Unit 95

Relative clauses (5)--'extra information' clauses (2)

A. Prepositions + whom/which

In 'extra information' clauses (see Unit 94-Type 2) 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 on the phone last night, is very interested in our plan.

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

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') for people:

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

* Yesterday we visited the City Museum, which I'd never been to before.

B. All of/most of etc. + whom/which

Study these examples:

Mary has three brothers. All of them are married. (2 sentences)

-> Mary has three brothers, all of whom are married. (1 sentence)

They asked me a lot of questions. I couldn't answer most of them. (2 sentences)

-> They asked me a lot of questions, most of which I couldn't answer. (1 sentence)

In the same way you can say:

none of/neither of/any of/either of + whom (people)

none of/neither of/any of/either of which (things)

some of/many of/much of/(a) few of + which (things)

some of/many of/much of/(a) few of whom (people

both of/half of/each of/one of/two of (etc.) + whom (people)

both of/half of/each of/one of/two of (etc.) + which (things)

* Tom tried on three jackets, none of which fitted him.

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

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

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

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._(relative clause)(1 sentence)

In this example, which = 'the fact that he passed his driving test'. You must use which (not 'what') in sentences like these:

* Sheila 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')

For what, see also Units 91C and 92D.