Advanced Relative Clauses | B2 +Preply +Adult

What You Already Know

Think about this:

What's the difference between these two sentences?

Simple relative clause:

The person who I spoke to was very helpful.

Formal relative clause:

The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.

In everyday English, we say "spoke to." In formal English — especially writing, presentations, or professional situations — we move the preposition to the front and add a formal pronoun: "to whom."

What You'll Learn Today

1. Preposition + Relative Pronoun
How to move prepositions to the front of relative clauses for formal, academic English.

2. Quantifiers + of which/whom
How to talk about parts of groups: "two brothers, both of whom live abroad."

Why does this matter?

In formal writing, business presentations, and advanced speaking, these structures show grammatical control. They're common in academic English, journalism, and professional communication. You'll recognize them immediately and use them with confidence.

The Pattern: Preposition + Relative Pronoun

1. Moving the Preposition Forward

In formal relative clauses, the preposition moves to the front, and the pronoun changes.

Informal → Formal Shift

[noun] [verb] + prep + pronoun
↓
[noun] prep + pronoun [verb]

Preposition comes first

Formula:

Informal: "the person [who/that] I spoke to"

Formal: "the person to which/whom I spoke"

The pronoun **who** changes to whom (object form).

2. Key Pronouns for Formal Relative Clauses

Person	Informal	Formal
With people	who I spoke to	to whom I spoke
With things	that I was thinking about	about which I was thinking
With reasons	why you said this	for which you said this

3. Real Examples: Formal Relative Clauses

Example 1: Location

The city in which I grew up was small and quiet.

✓ Formal. The preposition "in" comes first. Used in writing and presentations.

Example 2: Topic/Argument

The topic about which we argued for hours is still unresolved.

✓ Formal. Common in academic writing and professional discussions.

Example 3: Person

The professor with whom I studied was brilliant and patient.

✓ Formal. Used in professional and academic contexts.

4. Quantifiers + of which/whom

When you talk about parts of a group (numbers, amounts), use a quantifier + "of which/whom."

Structure:

noun + quantifier + of which/whom + verb

"Both," "all," "many," "some," "three," "half"

Examples:

"I have two brothers, both of whom live abroad."

"She wrote five books, all of which became bestsellers."

"They interviewed ten candidates, three of whom got offers."

Full Example:

We visited three countries last year, all of which had amazing food culture.

✓ Formal and natural. Used to give extra information about quantities.

Key rule: Use "whom" after "of" when referring to people. Use "which" when referring to things.

Watch This: Sentence Building

Let me show you how to transform a simple relative clause into a formal one.

Transformation 1: Preposition Fronting

Start with informal:

The conference I'm attending is in Berlin.

Step 1: Find the preposition

The preposition is "at" (we attend something "at" a place). We say it implicitly, but it's there.

Step 2: Add the preposition to the relative clause

The conference that I am attending at is in Berlin. (informal — we usually drop "at")

Step 3: Move the preposition forward and change the pronoun

The conference at which I am attending is in Berlin.

Now it's formal. The preposition "at" moved to the front, and we use "which" (not "that").

Transformation 2: Quantifier + of which

Start with simple:

I have three cousins. They all live in different countries.

Step 1: Combine with a quantifier

I have three cousins, and all of them live in different countries.

Step 2: Use the relative clause + "of which"

I have three cousins, all of whom live in different countries.

Perfect. We combined the ideas using "of whom" to show the relationship between the number and the people.

Why This Matters: A Real-World Example

In a job interview, you might say:

"I worked with five team members, all of whom had international experience."

This shows you can use advanced grammar naturally. It's more impressive than "I worked with five team members, and they all had international experience."

Summary of this section:

Prepositions move to the front in formal relative clauses
The pronoun changes: "who" → "whom," "that" → "which"
Quantifiers + "of which/whom" express parts of groups
These structures are formal and appear in writing, presentations, and professional speech

Build Together

Let's work through some sentences together. I'll give you informal versions, and we'll transform them into formal ones. Speak your ideas out loud — that's where real learning happens.

Challenge 1: Preposition Fronting (Person)

Your Turn (with guidance):

Informal version:
"The teacher I studied with changed my perspective on grammar."

What's the hidden preposition?
"with" (we study "with" someone)

Now try to say the formal version using "with whom":
The teacher studied changed my perspective...

Sentence stem: "The teacher with whom I studied changed my perspective on grammar."

Great! The preposition "with" moved to the front, and we used "whom" (formal) instead of "who." This is perfect for professional or academic contexts.

Challenge 2: Things (about which)

Your Turn:

Informal version:
"The topic I'm passionate about is climate change."

What's the preposition?
"about" (passionate "about" something)

Say the formal version using "about which":
The topic I am passionate is climate change.

Sentence stem: "The topic about which I am passionate is climate change."

Excellent! We're moving prepositions and keeping the word order natural. Notice: "about which" (not "which about"). Always: preposition first.

Challenge 3: Quantifier + of which

Your Turn:

Two simple sentences:
"I read six books last month. Three of them were fiction."

Combine them into one elegant sentence using "of which":
I read six books last month, were fiction.

Sentence stem: "I read six books last month, three of which were fiction."

Perfect! You've just made your writing more sophisticated. Instead of two separate ideas, you've linked them with one advanced relative clause.

Pause and reflect:

How do these sentences feel different from the informal versions? Does the formal version sound more professional to you?

Your Turn: Transform Sentences

Now you're working independently. Transform these informal sentences into formal relative clauses. Say your answers out loud — this is speaking practice.

Exercise 1: Preposition + whom (People)

Transform this sentence:

Informal:
"The colleague I collaborated with on this project is brilliant."

Your challenge:
Move the preposition to the front. Use "with whom." Say it aloud first, then write it.

