Relative clauses with 'whose'
B2 Upper IntermediateThe relative pronoun 'whose' indicates possession or a close relationship between a person or thing and a following noun. It functions as the possessive form of 'who' and 'which' in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.
Overview
Whose is used to show that the noun following it belongs to, or is associated with, the person or thing mentioned previously. While it most commonly refers to people, it is also used for animals and inanimate objects in formal and neutral contexts.
- It replaces possessive adjectives like his, her, their, or its.
- The noun following whose appears without an article.
Form
noun (antecedent) + whose + noun
The relative pronoun whose must be followed immediately by a noun. This noun-phrase functions as the subject or object within the relative clause.
Examples
Common mistakes
The man who's car was stolen called the police.
The man whose car was stolen called the police.
'Who's' is a contraction of 'who is' or 'who has'. 'Whose' is the possessive pronoun.
That is the girl whose her father is a doctor.
That is the girl whose father is a doctor.
Do not use a possessive adjective (his, her, their) after 'whose' because 'whose' already expresses possession.
Whose vs. Of which
In modern English, whose is the preferred choice for both people and objects to avoid the clunky structure of of which.
| Feature | Whose | Of which |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Neutral / Common | Very formal |
| Usage | People and things | Things only |
| Example | The car whose engine broke... | The car, the engine of which broke... |
Practice
Combine these sentences: 'I know a girl. Her sister is a famous violinist.'
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I know a girl whose sister is a famous violinist.
Answer:I know a girl whose sister is a famous violinist.
Why:'Whose' replaces the possessive adjective 'her' to link the two clauses.
Correct the error: 'The company who's profits fell last year is closing down.'
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The company whose profits fell last year is closing down.
Answer:The company whose profits fell last year is closing down.
Why:'Whose' is the possessive form required here; 'who's' is a contraction of 'who is' or 'who has'.
Fill in the blank: 'It was a decision _______ consequences were not immediately clear.'
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whose
Answer:whose
Why:'Whose' is used here to show that the consequences belong to the decision.