Confusing relative pronoun!

Question

Hello teachers!:DI've been studying relative pronoun and found some of them really confusing!Please explain why the answer should be an answer in each of the questions below.Huge thanks in advance!!1. This is the factory _________ we visited last year.The answer here is 'which' for sure. But why can't I put 'where'? 'the factory' refers to some place, doesn't it? Should the following sentences(we visited last year) different? If so, how should they different?2. Who ______ knows him would belive him?I have no idea what this sentence tells about. Options are 'whom' 'that' 'which' 'who'.Please tell me the answer and explain why.3.__________ he says in his report is a very interesting question.The answer is 'what' but why not 'All what'? Is there any special usage for 'all what'?4. That is ________ I lost my pen.The answer is 'what' again. But can't I use 'when' or 'where' here? I think this sentence is quite vague in meaning. Am I misunderstood?5. They want to know _______ do to help us.I was confused whether the answer is 'what they can' or 'how they can'How can I tell those two sentences in meaning?

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

Ellisa1. This is the factory __ we visited last year.
The answer here is 'which' for sure. But why can't I put 'where'? 'the factory' refers to some place, doesn't it? Should the following sentences(we visited last year) different? If so, how should they different?

Both which and that are correct relative pronouns in a defining relative clause whose antecedent isn't a person. Visited requires an object, and a relative pronoun can serve as an object while an adverb/conjunction such as where cannot. By the same token, it is wrong to say: He visited here last year, even though you may hear it in informal speech. (He visited this town/place last year.)

Ellisa2. Who __ knows him would believe him?
I have no idea what this sentence tells about. Options are 'whom' 'that' 'which' 'who'.

That is your best choice even though who is also technically correct. Who who knows him... is very awkward, though. The sentence is made up of two clauses. The main clause is: Who would believe him? and the relative clause is: that knows him. The sentence may look odd as who is the only word before the relative clause. Does this help you understand it: The man that knows him believes him.

Ellisa3.__ he says in his report is a very interesting question.
The answer is 'what' but why not 'All what'? Is there any special usage for 'all what'?

All what is always wrong. There is no such collocation. That which is sometimes used instead of what: I didn't believe what/that which I saw.
Ellisa4. That is __ I lost my pen.
The answer is 'what' again. But can't I use 'when' or 'where' here? I think this sentence is quite vague in meaning. Am I misunderstood?

What is definitely wrong! Where is fine: That is where I lost my pen. If you were talking about the time you lost your pen, you could say: That was when I lost my pen. (The place is still there, the time isn't!)

Ellisa5. They want to know __ do to help us.
I was confused whether the answer is 'what they can' or 'how they can'
How can I tell those two sentences in meaning?

Do needs an object in the sentence and what can serve as an object. You would say: What are you going to do to help us? (Not: ~~How~~ ~~are you going to do to help us~~?) If there is an object, how is possible: How are you going to do it?

CB

Ellisa · Answer

That was a great help!!

Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

Confusing relative pronoun!

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions