Relative Clauses – No Prepositions at the End of Sentences!

There is an old grammar rule that says you should never end a sentence with a preposition. Actually, it is often okay to end a sentence with a preposition. However, in formal writing, it is usually good to rearrange the sentences so that the preposition is not at the end. To do this, you need to put the preposition before “which” or “whom” (you cannot use “that” after the preposition).

Here are some examples:

Jane is the girl who/whom I was talking to. (“to” is a preposition)

• Jane is the girl to whom I was talking.

Physics is a subject that I know very little about. ("about" is a preposition)

• Physics is a subject about which I know very little.

This is the room that I found the spider in. (“in” is a preposition)

• This is the room in which I found the spider.

This is the book that the movie is based on. (“on” is a preposition)

• This is the book on which the movie is based.

Fill in the blanks with a preposition and which or whom.

I made a new rule that everyone is complaining about.

• I made a new rule _____ _______ everyone is complaining.

This is a class that we discuss current events in.

• This is a class _____ _______ we discuss current events.

She is the girl who/whom I had a relationship with a long time ago.

• She is the girl _____ _______ I had a relationship a long time ago.

Head Teacher is the job that I was recommended for.

• Head Teacher is the job _____ _______ I was recommended.

Which country are we at war with?

• _____ _______ country are we at war?

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