Prepositions in relative clauses: with whom or who ... with?

The idea

In everyday usage, leave the preposition at the end. In a defining clause its relative pronoun may be who/which/that as appropriate, or omitted. For a more formal fronted preposition, use whom for people or which for things: with whom, in which.

Examples

• The colleague who I shared an office with has moved.
• The colleague with whom I shared an office has moved.
• This is the drawer that I keep spare keys in.
• This is the drawer in which I keep spare keys.
• The report I referred to is on the website.
• The shelf on which the jars stood has collapsed.

Watch out

Do not put that immediately after a fronted preposition, or omit the pronoun there. Moving or omitting a relative pronoun does not remove the needed preposition: the report I referred to. An ending preposition is not automatically an error.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The colleague with ___ I shared an office has moved. (whom / that)

   Show answer or example answer

   whom

   After the fronted with, whom refers to the colleague. With that cannot introduce this relative clause.

2. Choose the correct option. This is the drawer in ___ I keep spare keys. (which / that)

   Show answer or example answer

   which

   In which is the formal pattern referring to the drawer. That is possible with a final in, but not immediately after fronted in.

3. Choose the correct option. The report I referred ___ is on the website. (to / at)

   Show answer or example answer

   to

   The verb pattern is refer to something. Even when the object relative is omitted, to must remain; at does not fit this meaning.

Use it today

Describe a colleague you worked with and a place you sat in. Write each clause in an everyday version and a more formal version, keeping the same participants and relationship.