Relative clauses (5) - clauses (2)

UNIT 88  Relative clauses (5) ''extra information" clauses (2)

A.   Prepositions + whom/which
In ''extra information'' clauses you can use a preposition before whom (for people) and which (for things). So you can say "to whom/with whom/about which/for which," etc.:

• Mr. Carter, to whom I spoke last night, is very interested in our plan.

• Fortunately we had a map, without which we would have gotten lost.

But in spoken English we often keep the preposition after the verb in the relative clause. When we do this, we normally use who (not whom):

• This is Mr. Carter, who I was telling you about.

• Yesterday we visited the National Museum, which I'd never been to before.

B.   All of/most of, etc. + whom/which            Study these examples

Jack has three brothers. All of them are married. (2 sentences)
Jack has three brothers, all of whom are married. (1 sentence)

Ann has a lot of books. She hasn't read most of them. (2 sentences)
Ann has a lot of books, most of which she hasn't read. (1 sentence)                       

You can also say:

none of/many of/much of/(a) few of/some of } + whom (people)
any of/half of/each of/both of/neither of          }
either of/one of/two of, etc.                                     } + which (things)

• He tried on three jackets, none of which fit him.

• They've got three cars, two of which they never use.

• Sue has a lot of friends, many of whom she went to school with.

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

C.   Which (not what)

Study this example:

Jim passed his driving test This surprised everybody. (2 sentences)
Jim passed his driving test which surprised everybody, (1 sentence)

In this example which = the fact that he passed his driving test. You cannot use what instead of which in sentences like this:

• she couldn't come to the party, which was a pity. (not . . . what was a pity)

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