Here's why:
* Antecedent: This is the noun or noun phrase that the pronoun refers back to.
* Subordinate Clause: This is a dependent clause that adds information to the main clause.
* Relative Pronoun: This pronoun introduces the subordinate clause and connects it to the antecedent.
Examples:
* "The book that I borrowed is on the table." Here, "that" is the relative pronoun connecting the subordinate clause ("that I borrowed") to the antecedent "book."
* "The woman who lives next door is a doctor." Here, "who" connects the subordinate clause ("who lives next door") to the antecedent "woman."
Common Relative Pronouns:
* who (for people)
* whom (for people, used as the object of a verb or preposition)
* whose (for possession)
* which (for things)
* that (for people or things)
Relative pronouns are essential for creating complex and interesting sentences by providing additional information about the subject of the sentence.