01 / 07
How does a preposition + which/whom relative clause work?
A preposition + which/whom relative clause works by placing the preposition directly before which for things or whom for people in formal written English. "The framework in which we operate" connects the framework to the activity without leaving the preposition at the end. "The supplier with whom we signed" links a person to the business relationship. This pattern is particularly at home in contracts, reports, and formal correspondence; casual speech often uses a different position. To choose safely, ask two questions: does the relative word point to a thing or a person, and which preposition expresses the relationship? Then store the link as a unit: in which, under which, with whom, or to whom. The purpose is not to make a sentence sound artificially elevated, but to keep relationships precise in dense written English. Rule: in the formal written pattern, place the required preposition directly before which for things or whom for people.
02 / 07
How do you use in which in English grammar?
Use in which when a previously named thing or framework provides the setting for an activity. In the business sentence "The framework in which we operate remains stable," in comes from operate in the framework. The formal version moves that preposition before which and keeps the link next to framework. The same principle works with other appropriate prepositions: "the agreement under which we operate" or "the process through which requests are approved." The specific relationship determines the right preposition; there is no single preposition for every relative clause. Check the plain statement first: We operate in the framework. Then turn the framework into the reference and place in which after it. This reverse check is especially useful in longer contracts where several nouns might compete for the link. The register tends to be formal and written. Rule: build the plain prepositional relationship first, then place preposition + which directly after the thing it describes.
03 / 07
When does whom follow a preposition?
Whom follows a preposition when the formal relative clause points to a person. "The supplier with whom we signed" grows from the plain relationship we signed with the supplier. The preposition with moves before whom, keeping the person reference immediately visible. Further business examples include "the adviser to whom we sent the draft" and "the partners with whom we negotiated." In casual speech, the preposition can tend to remain at the end, but this lesson deliberately trains the formal written version used in contracts, reports, and official correspondence. Do not confuse whom with which: people take whom in this target pattern, while things take which. The pronunciation is simpler than the spelling suggests. The w remains silent, so with whom begins /wɪð ˈhuːm/. Rule: after a fronted preposition, whom points to a person in the formal written pattern.
04 / 07
How does both of which work?
Both of which refers back to exactly two previously named things and states that both share the following information. In "We reviewed the terms, both of which still apply," which points to the terms, while both confirms that the statement covers the pair. The plain order is stable: quantifier, then of, then which for things or whom for people. This also gives most of which, neither of which, and neither of whom. The documented German transfer error reverses the first elements: "of whom both," following the order of German von denen beide. Write "We hired two analysts, both of whom started in June" instead. Before shortening, name the group clearly and check its number. Both needs exactly two referents, while most presupposes a larger group. Rule: place the quantifier before of which/whom and make it agree with the size and type of the previously named group.
05 / 07
Why can relative that not follow a preposition?
Relative that cannot directly follow a fronted preposition in English. Therefore, "the framework in that we operate" is not an alternative to "the framework in which we operate." The sequence in that already has another possible meaning, roughly giving the respect or reason: "The plan is unusual in that it shifts all risk to the supplier." With a person, "the supplier with that we signed" is equally outside the target pattern; the formal version is "the supplier with whom we signed." German transfer arises because German relative forms can make that feel like an attractive counterpart after the preposition. Use a simple replacement check: if the reference points to a thing, choose which; if it points to a person, choose whom. Rule: after a fronted preposition in a formal relative clause, use which for things or whom for people, never relative that.
06 / 07
How do formal relative clauses work in reports and contracts?
Formal relative clauses make the relationship to a framework, person, or named group visible in reports and contracts. "The framework in which we operate" attaches the activity directly to the framework. "The supplier with whom we signed" keeps the person reference beside the preposition. After a list, "both of which still apply" compresses a statement about two clauses without repeating them. These forms tend to suit formal written English because they show the link early and avoid leaving the preposition at the end. Use them deliberately rather than in every sentence. A contract benefits from the visible relationship, while a casual team message may sound more natural with a less formal version. Also check that which genuinely points to things, whom to people, and any quantifier matches the size of the group. Rule: in a formal report, keep the link close to its reference and let the quantifier state exactly how much of the group is covered.
07 / 07
Which relative-clause patterns belong in other lessons?
You can find the introductory, defining, non-defining, and reduced relative-clause foundations in our four relative-clause lessons. This C2 lesson takes a narrower formal focus: preposition + which/whom, quantifier + of which/whom, and whose + noun chains. If you need to decide whether information is essential or additional, use the relevant foundation lesson. The same boundary applies to reduced forms. Here, trace three concrete whose chains: "the team whose budget was cut," "the supplier whose terms changed," and "the process whose owner resigned." The starting point can be a person, group, or thing; the following noun names the possession or association. Also check which preposition belongs to the relationship and which quantifier fits before of which/whom for the named group. Rule: our four foundation lessons explain the general relative-clause contrasts; here you train formal preposition, quantifier, and whose chains.