Relative Clauses: Extra Information (2)
Using preposition + whom/which, quantifiers like all of whom/which, and which to refer to a whole clause
Preposition + whom / which
In formal English, you can place a preposition directly before whom (for people) or which (for things) in a non-defining relative clause.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| to whom | The hiring manager, to whom I sent my CV, called me back the same day. |
| with which | We use a project tool, without which the team would miss every deadline. |
| of whom | The CEO, of whom you may have heard, is joining the call. |
In everyday spoken English, the preposition usually moves to the end of the clause, and whom becomes who:
- The hiring manager, who I sent my CV to, called me back the same day.
- We use a project tool, which the team can’t function without.
Do not use whom when the preposition sits at the end. Say who I sent my CV to, not whom I sent my CV to.
Quantifier + of whom / of which
You can combine a quantifier with of whom (people) or of which (things) to add extra information about part of a group.
| Quantifier | People | Things |
|---|---|---|
| all / most / many / some / none | all of whom, most of whom, etc. | all of which, most of which, etc. |
| both / neither / one / two / half | both of whom, neither of whom, etc. | both of which, neither of which, etc. |
Examples:
- We interviewed twelve candidates, most of whom had strong project management experience.
- The board raised several objections, none of which were difficult to address.
- I manage two interns, both of whom started last month.
- The company owns four warehouses, one of which is located overseas.
You can also use the + noun + of which to refer to a characteristic of something:
- We signed a five-year contract, the terms of which are still confidential.
- The server went down due to an error, the cause of which is still under investigation.
Which Referring to a Whole Clause
Which can refer back to an entire fact or situation, not just a single noun. In this pattern, which means “the fact that …” or “this thing.”
- The client approved the budget on the first try, which surprised the whole team. (which = the fact that the client approved it so quickly)
- Our office will be closed next Friday, which means we need to finish everything by Thursday.
- David forgot to mute his microphone, which was pretty embarrassing.
Use which here, not what:
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| The deadline was moved up, which nobody expected. | |
| She got promoted, which made her very happy. |
Quick Self-Check
The regional director, _____ I reported directly, approved my transfer request.
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We interviewed six applicants, none of _____ had the required certification.
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The company launched three products last year, two of _____ were discontinued within six months.
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The meeting was cancelled, _____ meant we had the whole afternoon free.
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We signed a new vendor agreement, the terms of _____ will take effect next quarter.
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