Using 'whose'

8.101 If you want to talk about something relating to the person, thing, or group you are talking about, you use a relative clause beginning with 'whose' and a noun group.

For example, instead of saying 'I am writing a letter to Nigel. His father is ill', you can say 'I am writing a letter to Nigel, whose father is ill'.

'Whose' can be used in defining or non-defining clauses.

...workers whose bargaining power is weak.

...anyone whose credit card is stolen.

She asked friends whose opinion she respected.

...a country whose population was growing.

According to Cook, whose book is published on Thursday, most disasters are avoidable.

The noun after 'whose' can be the subject or object of the verb in the clause, or it can be the object of a preposition. If it is the object of a preposition, the preposition can come at the beginning or end of the clause.

...the governments in whose territories they operate.

...some strange fragment of thought whose origin I have no idea of.

8.102 In written English, 'of which' and 'of whom' are sometimes used instead of 'whose'. You put these expressions after a noun group beginning with 'the'.

For example, instead of writing 'a town whose inhabitants speak French', you can write 'a town the inhabitants of which speak French'.

...circumstances the continuance of which was prejudicial to the safety of the public.

I travelled in a lorry the back of which the owner had loaded with yams.

Using other relative pronouns

8.103 Some other words and expressions can be used as relative pronouns.

non-defining clauses 8.104 'When' and 'where' are used in non-defining clauses.

I want to see you at 12 o'clock, when you go to your lunch.

Dan's fondest memory is of last year, when the club gave a tea party for the Queen Mother.

He came from Herne Bay, where Lally had once spent a holiday.

She carried them up the stairs to the art room, where the brushes and paints had been set out.

defining clauses 8.105 'When' and 'where' can also be used in defining clauses, but only when the clause is preceded by a particular kind of noun.

'When'-clauses must be preceded by the word 'time' or by the name of a period of time such as 'day' or 'year'.

There had been a time when she thought they were wonderful.

This is the year when the profits should start.

'Where'-clauses must be preceded by the word 'place' or by the name of a kind of place such as 'room' or 'street'.

...the place where they work.

...the room where I did my homework.

...the street where my grandmother had lived.

Note that place names such as 'London' are proper nouns and so do not have defining relative clauses after them.

8.106 'Where' can also be used in defining clauses after words such as 'situation' and 'stage'.

Increasing poverty has led to a situation where the poorest openly admit that they cannot afford to have children.

In time we reached a stage where we had more black readers than white ones.

8.107 'Why' is used in defining clauses after the word 'reason'.

That is a major reason why were such poor countries.

'Whereby' is used in defining clauses after words such as 'arrangement' and 'system'.

I had worked out a rotating arrangement whereby every person would have a different roommate in each city.

They made a deal whereby he would sail for America and be commissioned in the revolutionary army.

8.108 Other expressions can be used in defining clauses in place of 'when', 'where', 'why', and 'whereby'.

After 'time' you can use 'at which' instead of 'when'.

...the time at which the original mineral was formed.

After 'place' and words such as 'room', 'street', 'year', and 'month', you can use 'in which' instead of 'where' or 'when'.

...the place in which they found themselves.

...the room in which the meeting would be held.

...the year in which Lloyd George lost power.

After 'day' you can use 'on which' instead of 'when'.

Sunday was the day on which we were expected to spend some time with my father.

After 'reason' you can use 'that' or no pronoun instead of 'why'.

...the reason that non-violence is considered to be a virtue.

That's the reason I'm checking it now.

After words such as 'situation', 'stage', 'arrangement' or 'system' you can use 'in which' instead of 'where' or 'whereby'.

...a stage of affairs in which the bonds between parents and children have been loosed.