Hi everyone! Welcome to today’s blog. In this post we are going to answer the question: When do we use “preposition + which”? We’ll go through this in 5 simple steps, and I’ve included my video lesson on this topic for you as well. Let’s get started!
in which | on which | for which | at which | to which | about which | by which..
The list goes on and on…
You can watch my video lesson or keep scrolling to read more.
Let’s look at this grammar in 5 simple steps:
- dependent prepositions
- “which” – the relative pronoun
- preposition + which
- where vs. when vs. preposition which
- quantifier + of which
Step 1: dependent prepositions
What’s a dependent preposition?
✅A dependent preposition depends on the verb.
✅A dependent preposition always needs an object.
Let’s look at a couple of example sentences.
1. My teacher talked _____ the exam.
talked = verb
the exam = object
Do you know the preposition I need?
The correct answer is “about.” We talk “about” things.
2. My mood depends _____ the weather.
depends = verb
the weather = object
Do you know the preposition I need?
The correct answer is “on.” Something depends “on” something.
Dependent prepositions can cause a lot of frustration because there isn’t a clear rule. You have to memorize them. But, don’t let that discourage you. English is full of prepositions and the more you expose yourself to English, the better you will be at choosing the right preposition.
Not all verbs need a preposition.
3. I bought chocolate.
bought = verb
chocolate = object
Do you know the preposition I need?
We don’t need a preposition.
So for this lesson, I’m going to choose verbs that need a dependent preposition.
Can you try this mini test?
I have 8 sentences. I’ve highlighted the verbs and the objects. Do you know which prepositions are needed?
- I accidentally drew __ my face with my pen.
- Silk is made __ silkworm cocoons.
- I’m helping a student prepare __ an interview.
- My dog is afraid __ spiders.
- I dug a hole __ my hands.
- Her message was written __ red ink.
- Some mountains are created __ volcanoes.
- The accident occurred __ his home.
Scroll down for the answers.
- I accidentally drew on my face with my pen.
- Silk is made from silkworm cocoons.
- I’m helping a student prepare for an interview.
- My dog is afraid of spiders.
- I dug a hole with my hands.
- Her message was written in red ink.
- Some mountains are created by volcanoes.
- The accident occurred in his home.
In this lesson we are going to see these verbs plus their dependent prepositions again. Not to worry.
Step 2: “which” – the relative pronoun
“Which” can be a relative pronoun. A relative pronoun helps to describe something. You can watch my video lesson on relative pronouns for a more detailed explanation.
For today’s lesson, I’m just going to review what you need for this grammar.
1. I bought an external hard drive which stores up to 1 terabyte.
“Which stores up to 1 terabyte” is the relative clause and it describes my new hard drive. It gives us information.
2. Karen wore the dress which I gave her.
“Which I gave her” is my relative clause and it describes the dress. It gives you information about the dress.
Which one of these relative pronouns can I remove? This is important for later in this lesson.
I can remove “which” in the second example because it’s the object of the clause.
“Which” is the object because “I” is the subject of the clause: which I gave her. You can remove a relative pronoun if it’s the object.
Here’s an easy trick.
If you see a subject and a verb after “which,” you can remove it. If you only see a verb after “which,” you cannot remove it. You must keep it.
STEP 3: preposition + which
1. In this museum, there is a wall (which) you can draw on.
“Which you can draw on” is describing the wall.
“Draw” is the main verb of the clause and you can see its preposition “on.”
This is a good time to point out how important prepositions are. If someone says: “There is a wall you can draw,” this means you can draw the actual wall. That’s not what I mean here.
You can see “which” in parentheses () because we can remove it if we want.
How can we make this more formal? We move that preposition:
There is a wall on which you can draw.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (the wall) + preposition (on) + which + subject (you) + verb (can draw)
In this formal structure we cannot remove “which.”
2. My grandpa made the wooden cabinet in our house. This is the tree (which) it was made from.
“Which it was made from” describes the tree.
“Made” is the main verb and we can see its preposition “from.”
How can I make this more formal? We move that preposition:
This is the tree from which it was made.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (the tree) + preposition (from) + which + subject (it) + verb (was made)
3. less formal: If you want to go to college, the SAT exam is something (which) you must prepare for.
more formal: If you want to go to college, the SAT exam is something for which you must prepare.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (the SAT exam) + preposition (for) + which + subject (you) + verb (must prepare)
We’ve just looked at 3 examples. In day-to-day English and in conversations, it’s best to use the informal version. If you use preposition + which in a casual situation, it may sound out of place. You might possibly sound stuffy. (stuffy – adj: too formal and old-fashioned)
Preposition + which is best used in formal contexts:
documentaries
news reports
presentations
cover letters
legal documents
novels
The Amber Spyglass is a novel by Philip Pullman. I collected a few examples of preposition + which.
I’ve given you a bit of context in parentheses (), but don’t worry too much if you don’t understand the story. Pay attention to the grammar!
Here are a couple of excerpts:
4. (speaking about a Swiss army knife) One attachment was a miniature magnifying glass with which she began to burn a design on to a dry branch, and….
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (magnifying glass) + preposition (with) + which + subject (she) + verb (began)
less formal possibility: One attachment was a miniature magnifying glass (which) she began to burn a design on to a dry branch with, and…
5. (speaking about hair clippings) Yes. To each of the hairs from which these ones were cut.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (hairs) + preposition (from) + which + subject (these ones) + verb (were cut)
less formal possibility: Yes. To each of the hairs (which) these ones were cut from.
