noun + preposition + which + subject + verbFormal pattern for things. Move the preposition before which.
Prepositions in Relative Clauses
B2In relative clauses, a preposition can move before which/whom in formal English or stay at the end in neutral English: the chair on which I sat / the chair that I sat on.
What you'll learn
- Place a preposition before which or whom in formal clauses.
- Keep the preposition at the end when you use that.
- Keep the preposition at the end with who, which, or no relative word.
- Choose between a formal and a neutral pattern for the same meaning.
- Keep the preposition that belongs with the verb or adjective.
Structure
person + preposition + whom + subject + verbFormal pattern for people. After a fronted preposition, use whom.
noun + that + subject + verb + prepositionWith that, the preposition stays later in the clause, often at the end.
noun + who/which/(nothing) + subject + verb + prepositionNeutral pattern. Keep the preposition at the end with who, which, or no relative word.
Build a sentence
Noun phrase
Verb + preposition idea
the chaironwhichIsat
The chair on which I sat was uncomfortable.
Formal pattern: move on before which.
When to use
Formal writing
Reports, academic texts, and careful business writing often front the preposition: the system on which the company depends.
Neutral speech
Conversation and everyday writing often keep the preposition at the end: the system that the company depends on.
People in formal style
When the noun is a person and the preposition comes first, use whom: the client to whom Maria spoke.
Markers
aboutonwithfortoat
Common mistakes
Wrong
The topic about which we talked about was difficult.
Correct
The topic about which we talked was difficult.
The preposition appears once. If it moves before which, do not repeat it at the end.
Wrong
The chair on that I sat was uncomfortable.
Correct
The chair that I sat on was uncomfortable.
That does not come after a fronted preposition. Keep the preposition at the end.
Wrong
The person to who I spoke was helpful.
Correct
The person who I spoke to was helpful.
In the neutral pattern with who, the preposition stays later in the clause.
Wrong
The colleague who I worked was Maria.
Correct
The colleague who I worked with was Maria.
Work needs with in this meaning. Keep the preposition that belongs with the verb.
Wrong
The woman with who Tom spoke was the manager.
Correct
The woman with whom Tom spoke was the manager.
After a fronted preposition in a formal clause about a person, use whom.
Common misconceptions
❝ Only the fronted-preposition pattern is correct English. ❞
Both patterns are correct. The choice is mainly style: formal writing prefers on which; everyday English often prefers that ... on or which ... on.
❝ I can use that after any preposition. ❞
After a fronted preposition, use which for things or whom for people. That stays in the end-preposition pattern.
Skills in this rule (6)
PUT_PREPOSITION_BEFORE_WHICH_WHOMw5Put the preposition before which or whom in formal relative clauses
In formal style, place the preposition before which for things or whom for people. This pattern is common in careful writing.
LEAVE_PREPOSITION_AT_END_WITH_THATw5Leave the preposition at the end with that
With that, the preposition stays later in the clause, often at the end. Do not move it before that.
LEAVE_PREPOSITION_AT_END_WITH_WHO_WHICH_ZEROw5Leave the preposition at the end with who, which, or no relative word
In neutral conversation and writing, use who or which, or drop the relative word, and keep the preposition later in the clause.
CHOOSE_FORMAL_OR_NEUTRAL_PATTERNw4Choose a formal or neutral pattern for the same meaning
Use preposition + which/whom for a formal tone, or keep the preposition at the end for a more neutral tone. Both patterns can express the same idea.
MATCH_PREPOSITION_TO_VERBw5Keep the preposition that belongs with the verb or adjective
Use the same preposition the original phrase needs: talk about, work with, depend on, be famous for. The relative clause keeps that preposition.
USE_WHOM_AFTER_PREPOSITION_FOR_PEOPLEw4Use whom after a fronted preposition for people
When the preposition comes first in a formal relative clause about a person, use whom. Do not use who or that after the fronted preposition.