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Introducers

Introducers that and wh-Words and Phrases

A relative clause can begin with one of the following kinds of relative clause “introducer”:

1. the word that

2. a “wh-word” such as who, whom, or which

3. a “wh-phrase” that begins with whose or that includes one of the wh-words in #2.

Examples of #3 are whose camera, to whom, and from which. The following sample sentences illustrate these options:

A scanner is a device that allows you to convert an image to a digital format.

A scanner is a device which allows you to convert an image to a digital format.

A scanner is a device with which you can convert an image to a digital format.

A scanner is a device that allows you to convert an image to a digital format.

The photographer whose scanner I borrowed asked me to return it.

The photographer from whom I borrowed a scanner asked me to return it.

The photographer who I borrowed a scanner from asked me to return it.

The photographer that I borrowed a scanner from asked me to return it.

No Introducer

A fourth option for introducing a relative clause involves neither that nor a wh-word or phrase. In such cases, the relative clause has no introducer as in the sentences below.

The photographer I borrowed a scanner from asked me to return it.

There are many things you can do with a digital camera.