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Unit 96 · Relative clauses

Relative clauses 5: extra information clauses (2)

Study

A

You can use a preposition + whom (for people) and which (for things).

So you can say:

to whom with whom about whom etc.
of which without which from which etc.
›

Mr Lee, to whom I spoke at the meeting, is interested in our proposal.

›

Fortunately we had a good map, without which we would have got lost.

In spoken English we often keep the preposition after the verb in the relative clause:

›

Katherine told me she works for a company called 'Latoma', which I'd never heard of before.

We do not use whom when the preposition is in this position:

›

Mr Lee, who I spoke to at the meeting, is interested in our proposal.

(not Mr Lee, whom I spoke to …)

For prepositions in relative clauses, see also Unit 93C.

B

You can say:

›

Helen has three brothers, all of whom are married.

›

They asked me a lot of questions, most of which I couldn't answer.

In the same way you can say:

many of whom some of whom neither of whom etc. (for people)
none of which both of which one of which etc. (for things)
›

Martin tried on three jackets, none of which fitted him.

›

Two men, neither of whom I had seen before, came into the office.

›

They have three cars, two of which they rarely use.

›

Sue has a lot of friends, many of whom she was at school with.

You can also say:

the cause of which the name of which etc.
›

The house was damaged in a fire, the cause of which was never established.

›

We stayed at a beautiful hotel, the name of which I don't remember now.

C

Study this example:

Joe got the job. This surprised everybody. (2 sentences)
Joe got the job, which surprised everybody. (1 sentence)

In this example, which = 'the fact that Joe got the job'. We use which (not what) in sentences like these:

›

Sarah couldn't meet us, which was a shame. (not what was a shame)

›

The weather was good, which we hadn't expected. (not what we hadn't expected)

For what and that, see Units 92D and 93D.

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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96.1

Complete the sentences. Use a preposition + whom or which. Choose a preposition from:

afterforinoftowithwithout
  1. 1
    Fortunately we had a good map, we would have got lost.example
  2. 2
    The accident, two people were injured, happened late last night.
  3. 3
    I share an office with my boss, I get on really well.
  4. 4
    The wedding, only family members were invited, was a lovely occasion.
  5. 5
    Ben showed me his new car, he's very proud.
  6. 6
    Sarah showed us a picture of her son, she's very proud.
  7. 7
    Laura bought a very nice leather bag, she paid twenty pounds.
  8. 8
    We had lunch, we went for a long walk.
96.2

Use the information in the first sentence to complete the second one. Use all of / most of etc.

  1. 1
    All of Helen's brothers are married.
    Helen has three brothers, .example
  2. 2
    Most of the information we were given was useless.
    We were given a lot of information, .
  3. 3
    None of the ten people who applied for the job was suitable.
    Ten people applied for the job, .
  4. 4
    My neighbours have two cars. They never use one of them.
    My neighbours have two cars, .
  5. 5
    James won a lot of money. He gave half of it to his parents.
    James won £100,000, .
  6. 6
    Both of Julia's sisters are lawyers.
    Julia has two sisters, .
  7. 7
    Jane replied to neither of the emails I sent her.
    I sent Jane two emails, .
  8. 8
    I went to a party – I knew only a few of the people there.
    There were a lot of people at the party, .
  9. 9
    Now use the … of which … .
    You stayed in a hotel when you were on holiday but you don’t remember the name. We stayed at a very nice hotel, .example
  10. 10
    We drove along the road. The sides of the road were lined with trees.
    We drove along the road, the .
  11. 11
    The aim of the company’s new business plan is to save money.
    The company has a new business plan, .
96.3

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box and use which.

This is good news.This was a shame.She apologised for thisThis was very kind of her.This makes it hard to contact her.This means we can’t go away tomorrow.This makes it difficult to sleep sometimes.This meant I had to wait two hours at the airport.
  1. 1
    Laura couldn't come to the party, .example
  2. 2
    The street I live in is noisy at night, .
  3. 3
    Kate let me stay at her house, .
  4. 4
    Jane doesn't have a phone, .
  5. 5
    Alex passed his exams, .
  6. 6
    My flight was delayed, .
  7. 7
    Our car has broken down, .
  8. 8
    Amy was twenty minutes late, .