Page 153 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

R e l a t i v e c l a u s e s ( 3 ) : o t h e r r e l a t i v e p r o n o u n s

whose
We use a relative clause beginning with whose + noun, particularly in written English, when we
talk about something belonging to or associated with a person. Compare:
• Stevenson is an architect. Her designs have won international praise, and
• Stevenson is an architect whose designs have won international praise.
• Dr Rowan has had to do all his own typing. His secretary resigned two weeks ago. and
• Dr Rowan, whose secretary resigned two weeks ago, has had to all his own typing.
We can use whose in both defining and non-defining relative clauses (see Units 70 & 71).
We sometimes use whose when we are talking about things, in particular when we are talking
about towns or countries, and organisations:
Sf • The film was made in Botswana, whose wildlife parks are larger than those in Kenya.
• • We need to learn from companies whose trading is more healthy than our own.
• The newspaper is owned by the Mearson Group, whose chairman is Sir James Bex.
We can also use whose when we are talking about particular items, although it is often more
natural in spoken English to avoid sentences like this:
• I received a letter, whose poor spelling made me think it was written by a child.
(more natural would be I received a letter, and its poor spelling...)

where, when, whereby, why
We often use the words where, when, and whereby as relative pronouns. But in formal English
in particular, a phrase with preposition + which can often be used instead:
• This was the place (where) we first met. (or ...the place at/in which we...)
• He wasn't looking forward to the time (when) he would have to give evidence to the court.
(or ...the time at which he would...)
• Do you know the date when we have to submit the first essay? (or ...the date on/by which
we have to submit the first essay?)
• The government is to end the system whereby (= by which means) farmers make more
money from leaving land unplanted than from growing wheat, (or ...the system in/by which
farmers...)
We can also use why as a relative pronoun after the word reason. In informal English we can use
that instead of why:
• I didn't get a pay rise, but this wasn't the reason why I left, (or ...the reason (that) I left.)
who, what, whatever, whoever, whichever
We sometimes use relative clauses beginning with who or what. In this case, who means 'the
people that' and what means something like 'the thing(s) that':
• Can you give me a list of who's been invited?
• I didn't know what to do next.
©Notice that we can't use what in this way after a noun:
• • I managed to get all the books that you asked for. (not ...books what you asked for.)
Relative clauses beginning with whatever (= anything or it doesn't matter what), whoever (= the
person/group who or any person/group who), or whichever (= one thing or person from a
limited number of things or people) are used to talk about things or people that are indefinite or
unknown:
• I'm sure I'll enjoy eating whatever you cook.
• Whoever wins will go on to play Barcelona in the final.
• Whichever one of you broke the window will have to pay for it.
Relative clauses (1), (2) and (4) =