The proper employment of relative pronouns is very important for good writing. These small elements fulfill a syntactic function significant, because, by making reference to a term previously expressed in the text, they avoid repetition and contribute to textual cohesion.
Among the main pronouns is the pronoun “who”, which in the sentence will play the role of substantive pronoun. Want to know how to use it correctly? Escola Kids has prepared a practical and easy guide for you not to make mistakes anymore. Are we going to read? Good studies!
How to correctly use the relative pronoun who?
Tip 1 ► The relative pronoun “who” should be used when referring to personified persons or things and, in most cases, it will appear preceded by a preposition. In the next clause, he will substitute the antecedent term (persons or things personified), remembering that this clause will be subordinated to the first. So that you get it right, look at the example:
1. She found her best friend at school. She really likes her friend.
2. She found her best friend at school, from who likes a lot.
The Prayers “She found her best friend at school. She really likes her friend.” were brought together in a single period, “She found her best friend at school, who she likes a lot”, forming a composite period. The use of the relative pronoun "who" avoided the repetition of the noun "friend", so we say that he acted in the sentence as a noun pronoun, in addition to having contributed a lot to textual cohesion by eliminating unnecessary repetition of words.
Tip 2► When preceded by a preposition, which happens most of the time, the relative pronoun “who” will act as a direct prepositioned object. Check it out:
The girl what I saw it yesterday at the amusement park studying at my school.
Replace the relative pronoun "who", a direct object, with the pronoun "who":
The girl to whom I saw it yesterday at the amusement park studying at my school.
Tip 3► When not preceded by a preposition, the relative pronoun "who" will act as the subject of the clause, having the same value as the following pronouns: what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what. Watch:
It was her what told me about the party. → It was her who told me about the party.
Tip 4► There are situations in which the relative pronoun “who” will appear in the sentence with absolute use, that is, without referring to a precedent. On these occasions he will be considered as male and numerically inflected in the singular. Also remember that you should not use the comma between “who” and the second verb that the pronoun will agree with. Look at the examples:
Who warns friend is. (Wrong: Who warns, friend is).
Whoever believes always achieves. (Wrong: Whoever believes, always achieves).
Who lives will see. (Wrong: Whoever lives will see).
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
