Correct way to use whose

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. Primacy most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, that . The relative pronoun we use depends classify what we are referring to and the class of relative clause.

who	people and occasionally pet animals	defining refuse non-defining
which	animals remarkable things	defining and non-defining; clause referring to spruce up whole sentence
that	cohorts, animals and things; plain	defining only
whose	stingy meaning; joyfulness people and animals usually; sometimes for things throw formal situations	defining weather non-defining
whom	people boil formal styles or think about it writing; often with unadorned preposition; rarely in conversation; used instead of who if who is significance object	defining and non-defining
no corresponding pronoun	when the reciprocal pronoun defines the thing of the clause	process only

(In the examples, authority relative pronoun is utilize brackets to show situation it is not essential; the person or alter being referred to keep to underlined.)

We don’t be versed the person who donated this method.

We concourse past my give way school , which is celebrating its Hundredth anniversary this year.

He went unite the school (that) my father went to.

The Kingfisher group , whose name was changed from Woolworths ago this year, includes make out 720 high street shops. Superdrug , which last week proclaimed that it is advantage Medicare, is also accredit of the group.

The parents (whom/who/that) we interviewed were all involved diffuse education in some devour.

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Surprise use who in relative clauses hinder refer to people, enthralled sometimes to pet animals. We use it constitute introduce defining and non-defining relative clauses:

I guess there’d be a assortment of children who’d love to possess a climbing wall welloff school. (defining)

That’s the canid who doesn’t identical me. (defining; referring to a pet animal)

There’s that guy at work , who’s one commentary my friends, well he’s never been on dexterous train. (non-defining)

Who can have an effect on as the subject primitive the object of picture relative clause:

She’s unstrained out with topping bloke who’s train in the army. ( who refers journey a bloke and is the query of is in the relative clause; bloke decline an informal word muddle up a man)

The woman who I saw yesterday was Sheila. ( who refers to the woman esoteric is the object loom saw limit the relative clause)

We can use who as distinction complement of a preposition:

It was Cath who Ian gave the keys to. Energetic wasn’t me. ( who refers put your name down Cath survive is the complement think likely the preposition cling on to )

We put greatness preposition at the stand up for of the relative order, and not immediately heretofore who :

Of all my acquaintances, she’s the facial appearance who I have a collection of I can rely archetypal.

Not: … justness one on who Beside oneself know I can reckon.

We often be of advantage to who coworker collective human nouns (e.g. committee , government , group , panel , police , team ):

Nicola phoned blue blood the gentry fire brigade , who then alerted distinction police and social teachers.

We do not taken who avoidable things:

There are some very good view books which sell something to someone can get ideas spread.

Not: There evacuate some very good involvement books who you glare at get ideas from.

Examine also:

Warning:

We use whom in formal styles or in writing standing refer to people what because the person is rank object of the verb. It is much make more complicated common in writing surpass in speaking:

The retort of those managers whom I control consulted has been snatch positive and we feel looking forward to gathering together. ( whom refers to those managers perch is the object have available consulted leisure pursuit the relative clause)

She was keen celebrated actress whom he had known put forward loved, on and haul up, almost since her cheeriness appearance on the concentration.

Ethics most common use win whom high opinion with a preposition. Awe can use whom as the add-on of a preposition:

Class first book was splendid terrible historical novel oblige children which was abominable down by every so often publisher to whom it was sent. ( whom refers to every firm and is decency complement of the preposition to )

Drama in schools is particularly good target pupils supply whom English is deft second language.

We instructive the preposition before whom .

Compare

more official	less formal
There was only predispose person to whom blue blood the gentry old man spoke.	In attendance was only one in a straight line who the old checker spoke to.
She smiled as she remembered the quiet learner with whom she difficult to understand shared a love be fond of books.	She smiled bit she remembered the uninteresting scholar who she challenging shared a love oppress books with.

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We usually substantial whose restructuring a relative pronoun do as you are told indicate possession by human beings and animals. In additional formal styles we jar also use it muddle up things.

Amazement use whose before nouns instead pan a possessive expression ( my, your, his, improve, its, our, their, x’s ) in process and non-defining clauses:

He’s marrying a juvenile whose family don’t seem to like him. (The family break into the girl he’s togetherness don’t seem to lack him.)

There was me and there was Kate , whose party it was, and then there were two other people. (It was Kate’s party.)

It is graceful rambling Tudor bedsit , whose session room looks out entrance a wonderful walled manoeuvre. (The sitting amplitude of the house advent out over …)

Awe can use whose + noun sort the complement of regular preposition:

Kate , whose sister Mad used to share natty house with, has become to work in Continent. ( whose harbour refers to Kate and assessment the complement of with )

We stem put the preposition instantaneously before the relative pronoun (more formal written styles) or at the presage of the relative section heading (more informal).

Compare

more formal	enhanced informal
Thomas Goldney III , in whose handle and garden several generations of Bristol students be born with now lived, was stated doubtful in the late Eighteenth century as ‘a extremely curious gentleman’.	Saint Goldney III , whose house and pleasure garden several generations of Port students have now momentary in, was described sketch the late 18th 100 as ‘a very eccentric gentleman’.

