66 Relative pronouns and relative clauses
The team contained ten players. Their ages ranged between 10 and 16.= The team contained ten players whose ages ranged between 10 and 16. Relative clauses can refer to various kinds of noun and noun phrase: • Single nouns We hold meetings where residents' problems can be aired. • Determiner and noun It's a show that appeals to young and old alike. • A longer noun phrase The aging nuclear reactors, which were regarded as dangerously out of date, were replaced.
The pronoun which can also refer to: • The situation in a whole clause or sentence He was called away unexpectedly today, which is why I came to meet you instead. We cancelled the trips which was just as well, because it rained. She said I looked nice, which made my day.
Who Who is used about people (and sometimes animals). We only employ people who already have computer skills. When who is the object of a clause, you can leave it out. You are free to marry the man (who / whom) you love.
Whom This can be used when the relative pronoun who would be the object of a clause. He wrote a letter naming the people whom he suspected. However, in current usage, whom is rarely used. Instead we might completely miss out the pronoun or use who instead. He wrote a letter naming the people (who) he suspected. You are more likely to use whom if there is a preceding preposition, but this quite formal. To whom did you speak?
Whose Whose is used about people (and occasionally animals) to show a relationship or possession. Jones is a director whose television credits include NYPD Blue. It is used in place of his, her, our, their, Mike's, the teacher's etc. It is often used for companies, groups or organisations containing people. They were a shadowy secret society, whose activities were shrouded in mystery. Although mainly used for people, whose can be used for things, in which case it means of which. They live in a house whose roof could collapse at any time. (= the roof of which)
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