6. (speaking about a special spyglass) I’m grateful for your help in making this glass through which I can see it.
Here, “it” is referring to a type of magic. If we remove “it”, it would mean we are looking through the glass itself. The author is specifically trying to tell us that through the magnifying glass, we can see the special magic.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (this glass) + preposition (through) + which + subject (I) + verb (can see)
less formal possibility: I’m grateful for your help in making this glass (which) I can see it through.
I’ve found a few more great examples from authentic sources.
7. You can see the very elegant Roman cursive in which this message was written.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (Roman cursive) + preposition (in) + which + subject (this message) + verb (was written)
less formal possibility: You can see the very elegant Roman cursive (which) this message was written in.
Sentence source: https://www.ted.com/talks/jacqueline_dibiasie_sammons_ancient_pompeii_s_hidden_messages_preserved_in_graffiti
8. The United States Constitution assures those charged with a serious federal crime that they will be prosecuted in the state and district in which the crime occurred.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (state and district) + preposition (in) + which + subject (the crime) + verb (was written)
less formal possibility: The United States Constitution assures those charged with a serious federal crime that they will be prosecuted in the state and district which the crime occurred in.
sentence source: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL33223.pdf
But what about describing people?
If you want to use this grammar for people, you need to use “preposition + whom.”
Step 4: where vs. when vs. preposition + which
What’s the difference between “where” and “in which”?
What’s the difference between “when” and “in/on/at which”?
We can use the relative adverbs “where” and “when” to describe place and time.
Let’s start with “where.”
How do you choose your preposition? This time is not about dependent prepositions. It’s about prepositions of place and time.
less formal: That’s the hospital where I was born.
more formal: That’s the hospital in which I was born.
Why do I choose IN? Because people are born IN hospitals. Yes, you can also be born AT a hospital. In this case, you can use AT WHICH.
This is different from the example we looked at earlier : You can see the very elegant Roman cursive in which this message was written.
Here we use IN WHICH not because we are speaking about location, but because IN is the dependent preposition of “written.”
Here’s another example from a TED Talk:
So by calculating the direction and intensity of a given rock’s magnetic field, we can discover the latitude at which it was located at the time of cooling.
less formal possibility: So by calculating the direction and intensity of a given rock’s magnetic field, we can discover the latitude where it was located at the time of cooling.
Why do I choose AT? Because something is located AT latitude.
sentence source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/jean_baptiste_p_koehl_the_continents_are_moving_when_will_they_collide
WHERE is also used to describe a situation. WHERE doesn’t have to describe a geographical location.
Take a look at the next three examples from various TED Talks and you can see how “where” is describing a situation, not a location. “In which” is a more formal option which makes sense as things happen IN situations.
Well, you know that situation where you get an evaluation from your boss, and she tells you 37 things that you do really awesome, and one “opportunity for growth?”
(“In which” is a correct alternative.)
They talked about the willingness to say, “I love you” first … the willingness to do something where there are no guarantees …
(“In which” is a correct alternative.)
sentence source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability
And we’re now running national education systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make.
(“In which” is a correct alternative.)
sentence source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity/no-comments
But, I thought these were formal talks. Why is “where” being used?
Because “where” is so natural. It’s important to remember that informal English is not low-level English.
Don’t feel like you have to use preposition + which to sound more advanced or correct.
less formal: The barbecue has to be a day when everyone is off.
more formal: The barbecue has to be a day on which everyone is off.
Why do I choose ON? Because things happen ON days.
STEP 5: quantifier + of which
What’s a quantifier?
A quantifier shows us the quantity. In other words, how many or how much.
Here’s a list of common quantifiers: all, some, many, much, neither, both, part, etc.
1. Janet has two job offers. Both of the jobs / Both of them sound fantastic.
How can I combine these two sentences?
Janet was offered two jobs, both of which sound fantastic.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (two jobs) + COMMA + quantifier (both) + of which (+subject) + verb (sound)
You can see that a subject is optional.
2. Amy loves collecting mugs. Many of the mugs / Many of them she bought while traveling.
How can I combine these two sentences?
Amy loves collecting mugs, many of which she bought while traveling.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (mugs) + COMMA + quantifier (many) + of which (+subject (she)) + verb (bought)
3.I have five boxes here. One of the boxes / One of them has $1,000 in it.
I have five boxes, one of which has $1,000 in it.
STRUCTURE: noun you are describing (boxes) + COMMA + quantifier (one) + of which (+subject) + verb (has)
4. But by researching these adaptations, scientists have developed remarkable preservation technologies, some of which are already employed in medicine.
sentence source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/shannon_n_tessier_can_you_freeze_your_body_and_come_back_to_life/transcript
Let’s review what we’ve looked at:
a verb with its dependent preposition:
He replied to my message quickly.
“which” – the relative pronoun:
The message which you sent me didn’t have an attachment.
preposition + which:
Bamboo is a plant on which pandas depend.
Most flowers contain nectar to which bees are attracted.
a formal alternative to “where:”
This is the school’s quiet room in which students can study.
a formal alternative to “when:”
Pregnancy is a 9-month long period during which the body goes through significant changes.
quantifier + of which:
My interior decorator showed me several designs, none of which impressed me.
