Question

Choose the best suitable relative pronoun in the following sentence from the options given below:
The woman ____ answered the call was rather rude.

• A. which
• B. whom
• C. that
• D. whose

Answer 1

The correct option is C that

Relative pronouns have two functions- Like other pronouns they stand for a noun or pronoun placed before them and like conjunctions they join subclauses with main clause and start the adjective clause.

In the given sentence a relative pronoun that modifies the antecedent 'the woman' must be used.

The given sentence does not show any possession. "The woman" is also not an object of any preposition. So, 'whom' (objective form of who) and 'whose' (possessive form of who) cannot be used. We can thus eliminate options B and D as incorrect answers.

When describing objects and non-human beings, "that" is used to introduce a defining relative clause, while "which" is used to introduce a non-defining clause.

The given sentence is a defining clause. So "that" must be used.

Thus option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect.