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English grammar

Relative clauses that carry a preposition

B2 · Upper intermediate Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

B1 teaches who, which, that and the defining/non-defining comma. B2 adds the preposition. In speech it stays at the end: the man I spoke to. In formal writing it moves to the front and forces whom or which: the man to whom I spoke, the clause on which they rely. Quantifiers join in: two of whom, most of which, the cost of which. And whose works for things as well as people. Getting these right is the difference between a readable formal letter and a translated one.

Pattern

preposition + whom / which (formal) · … whom / which / that … preposition (neutral) · quantifier + of + whom / which

Examples

  1. The agency to whom the complaint was sent has not replied.

  2. There were forty applicants, most of whom were local.

  3. It is the clause on which their whole case depends.

  4. She sent three reports, none of which was read.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: The man who I spoke to him is the manager.

    Right: The man I spoke to is the manager.

    The relative already stands for the object; the pronoun must go.

  • Wrong: The report, that was late, has been rejected.

    Right: The report, which was late, has been rejected.

    that cannot follow a comma; a non-defining clause takes which or who.

  • Wrong: Forty applicants, most of them were local.

    Right: Forty applicants, most of whom were local.

    Inside a relative clause the quantifier takes of whom, not of them.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The person to whom you should write is the registrar.
    2. The person whom to write is the registrar.
    3. The person to whom you should write to is the registrar.
    4. The person to who you should write is the registrar.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The person to whom you should write is the registrar.

    A fronted preposition forces whom.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The building, the roof of which is leaking, is listed.
    2. The building, of which roof is leaking, is listed.
    3. The building, whose the roof is leaking, is listed.
    4. The building, which roof is leaking, is listed.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The building, the roof of which is leaking, is listed.

    the roof of which is the formal possessive for things.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She has two brothers, neither of them lives here.
    2. She has two brothers, neither of whom lives here.
    3. She has two brothers, neither of whom live.
    4. She has two brothers, neither of who live here.
    Show answer

    Answer: B She has two brothers, neither of whom lives here.

    A quantifier inside the clause takes of whom.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    This is the form _____ everything depends.

    1. which on
    2. on which
    3. that on
    4. on that
    Show answer

    Answer: B This is the form on which everything depends.

    A fronted preposition takes which, never that.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    The tenant, _____ deposit was withheld, has complained.

    1. who
    2. of who
    3. whose
    4. which
    Show answer

    Answer: C The tenant, whose deposit was withheld, has complained.

    whose marks possession for people and things.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    There were twelve objections, _____ were upheld.

    1. three of them
    2. three of which
    3. of which three
    4. three which
    Show answer

    Answer: B There were twelve objections, three of which were upheld.

    A quantifier plus of which inside the clause.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    The colleague _____ I share an office is on leave.

    1. that with
    2. with whom
    3. with who
    4. who with
    Show answer

    Answer: B The colleague with whom I share an office is on leave.

    Fronted with requires whom.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    The date _____ the licence expires is on the letter.

    1. which on
    2. that on
    3. on which
    4. when on
    Show answer

    Answer: C The date on which the licence expires is on the letter.

    on which for a date.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. The man who I gave it to him has gone.
    2. The man that I gave it to has gone.
    3. The man I gave it to has gone.
    4. The man to whom I gave it has gone.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The man who I gave it to him has gone.

    The resumptive pronoun must be dropped.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. My sister, that lives in Leeds, is a nurse.
    2. My sister, who lives in Leeds, is a nurse.
    3. The sister who lives in Leeds is a nurse.
    4. My sister, whose job is nursing, lives in Leeds.
    Show answer

    Answer: A My sister, that lives in Leeds, is a nurse.

    A non-defining clause never takes that.

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