A Handbook of the English Language

by R. G. Latham

THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.

[§ 452]. It is necessary that the relative be in the same gender as the antecedent—the man who—the woman who—the thing which.

[§ 453]. It is necessary that the relative be in the same number with the antecedent.

[§ 454]. It is not necessary for the relative to be in the same case with its antecedent.

1. John, who trusts me, comes here.

2. John, whom I trust, comes here.

3. John, whose confidence I possess, comes here.

4. I trust John who trusts me.

[§ 455]. The reason why the relative must agree with its antecedent in both number and gender, whilst it need not agree with it in case, is found in the following observations.

1. All sentences containing a relative contain two verbs—John who (1) trusts me (2) comes here.