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Nominal Relative Pronouns 

Explore the rules and nuances of nominal relative pronouns like 'whoever', 'whichever', and 'whatever'. Detailed explanations, advanced exercises, and a quiz.

hownominal relative pronounsrelativeswhatwhenwherewhichwhowhomwhy
Nominal Relative Pronouns in the English Grammar

What Are Nominal Relative Pronouns?

Nominal relative pronouns (also called free relative pronouns) are pronouns that have no antecedent and form noun clauses.

English Nominal Relative Pronouns

Here is a list of nominal relative pronouns:

  1. what/whatever → refers to a thing
  2. which/whichever → refers to a choice or option
  3. when/whenever → refers to a time
  4. where/wherever → refers to a place
  5. who/ whoever → refers to a person
  6. why → refers to the reason
  7. how → refers to the manner
  8. whom/whomever → refers to a person that acts as object

using 'whatever' as a nominal relative pronoun

Nominal Relative Pronouns: Functions

Nominal relative pronouns are used to introduce a relative clause that acts as a noun, and like other nouns, can serve as the subject or verb complement.
Look at the examples:

I will listen to whatever you say.

'Whatever you say' acts an object for the verb 'listen.'

Where you go sounds very important to me.

'Where you go' is the subject of 'sounds very important to me.'

They made him what he is today.

'what he is today' is the complement of 'him.'

Nominal Relative Pronouns: Placement

Nominal relative pronouns head a nominal relative clause that comes before the main verb if it is acting as subject, or after the main verb if it is acting as a verb complement. For example:

I don't understand what she meant.

Here, 'what' introduces a nominal relative clause that acts as the object of the main verb.

What you decide will affect everyone.

Here, 'what' introduces a nominal relative clause that acts as the subject of the sentence, coming before the main verb.

The important thing is what you believe in.

Here, 'what' introduces a nominal relative clause that acts as the subject complement, coming after the linking verb.

Nominal Relative Pronouns vs. Relative Pronouns

'Who,' 'whom,' and 'which,' can act as both nominal relative pronouns and relative pronouns. What distinguishes the two types in that relative pronouns always form clauses that follow a noun and describe it, while nominal relative pronouns have no antecedent and form clauses that act as nouns, i.e. subjects or verb complements. Compare the examples:

The route, which we take everyday, was under maintenance.

Here, 'which' follows a noun 'the route' to describe it, so it is a relative pronoun.

Which route we take depends on the weather.

In this sentence, 'which' introduces a clause that acts as a noun, so it is a nominal relative pronoun.

Quiz:

1.
Which sentence correctly uses a nominal relative pronoun?
A
I met the woman who wrote the book.
B
The plan, which we discussed earlier, seems reasonable.
C
Whatever you decide will affect the outcome.
D
The house where she was born is now a museum.
2.
Sort the words to form a sentence with a nominal relative pronoun.
understand
.
is
works
how
to
this
difficult
3.
Match the nominal relative pronouns with their correct description.
Who
Where
Why
How
When
Refers to the reason behind something
Refers to a person or people in general
Refers to the location where something happens
Refers to the time something happens
Refers to the manner or process
4.
Fill in the blanks with the correct nominal relative pronoun. (There is one extra option.)
I didn't understand
she meant by that statement.
We still haven't decided
we will meet this afternoon.
They didn't explain
the accident happened.
he did it doesn't matter. I'm sure he had a good reason.
what
where
how
why
who
5.
Which sentence uses a nominal relative pronoun to form the subject of the sentence?
A
I don't know why he left.
B
Whatever you choose will be fine with me.
C
She will decide when the meeting starts.
D
She doesn't know when he will arrive.

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