Here's a breakdown:
1. They connect clauses:
* Independent clause: A complete sentence that can stand on its own.
* Dependent clause: A clause that cannot stand on its own and needs an independent clause to complete its meaning.
* Relative pronouns act as the bridge: They link the dependent clause back to the independent clause.
2. They act as subject or object:
* In the dependent clause, relative pronouns function as the subject or object of the verb.
* This means they take the place of a noun or pronoun.
3. They refer back:
* Relative pronouns refer back to a noun or pronoun in the independent clause. This noun or pronoun is called the antecedent.
Here are some examples:
* "The dog that barked at me is my neighbor's."
* Independent clause: "The dog is my neighbor's."
* Dependent clause: "that barked at me"
* Relative pronoun: "that" (refers to "dog" and acts as the subject of "barked")
* "This is the book which I bought yesterday."
* Independent clause: "This is the book."
* Dependent clause: "which I bought yesterday"
* Relative pronoun: "which" (refers to "book" and acts as the object of "bought")
Common relative pronouns:
* who: refers to people
* whom: refers to people (used as the object)
* whose: refers to possession
* which: refers to things or animals
* that: refers to people, things, or animals
Relative pronouns can be used to:
* Provide more information about a noun.
* Combine two sentences into one.
* Create more complex and interesting sentence structures.
Understanding relative pronouns is essential for understanding how sentences are constructed and for writing clear and concise prose.