Relative Clauses: Advanced (prepositions, reduced)

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B2 (Upper-Intermediate)Grammar

Relative Clauses: Advanced (prepositions, reduced)

B1 introduced basic relative clauses. At B2 you refine them: using prepositions in relative clauses, quantifiers + of which/whom, reduced relative clauses, and which to comment on a whole clause.

B1 introduced basic relative clauses. At B2 you refine them: using prepositions in relative clauses, quantifiers + of which/whom, reduced relative clauses, and which to comment on a whole clause.

Prepositions in relative clauses

Style Example
Informal (preposition at end) The man who I spoke to was kind.
Formal (preposition + whom/which) The man to whom I spoke was kind.
Formal preposition + whom/whichIn formal English the preposition moves before the relative pronoun, and you must use whom (people) or which (things) — never “that” or “who” after a preposition: “the issue about which we argued” (✗ about that / about who).

Quantifier + of which / of whom

Use in non-defining clauses to add detail about a group: “I have many students, most of whom are adults,” “He made several points, none of which made sense.”

Reduced relative clauses

Full clause Reduced
the woman who is standing there the woman standing there
the book which was written in 1990 the book written in 1990

‘which’ commenting on a whole idea

“She passed with distinction, which delighted her tutor.” Here which refers to the entire previous clause, not one noun.

Examples from EduCareer

  • This is the tutor with whom Aisha studies.
  • We offer six courses, all of which are online.
  • Omar finished early, which impressed everyone.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersAfter a preposition, use whom (not who) and which (not that): “the person to whom I wrote.” In everyday speech it’s fine to say “the person I wrote to” — just don’t mix the two by saying “to who.”
Common mistakes

  • The man to who I spoke. → The man to whom I spoke.
  • She was late, what annoyed me. → She was late, which annoyed me.
  • Students, most of who are adults. → Students, most of whom are adults.

Practise with the 20 questions below.

Check your understanding

Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.

1."The man ___ I spoke was very helpful." (formal)
preposition + whom for people.
2."The issue ___ we argued is resolved." (formal)
preposition + which for things.
3."I have many students, most ___ are adults."
quantifier + of whom (people).
4."He made points, none ___ made sense."
of which (things).
5.Reduce: 'the woman who is standing there' →
active → -ing (standing).
6.Reduce: 'the book which was written in 1990' →
passive → past participle (written).
7."She won, ___ surprised us all."
which comments on the whole clause.
8.After a preposition, use which pronoun for people?
whom.
9.Which is correct?
to whom.
10.Which is correct?
which for a whole idea.
11."We offer six courses, all ___ are online."
all of which (things).
12."This is the colleague ___ I rely." (formal)
on whom.
13."The team, ___ were experienced, won easily."
of whom (people).
14.Reduce: 'the people who were invited' →
passive → past participle.
15."He arrived late again, ___ his boss noticed."
which refers to the situation.
16."The house ___ they live is enormous."
in which (= where).
17."My friends, both ___ are teachers, helped me."
both of whom.
18.Reduced clause 'the man waiting outside' comes from:
who is waiting → waiting.
19."She gave three reasons, ___ I agreed with."
all of which (things).
20.After a preposition, use which pronoun for things?
which.

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