Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 94 · B2

Relative clauses 3: whose/whom/where

Whose replaces his, her or their in a relative clause; whom is the formal object form of who; where is for places; and the day, the time and the reason need no relative word at all.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 24 minutes

In this lesson

whoseA2 screens of questions
whomB2 screens of questions
whereC1 screen of questions
the day, the time, the reasonD2 screens of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

whose

On the way back from the coast we passed a family by the roadside. Their tyre had gone flat, so we pulled over.

We helped a family whose tyre had gone flat. Whose stands for their.

Whose is used mostly for people. Do not confuse it with who's, which sounds the same but means who is or who has.

  • We helped a family whose tyre had gone flat.
  • A widower is a man whose wife has died.
  • I met someone whose brother I was at school with.
  • I sat next to a woman who works with your sister. (she works with your sister)
  • I sat next to a woman whose son works with your sister. (her son works with your sister)
  • I've got a friend who's learning Japanese. (who is)
  • I've got a friend who's just started learning Japanese. (who has)
  • I've got a friend whose son is learning Japanese.

Point A · Exercise 94.1 · part 1 of 2

At a party you met these people. The next day you tell a friend about them. Complete the sentences with who or whose.

  1. Example

    "My mother writes crime novels."

    I met somebody whose mother writes crime novels.

    AnswerI met somebody whose mother writes crime novels.

  2. A man: "My wife is a driving instructor."

    I met a man .

  3. A woman: "I own a tea room."

    I met a woman .

  4. "My ambition is to row across the Atlantic."

    I met somebody .

  5. A couple: "We've just got engaged."

    I met a couple .

Point A · Exercise 94.1 · part 2 of 2

At a party you met these people. The next day you tell a friend about them. Complete the sentences with who or whose.

  1. "My parents used to run a pub."

    I met somebody .

Point B of 4

whom

Whom can replace who when it is the object of the verb, and after a preposition: to whom, with whom, from whom.

Whom is formal and rare in speech. People usually say a person I admire or friends you can relax with.

  • Doreen is a person whom I admire enormously. (I admire her)
  • Everyone needs a few people in whom they can confide.
  • a person I admire enormously
  • friends you can relax with

Point B · Exercise 94.2 · part 1 of 2

For each situation write a sentence with whom (more formal) and one without whom (less formal).

  1. Example

    You bumped into a teacher you hadn't seen since you left school.

    More formal: I bumped into a teacher whom I hadn't seen since school.

    AnswerI bumped into a teacher whom I hadn't seen since school.

  2. Example

    Same situation.

    Less formal: I bumped into a teacher I hadn't seen since school.

    AnswerI bumped into a teacher I hadn't seen since school.

  3. You needed a builder. Your neighbours recommended one.

    More formal: We hired a builder .

  4. Same situation.

    Less formal: We hired a builder .

  5. You rang your bank with a question. The adviser you spoke to gave you the wrong information.

    More formal: The adviser gave me the wrong information.

  6. Same situation.

    Less formal: The adviser gave me the wrong information.

Point B · Exercise 94.2 · part 2 of 2

For each situation write a sentence with whom (more formal) and one without whom (less formal).

  1. Ruth was engaged to a man, but he didn't want to marry her after all.

    More formal: The man didn't want to marry her.

  2. Same situation.

    Less formal: The man didn't want to marry her.

Point C of 4

where

Use where in a relative clause about a place.

  • Last summer I visited the village where my mum was born.
  • The café where we had lunch was right by the harbour.
  • I'd like to live somewhere where it doesn't rain sideways.

Point C · Extra practice

Put in where.

  1. We visited the village my mum was born.

  2. The café we had lunch was right by the harbour.

  3. Is there a shop near here I can buy a charger?

Point D of 4

the day, the time, the reason

We say the day we got married, the year I was born, the last time they met, with no relative word. That is also possible.

We say the reason I'm ringing, the reason she didn't get the job; that or why are also possible.

  • Tuesday's no good for me. That's the day I have my driving lesson.
  • When I last spoke to him, he sounded cheerful.
  • The last time that I spoke to him, he sounded cheerful.
  • The reason I'm ringing is to ask your advice.
  • The reason why I'm ringing is to ask your advice.

Point D · Exercise 94.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete these sentences with your own ideas.

  1. Example

    Thursday's no good for me. That's the day ...

    That's the day I play five-a-side.

    Example answerThat's the day I play five-a-side.

  2. The reason ... was that the pay was too low.

  3. I'll never forget the time ...

  4. ... was the year ...

  5. The reason ... is that they both hate flying.

Point D · Exercise 94.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete these sentences with your own ideas.

  1. The last time I ...

  2. Do you remember the day ...?

Put it together · Exercise 94.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with who, whom, whose or where.

  1. Example

    We helped a family whose tyre had gone flat.

    AnswerWe helped a family whose tyre had gone flat.

  2. A library is a building you can borrow books.

  3. A vegan is a person eats no animal products.

  4. An orphan is a child parents have died.

  5. What's the name of the caravan park your parents are staying?

Put it together · Exercise 94.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with who, whom, whose or where.

  1. This class is for children first language isn't English.

  2. The woman from we rent our flat lives in Spain.

  3. I live in a small village everybody knows everybody else's business.

Lesson 94 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Relative clauses 4: extra information clauses (1)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. whose–Not checkedB. whom–Not checkedC. where–Not checkedD. the day, the time, the reason–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked