause that precedes it. And here are sentences that illustrate how which can also be used in restrictive clauses (in place of that) to provide essential information. These examples are from British, Aus…