Advanced Relative Pronouns: Whose, Whom, Where, When, and Why: correct answers
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Do you know the difference between "the man who called" and "the man to whom I spoke"? While basic relative pronouns are straightforward, advanced sentences require precise usage, especially in formal contexts. For instance, you must use whose to show possession ("the house whose roof leaks") and whom as the object of a verb or preposition ("the professor to whom I wrote"). Additionally, relative adverbs like where, when, and why are essential for connecting clauses about places, times, and reasons.
In this challenge, you will step into various fun scenarios to test these rules. You'll help a detective complete official crime reports using whom and whose, assist a time-traveler leaving reviews about where and when they landed, and polish a stressed college student's formal emails. You will also evaluate quirky real estate listings to ensure possession is correctly expressed.
You'll work through 11 questions presented in a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Complete the museum tour guide's dramatic script about the great art heist. Choose the correct words to complete the sentences!
"Welcome, everyone! 1998 was the exact year when the famous painting mysteriously disappeared from this very room.
To this day, the museum director still doesn't know the reason why the security cameras were suddenly turned off.
As you can see, the empty gallery where the artwork used to hang has been turned into a rather overpriced gift shop."
"Welcome, everyone! 1998 was the exact year when the famous painting mysteriously disappeared from this very room.
We use the relative adverb when to refer to a specific time or period (the year 1998).
To this day, the museum director still doesn't know the reason why the security cameras were suddenly turned off.
We use the relative adverb why to explain the cause or reason for an action.
As you can see, the empty gallery where the artwork used to hang has been turned into a rather overpriced gift shop."
We use the relative adverb where to refer to a specific place or location (the gallery).
Question 2
The correct answers are:
- whom
- whose
- when
Whom is used after the preposition "with" in formal writing.
Whose shows possession, meaning "the dedication of my lab partner".
When modifies a noun of time, such as "the exact moment".
Question 3
The correct answers are The duke, to whom the stolen diamond belonged, refused to answer my questions and The maid, whom I interviewed in the library, claimed she saw nothing.
Whom is the object form of the relative pronoun who. It is used in formal registers as the object of a preposition (e.g., "to whom") or as the direct object of a verb in a relative clause (e.g., "whom I interviewed").
"To who" is grammatically incorrect because prepositions must be followed by object pronouns. "Whom was waiting" is also incorrect because the verb was waiting requires a subject pronoun (who).
Question 4
Help Detective Lewis finish her official crime report by choosing the correct word for each blank.
The suspect whose alibi was completely fake tried to sneak out the back door.
Unfortunately for him, the mysterious informant, from whom the detective received the anonymous tip, had already blocked the exit.
Later, the police searched the abandoned warehouse where the stolen jewels were hidden inside a giant donut box.
The suspect whose alibi was completely fake tried to sneak out the back door.
We use whose to show possession (the alibi belongs to the suspect).
Unfortunately for him, the mysterious informant, from whom the detective received the anonymous tip, had already blocked the exit.
We use whom instead of "who" in formal registers when it is the object of a preposition (like "from").
Later, the police searched the abandoned warehouse where the stolen jewels were hidden inside a giant donut box.
We use the relative adverb where to refer to a physical place or location.
Question 5
The correct answers are We are looking at a house whose roof is entirely made of pancake batter and Meet the landlord whose cats have their own dedicated bedrooms.
Whose is a possessive relative pronoun. Unlike who (which only refers to people), whose can be used to show possession for both animate beings (the landlord) and inanimate objects (the house).
Who's is a contraction for who is or who has; it cannot be used to show possession. Furthermore, "of which its" is redundant and grammatically incorrect; the proper phrasing would simply be "whose doors" or "the doors of which."
Question 6
The correct answers are:
- why
- where
- when
Why is used to modify the noun "reason".
Where is used to refer to a physical location or place (the medieval village).
When is used to refer to a specific time, era, or period (the 21st century).
Question 7
Complete the time traveler's Yelp review of a 19th-century establishment.
I highly recommend the little cafe in 1890s Paris _____ I accidentally left my modern smartphone!
The correct answer is where.
We use the relative adverb where to refer to a place (the cafe). It means the same thing as in which or at which.
If you wanted to use "which" or "that" in this sentence, you would need to add a preposition: "...which I accidentally left my modern smartphone in!" Because the preposition is missing, "where" is the only correct choice.
Question 8
The correct answers are:
- whose
- whom
- where
Whose shows possession (the alibi belongs to the butler). Do not confuse it with "who's" (who is).
Whom is the object form of "who" and is required after prepositions like "to", "with", or "for" in formal English.
Where is a relative adverb used to refer to a place (the secret room).
Question 9
Help Detective Barnaby complete his official suspect report by choosing the grammatically correct word.
The mysterious man in the trench coat, to _____ the stolen diamond was allegedly given, has vanished without a trace.
The correct answer is whom.
In formal English, we use the object relative pronoun whom immediately after a preposition (like to, for, with, or about). Since the diamond was given to him, he is the object of the preposition, making "whom" the perfect choice for a professional police report!
Question 10
Help a stressed college student polish their formal email to the university administration. Choose the correct word for each blank.
Dear Dean of Students,
The professor to whom I submitted my final essay claims he never received it.
Furthermore, the student whose laptop crashed during the midterm exam was given an extension, but I was not.
I am writing to clearly explain the reason why I believe this grading policy is unfair.
Sincerely, A Very Tired Freshman
The professor to whom I submitted my final essay claims he never received it.
In formal English, we use whom as the object of a preposition (like "to").
Furthermore, the student whose laptop crashed during the midterm exam was given an extension, but I was not.
We use whose to indicate possession (the laptop belongs to the student).
I am writing to clearly explain the reason why I believe this grading policy is unfair.
We use why after the noun "reason" to introduce a relative clause explaining a cause.
Question 11
Choose the right word to finish the real estate agent's highly dramatic property listing.
We are selling a spectacular Victorian mansion _____ roof has recently been replaced and supposedly hosts a family of friendly ghosts.
The correct answer is whose.
We use whose as a possessive relative pronoun. A common misconception is that "whose" can only be used for people, but it is actually perfectly correct to use it for inanimate objects and animals as well (meaning the roof of the mansion).
Watch out for the trap: who's means "who is" or "who has" and cannot be used for possession!