Quantifiers in relative clauses: subsets

The idea

After a comma, use a quantifier or number plus of whom for people and of which for things. The verb agrees with the subset: one of which is, two of which are.

Examples

• The team invited twelve artists, many of whom live nearby.
• We planted several trees, some of which will bear fruit.
• I met three neighbours, all of whom offered to help.
• The museum owns eight clocks, two of which still work.
• She interviewed several nurses, none of whom had seen the report.
• They suggested five routes, one of which avoids the bridge.

Watch out

Do not use who or that immediately after of. These clauses add information and are set off by commas.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The festival welcomed ten writers, most of ___ read their work aloud. (whom / which)

   Show answer or example answer

   whom

   whom refers back to the writers.

2. Choose the correct option. The shop sells local cheeses, some of ___ are made from goat milk. (whom / which)

   Show answer or example answer

   which

   which refers back to the cheeses.

3. Choose the correct option. He contacted four guides, two of ___ replied immediately. (whom / which)

   Show answer or example answer

   whom

   whom refers back to the guides.

Use it today

Describe a group of people and a group of objects, adding a fact about a subset of each.