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English grammar

Which for the whole idea, whereby and at which point

C1 · Advanced Joining sentences Questions 10

The rule

A relative clause can comment on a whole clause, not just a noun: He arrived late, which annoyed everyone — it was the lateness that annoyed. Only which can do this; what and that cannot start a comment after a comma. Formal writing builds logical links from which and a preposition: whereby (by which: a system whereby staff can swap shifts), in which case (It may rain, in which case we’ll cancel), at which point, by which time, as a result of which, and quantified forms such as most of whom, none of which. what as a relative means the thing that (What she said was true), and whoever, whatever, whichever mean any person or thing that. In conversation a sentence can even start with which: Which is why I left. — but not in formal writing.

Pattern

clause, which + verb … (comment on the whole clause) · whereby = by which · in which case / at which point / by which time / as a result of which · most / none / all of whom / which · what = the thing that · whoever / whatever / whichever

Examples

  1. The train was cancelled, which meant we missed the wedding.

  2. We may be late, in which case please start without us.

  3. They introduced a scheme whereby staff can work from home.

  4. He talked for an hour, by which time half the audience had left.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: She passed the exam, what surprised everyone.

    Right: She passed the exam, which surprised everyone.

    To refer back to a whole clause, use which.

  • Wrong: He was late, that annoyed me.

    Right: He was late, which annoyed me.

    that cannot start a comment clause after a comma.

  • Wrong: It may snow, in what case we will stay home.

    Right: It may snow, in which case we will stay home.

    The fixed link is in which case.

Practice questions

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

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. He forgot her birthday, what upset her a lot.
    2. He forgot her birthday, it upset her a lot.
    3. He forgot her birthday, which upset her a lot.
    4. He forgot her birthday, that upset her a lot.
    Show answer

    Answer: C He forgot her birthday, which upset her a lot.

    which comments on the whole previous clause.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does which refer to?

    She resigned without notice, which surprised us all.

    1. The fact that she resigned without notice
    2. The notice she gave
    3. Her new job
    4. All of us
    Show answer

    Answer: A The fact that she resigned without notice

    A sentential which refers to the whole event.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    The flight may be delayed, in _____ case we will book a hotel.

    1. what
    2. which
    3. that
    4. whose
    Show answer

    Answer: B The flight may be delayed, in which case we will book a hotel.

    The fixed link in which case.

  4. 4Change the sentence.

    Join with which.

    The rent went up again. This forced us to move.

    1. The rent went up again, what forced us to move.
    2. The rent went up again, which forced us to move.
    3. The rent went up again, that forced us to move.
    4. The rent went up again, which it forced us to move.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The rent went up again, which forced us to move.

    which replaces this and joins the clauses.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    What does whereby mean here?

    They agreed a system whereby each family pays what it can.

    1. where
    2. although
    3. by which
    4. unless
    Show answer

    Answer: C by which

    whereby = by which, through which.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    He spoke for two hours, at what point people started to leave.

    1. He spoke for two hours, at that point which people started to leave.
    2. He spoke for two hours, which point people started to leave.
    3. He spoke for two hours, in which point people started to leave.
    4. He spoke for two hours, at which point people started to leave.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He spoke for two hours, at which point people started to leave.

    The fixed link is at which point.

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    I arrived at ten by which time the shop had closed

    Show answer

    Answer: I arrived at ten by which time the shop had closed.

    by which time + past perfect.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    1. It what surprised me most was how calm she stayed.
    2. Which surprised me most was how calm she stayed.
    3. That surprised me most was how calm she stayed.
    4. What surprised me most was how calm she stayed.
    Show answer

    Answer: D What surprised me most was how calm she stayed.

    what = the thing that.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence means the same?

    He may call, in which case tell him I’m out.

    1. If he calls, tell him I’m out.
    2. He will certainly call and I will be out.
    3. Tell him I’m out, whether he calls or not.
    4. In his case, I am out.
    Show answer

    Answer: A If he calls, tell him I’m out.

    in which case = if that happens.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a formal proposal.

    We propose a scheme _____ volunteers are reimbursed for travel.

    1. whether
    2. whereas
    3. whereby
    4. wherever
    Show answer

    Answer: C We propose a scheme whereby volunteers are reimbursed for travel.

    whereby introduces how the scheme works.

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