Overview
Master defining and non-defining relative clauses with all relative pronouns.
Full Pronoun Set
- who/whomwho (subject) · whom (object, formal): the manager whom we contacted
- whichThings — and whole clauses: She resigned, which surprised us.
- whosePossession for people and things: the firm whose profits doubled
- where/whenPlace & time: the year when it was launched
B2 Advanced Patterns
- prep + whom/whichThe person to whom I spoke / the issue on which we agreed
- quantifier + ofThree candidates, none of whom had experience, were shortlisted.
- wherebyA system whereby employees can log hours remotely
- whatWhat surprised me was the response. (= the thing that)
Common B2 Mistakes
- ❌ The man which I spoke to → ✅ The man to whom I spoke (formal)
- ❌ The team that results were good → ✅ The team whose results were good
- ❌ That in non-defining clauses → ✅ use who or which
- ❌ What I saw it surprised me → ✅ What I saw surprised me (no 'it')
When to use
Formal documents
The clause whereby either party may terminate the agreement…
News & reporting
The CEO, whose resignation shocked investors, left on Friday.
Academic writing
Several participants, none of whom had prior training, excelled.
Complex description
What concerned the committee most was the projected deficit.