Understanding Relative Pronouns in English Grammar

The question asks us to complete the sentence, "Suresh's dog is the one ________ was hurt in the stampede," by choosing the most appropriate alternative. This involves understanding the correct usage of relative pronouns, which connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. These pronouns introduce a dependent clause that provides more information about a noun or pronoun in the main sentence.

Analyzing Relative Pronoun Options

Let's look at each relative pronoun option provided and determine its proper use:

• that: The relative pronoun "that" is very versatile. It can refer to people, animals, or things. It is commonly used to introduce restrictive clauses, which provide essential information about the noun. If this information is removed, the meaning of the sentence changes significantly or becomes unclear. In the given sentence, "Suresh's dog is the one that was hurt in the stampede," "that was hurt in the stampede" tells us *which* specific dog is being referred to.
• which: The relative pronoun "which" typically refers to animals or things. It is most often used to introduce non-restrictive clauses, which provide additional, non-essential information about the noun. These clauses are usually set off by commas. For example, "The car, which is red, is parked outside." In our sentence, since the clause is essential to identify the dog, "which" is less appropriate.
• who: The relative pronoun "who" refers exclusively to people. For example, "The boy who lives next door is very kind." Since the sentence is about a dog, "who" is incorrect.
• whom: The relative pronoun "whom" also refers exclusively to people, but it is used when the person is the object of the verb or a preposition in the relative clause. For example, "The man whom I saw yesterday was tall." As the sentence is about a dog, "whom" is incorrect.

Completing the Sentence: Choosing the Right Relative Pronoun

In the sentence, "Suresh's dog is the one ________ was hurt in the stampede," the clause "was hurt in the stampede" is essential. It defines which of Suresh's dogs is being discussed (the injured one). Since "the one" refers to the dog (an animal), and the clause is restrictive, "that" is the most suitable relative pronoun. While "which" can refer to animals, its primary use is for non-restrictive clauses, or when choosing from a specific group, neither of which perfectly fits this context as well as "that" does for a general restrictive clause about an animal.

Therefore, the completed sentence reads: "Suresh's dog is the one that was hurt in the stampede."