We can use relative pronouns and adverbs to link two clauses together in a sentence.
1. Relative pronouns
– Who is used for people, usually when it is the subject of the relative clause:
The boy 1/ who came to you 2/ was an older friend of mine. 1/
(the boy was a friend, the boy came to you – when who replaces “the boy” in the relative clause, it remains a subject)
– Whom is used for people, usually when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause:
The boy 1/ whom you saw 2/ was an older friend of mine. 1/
(the boy was a friend, you saw the boy – when who must replace “the boy” in the relative clause, which is no longer the subject (that being “you”) it remains an object and thus, it changes form to whom)
– Whose is used for people to show possession:
The boy 1/ whose face you saw 2/ was an older friend of mine. 1/
(the boy was a friend, you saw the boy’s face – when who must replace “the boy” in the relative clause of this example, it must also express the idea that the face belong to the boy and thus, it changes form to whose)
(!) Who (and sometimes whom) can be replaced by that when referring to people. It doesn’t change form and it can’t express possession.
The boy 1/ that came to you 2/ was an older friend of mine. 1/
The boy 1/ that you saw 2/ was an older friend of mine. 1/
NOT: The boy 1/ that face you saw 2/ was an older friend of mine. 1/
– Which is used for objects. It doesn’t change form. It may not be recommended for possession. It can also be replaced by that.
The book 1/ which caught your attention 2/ was a favorite of mine. 1/
The book 1/ which you saw 2/ was a favorite of mine. 1/
NOT: The book 1/ which’s cover you saw 2/ was a favorite of mine. 1/
| Nominative | Accusative | Genitive-Dative |
| Who
cine / care |
Whom
pe cine / pe care |
Whose
(a, al, ai, ale) cui / cărui |
| which (ce, care, pe care) | — | |
| that (toate de mai sus) | — | |
(!) Whom, which and whose can be used in expressions of quantity with the preposition of:
She’s got four colleagues. Two of them are Italian.
She’s got four colleagues, two of whom are Italian.
(!!) We don’t normally use prepositions before the relative pronoun (that would be very formal). Instead the preposition follows the pronoun and the verb.
The office in which she works is centrally located. (formal and not very usual)
The office which she works in is centrally located. (usual)
The office she works in is centrally located. (no pronoun, even more usual)
2. Relative adverbs
These are relatively simple:
– Where (unde) – to talk about places;
– When (când) – to talk about times;
– How (cum) – to talk about means;
– Why (de ce) – to talk about reasons.
by Anca-Raluca Sandu
