Question

What is the function of the relative pronoun in the clause? Anyone who reads the science section of the newspaper knows about the latest discoveries. A. direct object B. possessive C. subject D. object of a preposition

Answer 1

Relative pronouns: that, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, and why. The relative pronoun in this sentence is is 'who' Try to see what you think the answer is first.

Answer 2

The correct answer is C, subject. A cannot be correct as a direct object in this sentence are 'section', and 'discoveries'. B cannot be correct as there is nothing to possess, if it said 'whose', then it would be a possessive relative pronoun, and plus, 'possessive' isn't a function, it is just a kind of pronouns. D is also incorrect, it cannot be an object of preposition because 'anyone' isn't a preposition, it is a pronoun. And since 'who reads the science section of the newspaper' is a part of the whole noun phrase starting with 'anyone', which is a subject, this has also got to be the subject.