Whose which

Understanding and Using English Grammar. Biber, Douglas, and Stig Johansson, et al. Pearson Education, Fowler's Modern English Usage. Burchfield and H. Fowler, revised 3rd ed. Garner, 3rd ed. Huddleston, Rodney D. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Reprint ed. Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. Practice 1 A Used Car. We bought a used car. The fender of it was dented. We bought a used car, — its fender the fender of which which the fender , was dented.

Feedback 1. We wanted to buy a used car. The price of the car depended on the market. We wanted to buy a used car, — the price of which which the price its price depended on the market. Feedback 2. My husband was reading a magazine.

The cover of it had a picture of a hybrid car. My husband was reading a magazine, — whose cover which its cover the cover of which had a picture of a hybrid car. Feedback 3. The sun had destroyed the car paint. The color of the paint was faded. The sun had destroyed the car paint, — whose its color the color of which which its color was faded. Feedback 4. We called a body shop and made an an appointment. The time of the appointment was was rather inconvenient.

We called a body shop and made an appointment , — the time of which which its time which the time was rather inconvenient.

Feedback 5. The car also needed a few minor repairs. The condition of the car was pretty good. The car, — which its condition whose condition the condition of which was pretty good, needed a few minor repairs. Feedback 6.

We received a recommendation for a body shop. I can't remember its name right now. We received a recommendation for a body shop, — its name which the name which its the name of which I can't remember right now. Feedback 7. We got a reasonable estimate. The amount of the estimate was the lowest of all. We got a reasonable estimate, — the amount of which its amount which was the lowest of all. Feedback 8. Our car was restored to like-new condition. The exterior of our car had aged. Our car , — the exterior which the exterior of which which of the exterior had aged, was restored to like-new condition.

Feedback 9. Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes.

The correct word to use here is whose. Roughly speaking, which means "the ones that" whose means "possessing the ones that" Consider this as an example: some leaves have fallen off some trees. We would say The leaves which have been lost or The trees whose leaves have been lost One is about the things themselves, the other is about the things that own the other things. Improve this answer.

Take a look at these examples: Do you remember the company whose managers were all from the UK? Michael Rybkin Michael Rybkin MWDEU nicely puts it while commenting on the results of a survey in which the majority of participants marked whose wrong: The specter of the 18th-century grammarian is still loose in the land. Teachers used to teach that whose was for people and animate things.

That is a fact. But I cannot prove and I don't agree with it. MichaelRybkin, thank you for spreading the truth! It was very difficult to come up with a good example where you could easily substitute whose with witch and clearly see that the sentence grammatically breaks apart. Sorry about that. Which is perfectly grammatical in that sentence.

Show 5 more comments. Mori Mori 2, 8 8 gold badges 30 30 silver badges 52 52 bronze badges. A distinction which has nothing to do with the point I raised. Join over , readers who are saying YES to practice. Building an Author Website. Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest. Whose vs. It was not the sentence He's written a book of which I've forgotten the name that convinced me that I am obligated, against all my sensibilities, to say that your bungalows example is technically grammatical.

A book of which I've forgotten the name relates to I've forgotten the name of it. That's a different case: the bungalows of which the roofs are leaking does not relate to the roofs are leaking of them , but instead to the roofs of them are leaking. Having looked into the matter, I see that that construction, which is extremely uncommon, has been officially endorsed as grammatical: "The investigation of which the results will soon be published.

In conclusion, your example is savagely nonnative but grammatical. First, I do really appreciate all your priceless explanations. And, considering what you have explained and explanations on the other site, would you tell me if the following are all correct? He's written a book of which I've forgotten the name.

Have I properly concluded from all those explanations the following? In addition, considering what you have taught me, I should say the houses the roofs of which are leaking out to And, finally, what about the following? That's a different case: the bungalows of which the roofs are leaking does not relate to the roofs are leaking of them, but instead to the roofs of them are leaking. Having looked into the matter, I see that that construction, which is extremely uncommon, has been officially endorsed as grammatical: Would you please in a more simple way compare those cases?

That's a different case. Hello, Nima, All of the examples in your last two posts are grammatically correct: He's written a book of which I've forgotten the name.