Preposition placement in relative clauses

Preposition placement in relative clauses

Everyday English & fomal English

There are often prepositions in relative clauses, and a relative pronoun is the object of that preposition. In everyday English, the preposition is normally placed at the end of the relative clause and the pronoun may be included or omitted.
HOWEVER, In formal English, the preposition is placed before the relative pronoun, and in this case the pronoun cannot be omitted. In the examples below, the pronouns in parentheses can be omitted.

Does he know the girl to whom John is talking?

Formal English

Does he know the girl (that) John is talking to?

Everyday English

Example 2

The person with whom he is negotiating is the Chairman of a large company.

Formal English

The person (who) he is negotiating with is the Chairman of a large company.

Everyday English

Example 3

It is a club to which many important people belong.

Formal English

It is a club (which) many important people belong to.

Everyday English

Example 4

He liked the people with whom he lived.

Formal English

He liked the people (that) he lived with.

Everyday English

Example 5

Is that the man with whom she arrived?

Formal English

Is that the man (who) she arrived with?

Everyday English

Example 1

The tree under which they had their picnic was the largest and oldest in the park.

Formal English

The tree (that) they had their picnic under was the largest and oldest in the park.

Everyday English

Example 6

It was the river in which the children preferred to swim.

Formal English

It was the river (that) the children preferred to swim in.

Everyday English

Example 7

The jungle in which the tribe lived was full of strange and unusual animals.

Formal English

The jungle (that) the tribe lived in was full of strange and unusual animals.

Everyday English

Example 8

Multiple Choice

The women ________ I gave the money were glad.

• to whom

• to that

• for whom

• for that

Multiple Choice

The man _______ is my teacher.

• who she is speaking to

• whom she is speaking with

• to whom she is speaking

• to whom she is speaking with

Multiple Choice

The concert ____ I listened last weekend was boring.

• to that

• to which

• about which

• for which

Multiple Choice

I don’t know the reason ____ she hasn’t talked to me recently.

• on which

• for which

• of which

• about which

Multiple Choice

I like the village ____ I used to live.

• in that

• in where

• which

• in which

Multiple Choice

The little girl ____ I borrowed this pen has gone.

• at whom

• for whom

• to whom

• from whom

Multiple Choice

The knife ____ we cut bread is very sharp.

• with that

• which

• with which

• that

Multiple Choice

The authority gathered those villagers ____ they explained the importance of forests.

• who

• whom

• to whom

• to that

Multiple Choice

The film about _____ they are talking is fantastic.

• who

• which

• whom

• that

Multiple Choice

Jack has three brothers, all of________ are married.

• who

• whom

• which

• that

Multiple Choice

They gave us a lot of information, most of________ was useless.

• who

• whom

• which

• that

Multiple Choice

I have sent him two letters, neither of________ has arrived.

• who

• them

• which

• that

Multiple Choice

Ten people applied for the job, none of________ were suitable.

• which

• whom

• them

• that

Multiple Choice

Geometry, about________ he knows nothing, seems a very dull subject for him.

• that

• it

• which

• what

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence:

We can only change the place of the preposition when the relative pronoun is the ____________ of that preposition.

• object, complement

• subject

• agent

• conjunction

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence:

The preposition is placed at the end of the relative clause (after the verb) in ______________ English.

• Formal

• Informal

Multiple Choice

Right or wrong, why?

"This is the laptop the girl is working with"

• Correct because the relative pronoun can be omitted

• Incorrect, the relative pronoun cannot be omitted

• Incorrect, the preposition should be placed before the object

Multiple Select

Which relative pronouns can be the objects (complements) of the preposition?

• who - whom - which

• who - which - what

• where - when - why

• that - whose - who

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct one:

"The jungle (that) the monkey lives in was beautiful"

• The jungle in where the monkey lived was beautiful

• The jungle for which the monkey lived was beautiful

• The jungle in which the monkey lived was beautiful

• The jungle with which the monkey lived was beautiful

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is WRONG?

• This was the river in which we had learnt to swim when we were kids

• This was the river in that we had learnt to swim when we were kids

• This was the river we learnt to swim in when we were kids

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence:

The tree under _____________ we had our picnic is the oldest one in the forest.

• that

• who

• which

• whom

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence:

The doctor (________) my friend is talking to is our neighbour.

• who

• whom

• which

• what

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence:

She is my favourite teacher because she is the one to ___________ all the students are always listening.

• who

• whom

Multiple Choice

Complete:

Look at her face! This is the girl with ___________ the lion was playing.

• which

• that

• whom

• who