Whose

Whose is a relative possessive word, used as a determiner before nouns. It can refer to people or things.

  • This is the man whose house was burgled.
  • I saw a girl whose beauty took my breath away.

Of which; that …of

Instead of whose, we can use of which or that …of to refer to things. The most common word order is noun + of which or that … of. Of which …+ noun is also possible.

Compare the following sentences. All of them express the same idea.

  • He has written a book whose name I have forgotten.
  • He has written a book the name of which I have forgotten.
  • He has written a book that I have forgotten the name of.
  • He has written a book of which I have forgotten the name.

Sentences with whose are rather formal. In an informal style other structures are preferred. With is a common way of expressing possessive ideas.

  • I have got some friends with a house that looks over a river. (Less formal than I have got some friends whose house looks over a river.)

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

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