Relative Pronouns

      Relative Pronouns            

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that introduces an adjective clause. In English, the relative pronouns are:

§  That

§  Which

§  Who

§  Whom

§  Whose

A relative pronoun is used to start a description for a noun. (This description is called an adjective clause or a relative clause.) The description comes after the noun to:

(1) Identify it.

For example:

Ø  The lady who made your dress is waiting outside.

(The noun is the lady. The relative pronoun is who. The adjective clause identifying the lady is shaded.)

Ø  I saw the dog which ate the cake.

(The noun being identified is the dog.)

Ø  We did not know the tune that had been playing..

(The noun being identified is the tune.)

(2) Tell us more information about it.

For example:

v  Mrs.Miggins, who owns a pie shop, is waiting outside.

(The noun is Mrs.Miggins. The adjective clause tells us some information about her.)

v  I rode my bike, which now had two flat tyres, back home.

(The noun is my bike. The adjective clause tells us some information about it.)

Relative Pronouns (for People and Things)

Your choice of relative pronoun is determined by whether it refers to a person or a thing. Your choices are: Who and whom refer to people.
 Which refers to things. 
That and whose refer to people or things.

Note: Be aware that a fair proportion of your readers will not like you using that for people. It is good advice to avoid using that for people, especially in formal writing.
References:http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/relative_pronouns.html