Relative Pronouns on the SAT
Who, Whom, Which, and That Made Simple
Master sentence structure, punctuation, and clarity with repeatable rules.
Guard the Sentence Core
Identify the subject and verb, then make sure punctuation does not split them or add extra ideas.
- Find the subject + verb first. That is the sentence core.
- Only add commas around extra information, never inside the core.
- Re-read the sentence without the modifier to test clarity.
Why Relative Pronouns Matters on the SAT
Relative pronoun questions appear regularly on the SAT Reading and Writing section, and they follow clear, learnable rules. Knowing when to use who versus whom and when to choose which versus that puts you in a position to earn some of the most reliable free points on the entire test. Only a handful of rules govern these questions, and once those rules click, you can answer each one in seconds.
This post walks you through every relative pronoun the SAT cares about, gives you a no-nonsense strategy for test day, and finishes with practice questions that mirror the real exam. By the end, you'll have a system that works every time.
What Is a Relative Pronoun?
A relative pronoun is a word that introduces a clause describing a noun. It connects extra information back to something already mentioned in the sentence. The relative pronouns you need for the SAT are:
- Who, refers to a person as the
subject (the one doing the action)
"The student who studies consistently tends to score higher." - Whom, refers to a person as the
object (the one receiving the action)
"The tutor whom she hired was excellent." - Whose, shows possession for people or things
"The author whose novel won the prize gave a speech." - Which, refers to a thing and introduces a
nonessential clause (extra info, set off by commas)
"The essay, which took three hours, earned an A." - That, refers to a thing and introduces an
essential clause (necessary info, no commas)
"The essay that she submitted earned an A."
These five words cover virtually every relative pronoun question on the SAT. Learn them and you're set.
The Two Rules That Matter Most
You don't need a grammar textbook. You need two rules.
Rule 1: People vs. Things
Who, whom, and whose refer to people. Which and that refer to things. The SAT considers it an automatic error to use "which" for a person or "who" for a thing. If the noun is a person, eliminate any answer choice with "which" or "that." If the noun is a thing, eliminate "who" and "whom."
Rule 2: Commas Tell You Which vs. That
This is the rule students forget most often, and the SAT loves testing it.
- Comma + which = nonessential clause (extra information you could remove
without changing the sentence's core meaning)
"The bridge, which was built in 1904, still carries traffic today." - No comma + that = essential clause (information the sentence needs to
identify the noun)
"The bridge that connects the two towns was built in 1904."
On the SAT, look at the punctuation first. If there's a comma before the blank, the answer is almost certainly which. No comma? Think that. This one habit will save you time and eliminate wrong answers fast.
The Who vs. Whom Trick
- If "he" sounds right → the answer is who
"[He] discovered the technique" → who discovered - If "him" sounds right → the answer is whom
"She hired [him]" → whom she hired
Notice that whom and him both end in m. That's your memory hook. If the sentence calls for "him," it calls for "whom."
A SAT-Specific Strategy for Relative Pronouns
When you see a relative pronoun question on the SAT Reading and Writing section, follow this order:
- Identify the noun the pronoun refers to. Is it a person or a thing? This eliminates at least one or two answer choices immediately.
- Check for commas. A comma before the blank points to "which" (nonessential). No comma points to "that" (essential).
- If it's who vs. whom, run the "he/him" swap in your head.
- If it's a possession question, "whose" is your answer, it works for both people and things.
Most students can answer these questions in under 30 seconds once the rules are internalized. That's time you can bank for harder questions elsewhere on the test.
Practice Relative Pronouns with SAT-Style Questions
Try these SAT-style questions. Each one tests a specific relative pronoun rule. Read the sentence, pick your answer, then check the explanation.
Which choice completes the sentence correctly?
Which choice completes the sentence correctly?
Which choice completes the sentence correctly?
Which choice completes the sentence correctly?
Which choice completes the sentence correctly?
Key Takeaways for Relative Pronouns
- Who = subject, Whom = object, Whose = possession. Use the "he/him" swap to check: if "him" fits, use "whom" (both end in m).
- Comma + which (nonessential), No comma + that (essential). Check punctuation first, it's the fastest way to eliminate wrong answers.
- People get who/whom/whose. Things get which/that. The SAT treats mixing these up as an automatic error.
- These rules are consistent and predictable. Once you internalize them, relative pronoun questions become some of the fastest points on the SAT Reading and Writing section.
Conclusion: The Core Rule for Relative Pronouns
Relative pronoun questions reward students who know a small set of clear rules. You don't need to memorize obscure grammar, just learn the who/whom distinction, the which/that comma rule, and the people-versus-things boundary. Review any practice questions you missed above, and you'll walk into test day ready to pick up easy points every time a relative pronoun appears.
Remember: Check the noun (person or thing?), check the commas (essential or nonessential?), and run the swap test (he or him?), three quick steps, and the answer is yours.
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