Hint: The preposition is "with" (collaborate "with" someone).

Expected answer: "The colleague with whom I collaborated on this project is brilliant."

Exercise 2: Preposition + which (Things)

Transform this sentence:

Informal:
"The city I dream about visiting is Kyoto."

Your challenge:
Move the preposition to the front. Use "about which." Say it aloud first.

Hint: The preposition is "about" (dream "about" something).

Expected answer: "The city about which I dream of visiting is Kyoto."

Exercise 3: Quantifier + of which/whom

Combine into one sentence:

Two ideas:
"Our company interviewed ten candidates. Most of them had relevant experience."

Your challenge:
Use "most of whom" to combine these into one elegant sentence.

Hint: Start with "Our company interviewed ten candidates," then add "most of whom..."

Expected answer: "Our company interviewed ten candidates, most of whom had relevant experience."

Exercise 4: Free Practice

Create your own:

Write one sentence about something YOU did, using preposition + whom/which:

Example frames:

"The person... to whom..."
"The event... at which..."
"The topic... about which..."
"The team members... with whom..." (and quantifier)

Your sentence: (Speak this aloud first. Then share with your teacher.)

Reflection:

How did it feel to build these formal sentences? Does your confidence with advanced grammar feel stronger now?

Real Speaking: Tell Your Stories

This is the core of the lesson. You'll speak for most of this section. The goal: use advanced relative clauses naturally when talking about real experiences.

Task 1: Personal Story (5 minutes speaking)

Tell Your Story

Topic: Describe someone important to you or an event that changed your perspective.

Requirements:

Use at least one formal relative clause with preposition + whom/which
Use at least one quantifier structure (e.g., "both of whom," "all of which")
Speak naturally — don't memorize. Let the structure emerge from your ideas.
Aim for 2–3 minutes of continuous speaking

Prompts to spark ideas:

"The person with whom I... was someone who..."
"The event at which I... changed the way I think about..."
"I have several friends, all of whom... but the one with whom..."
"We visited countries, three of which... The city in which I felt most..."

Your teacher will listen for:

Correct use of preposition + pronoun (to whom, about which, with whom, etc.)
Natural flow — does it sound like real speech, not a textbook?
Pronunciation and stress on the relative clause
Ability to self-correct if you make a mistake

Task 2: "Describe Your Learning" (2–3 minutes)

Reflect and Share

Topic: Talk about your learning journey with English. What materials, people, or experiences shaped your English?

Structure your answer:

Start with one experience using "in which" or "during which": "The course in which I first felt confident was..."
Add a person using "from whom" or "with whom": "My teacher, from whom I learned so much, always..."
Mention resources using "all of which" or "some of which": "I've used several apps, all of which have their strengths."

Why speak about this?

You're not just showing grammar — you're telling a real story. Advanced grammar becomes a tool for communication, not an exercise.

Task 3: Group or Partner Question (3–5 minutes)

Conversation

Your teacher will ask you one of these:

1. "Describe a book, film, or article that has influenced you. Use a formal relative clause."
2. "Tell me about a team or group of people. Use a quantifier structure."
3. "What is a challenge you've overcome? Who helped? Use 'to whom' or 'with whom.'"

Rules:

Speak naturally — don't pre-plan every word
If you pause, that's fine. Take a breath.
If you make a mistake, keep going. Your teacher can ask you to rephrase if needed.
Aim to use the structures 2–3 times during your answer

Success means: You use the structures naturally within real conversation, not forcing them. Pronunciation and meaning matter more than perfection.

After speaking:

Your teacher might ask you to try a sentence again, or you might hear a correction. This is normal and helpful. Advanced grammar is learned through repetition and feedback.

What You've Learned

The Two Big Ideas

1. Preposition + Relative Pronoun

In formal English, prepositions move to the front of relative clauses:

to whom (person) — "The person to whom I gave the book..."
about which (thing) — "The topic about which we debated..."
in which (place/time) — "The city in which I grew up..."
from whom (person/source) — "The mentor from whom I learned..."
with whom (person/collaboration) — "The colleague with whom I worked..."

2. Quantifier + of which/whom

Use these to talk about parts of groups:

all of which/whom — "I read five books, all of which were excellent."
both of whom — "My two brothers, both of whom live abroad..."
three of which — "We visited ten countries, three of which..."
most of whom — "We interviewed candidates, most of whom were qualified."

When to Use These Structures

Use Them When:

Writing academic essays or reports
Giving formal presentations
Professional or business writing
Speaking in formal contexts (interviews, conferences)
Wanting to sound sophisticated and educated

Avoid Overusing:

In casual conversation with friends
In informal messages or emails
If they make your sentence hard to follow
Every single sentence — balance formal and informal
If you're not confident — simple clauses are better than wrong complex ones

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong: "The person to that I spoke..."

✓ Right: "The person to whom I spoke..." (Use whom with people, which with things)

❌ Wrong: "The conference in that I attended..."

✓ Right: "The conference in which I attended..." (Use which with things)

❌ Wrong: "My friends, of which all live abroad..."

✓ Right: "My friends, all of whom live abroad..." (Word order: quantifier + of + pronoun)

Keep Practicing

How to get better:

Read academic articles and professional writing. When you see a formal relative clause, pause and notice the structure. Try to use one in a conversation or email each week. It will feel more natural with repetition.

Questions to Take Away

Reflect on Your Learning:

Can you explain the difference between informal and formal relative clauses?
When would you use "about which" instead of "that"?
How would you describe a group of people using "both of whom"?
In what real-world situation would you need this grammar? (Interview? Essay? Presentation?)

Final thought: You've just learned grammar that many students will never master. These structures are tools of clarity, precision, and sophistication. Use them to express complex ideas with elegance. That's what advanced English is all about.