Relative Clauses with Quantifiers: correct answers
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Combining a quantifier with a relative pronoun allows you to specify a portion of a group in a single, elegant sentence. For example, instead of writing a comma splice like "I bought five apples, two of them are bad," you should use a relative clause: "I bought five apples, two of which are bad." This structure always uses an object pronoun after the preposition: whom for people, which for things, and whose for possession.
This challenge tests your ability to apply these advanced rules across a variety of bizarre scenarios. You will decide between which for objects (like cursed antique clocks and rock-hard fruitcakes), whom for people (like dragon-taming job candidates and wandering tourists), and the tricky possessive whose (for eccentric aunts with insulting parrots). You'll also practice identifying correct structures with quantifiers like neither, none, half, and some to avoid sneaky comma splices.
You'll work through 10 questions in a fun mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are: We hired five new software engineers, three of whom insist on sleeping under their desks. We hired five new software engineers; three of them insist on sleeping under their desks. We hired five new software engineers, and three of them insist on sleeping under their desks.
When connecting two independent clauses, you cannot simply use a comma and a pronoun like "them" (this creates a comma splice). You must use a relative pronoun after a preposition (three of whom), use a semicolon (; three of them), or add a conjunction (, and three of them). Also, remember to use the object pronoun whom rather than who after the preposition "of".
Question 2
Help the food critic finalize their rather scathing review of the amateur baking contest by choosing the correct phrase for each gap.
The annual village bake-off featured twelve spectacular fruitcakes, none of which could be cut with a standard kitchen knife. The head judge glared at the four amateur bakers, all of whom were desperately trying to hide their suspiciously store-bought packaging.
The annual village bake-off featured twelve spectacular fruitcakes, none of which could be cut with a standard kitchen knife.
Because there are twelve fruitcakes (more than two), we use the quantifier "none" instead of "neither." We must use the relative pronoun "which" rather than "them" to connect the clauses; using "none of them" would create a grammatically incorrect comma splice.
The head judge glared at the four amateur bakers, all of whom were desperately trying to hide their suspiciously store-bought packaging.
Following a preposition like "of," we must use the object pronoun "whom" when referring to people. "All of who" is grammatically incorrect, and "all of those" would create a comma splice.
Question 3
The museum recently acquired twelve "haunted" paintings, none of which have been properly cataloged yet.
To join the two clauses without using a conjunction (like "and"), we must use a relative pronoun. "None of them" would create a grammatical error called a comma splice. Since "paintings" are things, we use "which."
I also found three antique dolls in the basement, two of whose glass eyes seem to follow me around the room.
We need a possessive relative pronoun here because the "glass eyes" belong to the dolls. "Whose" is the only relative pronoun that indicates possession, and it can be used for both people and things.
Question 4
Finish the art critic's review of a very peculiar modern art exhibition by selecting the grammatically correct option.
The gallery featured works by several local artists, _____ sculptures were made entirely of recycled cheddar cheese.
The correct answer is two of whose.
We need a possessive relative pronoun to indicate that the sculptures belong to the artists. "Whose" is the correct possessive relative pronoun.
When combined with a quantifier, the structure is [quantifier] + of + whose + [noun].
"Several of which" would incorrectly imply the artists are objects, and "whom's" is not a real word.
Question 5
We spent the morning wrangling thirty tourists, half of whom wandered off to take selfies with a very angry moose.
When a relative pronoun follows a preposition (like "of"), we must use the object form "whom" for people, not "who." Using "half of them" would result in a comma splice because "them" is a personal pronoun, not a relative pronoun.
By noon, we had lost five expensive cameras in the lake, all of which belonged to me, thankfully!
"All of which" is correct because "cameras" are things (requiring "which"). "Neither of which" is incorrect because "neither" only refers to exactly two items, but here there are five cameras. "All of them" would cause a comma splice.
Question 6
Complete the scientific journal's summary of Dr. Finklebaum's latest academic disaster.
At the conference, Dr. Finklebaum proposed two entirely absurd theories, _____ made the slightest bit of sense to his peers.
The correct answer is neither of which.
First, because the sentence specifies exactly two theories, we must use the dual quantifier "neither" rather than "none" (which is used for three or more).
Second, to avoid a comma splice, we need a relative pronoun to link the clauses. Since "theories" are things, we use "which". "Neither of them" would create a run-on sentence, and "that" cannot be used directly after a preposition in a non-defining relative clause.
Question 7
The correct answers are: two of whose parrots kept insulting my cooking. all of whom brought uninvited and unruly pets. and none of their husbands offered to wash the dishes.
To show possession in a relative clause with a quantifier, we use "of whose" + noun (e.g., two of whose parrots).
When referring to people as the object of the preposition "of", we must use whom, not "who".
"Two of their parrots" creates a comma splice, but adding the conjunction "and" makes "and none of their husbands" grammatically correct.
Question 8
Help the HR manager complete her slightly concerning hiring report by choosing the correct phrase.
The committee interviewed fifteen candidates for the dragon-tamer position, _____ had any actual experience with fire-breathing reptiles.
The correct answer is none of whom.
Because the two clauses are joined only by a comma, we must use a relative pronoun to create a non-defining relative clause. "None of them" would create a comma splice (two independent clauses improperly joined by a comma).
Furthermore, because the pronoun follows the preposition "of" and refers to people (candidates), we must use the objective case "whom" rather than "who" or "which."
Question 9
The correct answers are none of which have ever told the correct time. and half of which are currently ticking backwards.
In a non-restrictive relative clause referring to things, we use a quantifier + "of" + "which" (e.g., none of which, half of which).
"Some of them" creates an illegal comma splice. "All of that" is incorrect because we cannot use "that" after a preposition in a relative clause. "Two of which they" is incorrect because it contains a double subject ("which" and "they").
Question 10
Complete the intergalactic zoologist's field notes about a newly discovered planet by choosing the correct phrase for each blank.
During the expedition, we encountered five distinct alien species, some of whose defense mechanisms included emitting a scent like burnt toast. We also collected hundreds of peculiar glowing rocks, several of which began to hum softly in the cargo bay.
During the expedition, we encountered five distinct alien species, some of whose defense mechanisms included emitting a scent like burnt toast.
We need a possessive relative pronoun here because the "defense mechanisms" belong to the alien species. "Some of whose" perfectly bridges the gap. "Some of which" would be grammatically broken here, and "some of them" creates a comma splice.
We also collected hundreds of peculiar glowing rocks, several of which began to hum softly in the cargo bay.
When referring to inanimate objects (rocks) in a non-defining relative clause, we use "which." "Whom" is reserved exclusively for people (or highly personified beings), and "many of them" would result in a comma splice because there is no coordinating conjunction.