In the sentence 'I live in Texas, which is a big state,' the word 'which' functions as what?

In the sentence 'I live in Texas, which is a big state,' the word 'which' functions as what?

• A. Relative pronoun
• B. Interrogative pronoun
• C. Demonstrative pronoun
• D. Personal pronoun

Answer: (A)

This question is about how a word can introduce a clause that adds information about a noun. In this sentence, Texas is the noun being described, and the part after the comma, which is a big state, gives extra detail about Texas. The word which acts as a relative pronoun, linking that extra clause to the noun and serving as the subject of the clause (which is a big state). This usage is nonrestrictive, shown by the comma, meaning the information is optional and simply adds detail rather than identifying Texas. It isn’t an interrogative pronoun, because there’s no question being asked; it isn’t a demonstrative pronoun used to point to something directly in the moment; and it isn’t a personal pronoun, which would refer to people.

This question is about how a word can introduce a clause that adds information about a noun. In this sentence, Texas is the noun being described, and the part after the comma, which is a big state, gives extra detail about Texas. The word which acts as a relative pronoun, linking that extra clause to the noun and serving as the subject of the clause (which is a big state). This usage is nonrestrictive, shown by the comma, meaning the information is optional and simply adds detail rather than identifying Texas. It isn’t an interrogative pronoun, because there’s no question being asked; it isn’t a demonstrative pronoun used to point to something directly in the moment; and it isn’t a personal pronoun, which would refer to people.