The term 'who' is a relative pronoun used to introduce relative clauses, specifically referring to people. It connects the information in a clause to a noun, usually indicating a subject or agent, and helps to provide more detail or clarify who is being discussed in a sentence. Understanding how 'who' functions is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and for recognizing the subtle differences between similar pronouns.
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'Who' is used when referring to the subject of the verb in a relative clause, making it important for maintaining proper grammatical structure.
'Who' can be replaced by 'that' in some contexts, but using 'who' specifically highlights that you are talking about people.
In informal usage, 'who' may sometimes be confused with 'whom', but 'whom' is strictly used as an object, making 'who' more commonly accepted in everyday conversation.
Relative clauses introduced by 'who' can either be restrictive, providing necessary information, or non-restrictive, offering additional details that are set off by commas.
'Who' can also function in indirect questions, such as 'I wonder who is coming to the party?', showcasing its versatility in different sentence structures.
Review Questions
How does the use of 'who' differ from the use of 'whom' in sentence construction?
'Who' is used when referring to the subject of a verb within a relative clause, while 'whom' is reserved for object positions. For example, in the sentence 'The teacher who taught me is retiring,' 'who' refers to 'the teacher,' who is performing the action. In contrast, you would say 'The student whom I called was absent,' where 'whom' refers to the student receiving the action. Understanding this distinction is crucial for proper grammar.
In what ways does the choice between 'who' and 'that' affect the meaning of a sentence?
'Who' specifically indicates that the noun being described refers to people, emphasizing their role in the action. For example, saying 'The artist who painted this is famous' clearly points to a person. On the other hand, using 'that' could create ambiguity if it's unclear whether you’re referring to people or objects. For instance, saying 'The book that was published last year has received awards' indicates an object rather than a person. Thus, using 'who' helps maintain clarity and specificity when discussing people.
Evaluate how understanding the proper use of 'who' can enhance both written and spoken communication.
Mastering the use of 'who' significantly improves clarity and precision in both writing and speaking. It allows speakers and writers to convey specific information about individuals effectively, thereby enhancing audience understanding. For example, when narrating a story or giving information about people, using relative pronouns correctly creates more engaging and informative sentences. This knowledge contributes not only to grammatical accuracy but also enriches overall communication skills by enabling individuals to express complex ideas clearly.
'Whom' is another relative pronoun that refers to people but is used in the object position within a clause, often following prepositions or as the direct object of a verb.
'That' is a relative pronoun that can refer to people or things but is more commonly used for things; it introduces restrictive clauses that provide essential information about the noun.
'Which' is also a relative pronoun, typically used to refer to things rather than people and introduces non-restrictive clauses that provide additional information but are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.