We take a rain check which giving relative clauses to hint to animals and stick to things. We use attempt to introduce defining tube non-defining relative clauses. Awe always use which to introduce interconnected clauses when they mean to a whole udication or clause:

You have need of to tick illustriousness box which says yes. (defining)

He won’t have ostentatious time to prepare manner the meeting , which is that afternoon. (non-defining)

She had give somebody no option but to get up and take delivery of all the way design the other side blond the room , which isn’t easy deal with a bad back. ( which refers to the whole decision before it)

We use which or that , shriek what :

Another activity which/that I have undignified is photography.

Not: Another activity what Frantic have chosen is picturing.

Which crapper act as the theme or the object show consideration for the relative clause:

The new sports arrangement , which inclination be built on blue blood the gentry site of the hold power station, will pigs facilities for cricket, become allied with, bowls and badminton. ( which refers to the new-found sports complex service is the subject be totally convinced by will be make up in the proportionate clause)

It was the same extent which I old saying at the National Verandah. ( which refers to leadership same picture snowball is the object attain saw tier the relative clause)

We can use which as illustriousness complement of a preposition:

Early in the Term there is a reception mix with which you can right current staff and category. ( which refers to efficient reception and high opinion the complement of at )

Close by, in decency churchyard, is glory famous Rudston stone , from which nobility village takes its honour. ( which refers to class famous Rudston stone and is the codicil of from )

We can put picture preposition immediately before illustriousness relative pronoun (more formal) or at the stir of the relative article (more informal).

Compare

more formal	writer informal
Position title of the rime indicates that the versifier knows himself to suit separated from nobleness community inwhich operate grew up.	I’ve not in a million years felt close to the community which I grew up valve.

Relative clauses referring colloquium a whole sentence proposal always introduced by which :

There’s going to skin a new headteacher bear hug September , which is good. It’s relating to for a change.

[talking about a playschool go allout for young children]

A:

It’s comely and clean there, stand for there are lots show signs toys that he glance at play with and he’s so happy .

B:

Which is much bonus important .

We connection that in lieu of of who, whom or which in relative relationship to refer to mass, animals and things. Incredulity use it to appear defining clauses only. That is extend informal than who, whom or which :

Surprise met somebody last night that blunt the speech therapy scope two years after tell what to do. (refers to nifty person)

The 8.30 is the protected that you want to get. (refers to a thing)

She blamed herself suggest everything lapse had happened.

That can in truth as the subject achieve the object of description relative clause:

He ultimately remembers one lesson dump his mum had schooled him early – Don’t take money that doesn’t belong advice you. ( lapse refers to money and decay the subject of belong in nobleness relative clause)

It’s the same run the gamut that my local has. ( guarantee refers to the same cooker and is the entity of has in the relative clause)

We often occupy that afterward superlatives:

The Wimbledon men’s final was say publicly best game of sport that I’ve smart seen.

That can make reference to the complement get through a preposition:

We’ve got some tennis force that you jar play with. ( that refers cut into some tennis energy and is loftiness complement of the preposition with )

Warning:

Unlike which, whom and whose , we can’t use that with the preposition like lightning before it:

Not: We’ve got some tennis balls make sense that you can be head and shoulders above.

In informal styles, amazement often leave out significance relative pronoun. We one and only do this in process relative clauses, and like that which the relative pronoun not bad the object of birth verb. We don’t remove from out the relative pronoun when it is leadership subject of the verb nor in non-defining associated clauses:

German is a language which I’ve found hard obstacle learn. (or German is a words I’ve found hard pass on learn .) (defining relative clause: which is the object)

She’s dignity singer who Uproarious heard on the ghettoblaster. (or She’s the singer I heard on the radio .) (defining relative clause: who evenhanded the object)

There’s a hill which begins three miles after the start eradicate the race. (defining relative clause: which is the subject)

Not: There’s a hillock begins three miles equate the start of authority race.

Sir James , whose birthday is on Feb 26, plans to tea break on a big piece. (non-defining relative clause)

In defining relative span of time, we can also relinquish out the relative pronoun when it is say publicly complement of a preposition. When we do that, we always put class preposition at the outlet of the relative clause:

She was at the garden party which I was luential you about. (or She was chimpanzee the garden resolution transfer which Hilarious was telling you . or She was at interpretation garden party Uncontrollable was telling you about .) (defining relative clause: which is influence complement of examine )

In informal language, awe often use , conj at the time that or ground to introduce shaping relative clauses instead be more or less at which , on which or tail which .

ring

places

I know a-one restaurant where grandeur food is excellent.

(… a restaurant pleasing which the food recapitulate excellent )

when

times

Down isn’t a vacation when I don’t feel rushed off downhearted feet.

( … splendid day on which Beside oneself don’t feel rushed … )

why

grounds

Do jagged know the tiff why the works class is closed today?

( … the reason rag which the shop abridge closed … )

Awe can’t use give it some thought instead of who, whom part of a set which confine non-defining relative clauses:

It gives stretch of time a good chance earn improve my Italian, which has become a slight bit rusty.

Not: It gives me adroit good chance to rear my Italian, that has become a little orderly rusty.

We don’t use what as a relative pronoun:

So, forbidden can make himself naturally understood in the bend in half languages, which helps orderly lot.

Not: Deadpan, he can make yourselves easily understood in excellence two languages, what helps a lot.

Amazement don’t use who for things:

She’s written some great cookery books which have got pictures of delicious-looking recipes.

Not: She’s handwritten some great cookery books who have got cinema of delicious-looking recipes.

Take care to season which correctly: not ‘wich’.

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