Formelle Relativsätze (in welchem, wem)
preposition + which/whom für mehr Präzision und Eleganz in förmlichen Kontexten wie academic writing oder business emails.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Formal relative clauses move the preposition to the front of the relative pronoun to create a sophisticated, academic tone.
- Move the preposition before the relative pronoun (e.g., 'the room in which').
- Always use 'whom' for people and 'which' for things after prepositions.
- Never use 'that' or 'who' immediately following a preposition.
Overview
in which oder to whom.in, with, for) ans Ende des Satzes stellen (the topic we talked about) oder sie direkt vor das Relativpronomen ziehen (the topic about which we talked). Letzteres ist der Goldstandard für formelles Englisch auf B2-Niveau und darüber hinaus.- 1Personen: Wir benutzen ausschließlich
whom(niemalswhooderthat). - 2Sachen/Ideen: Wir benutzen ausschließlich
which(niemalsthat).
whom – Ein alter Bekannter:whom ein Buch mit sieben Siegeln. Aber für dich als Deutschen ist es eigentlich logisch. Erinnere dich an den Unterschied zwischen „wer“ (Nominativ) und „wem/wen“ (Dativ/Akkusativ).Who ist wie „wer“, und whom ist die Objektform – also wie „wem“ oder „wen“. Da Präpositionen fast immer ein Objekt verlangen (man arbeitet *mit jemandem*), folgt im formellen Englisch nach der Präposition zwingend die Objektform whom.This is the contract.(Das ist der Vertrag.)We are looking for the contract.(Wir suchen nach dem Vertrag.)
This is the contract (that) we are looking for.
for am Ende. Das ist völlig okay für einen WhatsApp-Chat oder ein Gespräch in der Kaffeeküche.)for) und das Relativpronomen für eine Sache (which). Ziehe die Präposition vor das Pronomen:This is the contract for which we are looking.
Nomen + Präposition + which/whom + Subjekt + Verbapply for | The job I applied for... | The job for which I applied... |deal with | The issues we dealt with... | The issues with which we dealt... |report to | The manager I report to... | The manager to whom I report... |depend on | The factors it depends on... | The factors on which it depends... |invest in | The project they invested in... | The project in which they invested... |whom benutzt, klingt der Satz sofort sehr autoritär. Nutze es im Büro für E-Mails an Kunden oder Vorgesetzte, aber vielleicht nicht unbedingt beim Feierabendbier (Stammtisch-Niveau).- *Beispiel:*
The framework within which this study was conducted...(Der Rahmen, in dem diese Studie durchgeführt wurde...)
preposition + which/whom, dass du die Regeln des Spiels beherrschst.- *Beispiel:*
The terms under which the agreement was signed...(Die Bedingungen, unter denen die Vereinbarung unterzeichnet wurde...)
- *Beispiel:*
The party to whom the notice is sent...(Die Partei, an die die Benachrichtigung gesendet wird...)
- *Beispiel:*
I led a team of which I am very proud.(Ich habe ein Team geleitet, auf das ich sehr stolz bin.)
The person to whom I was speaking fast schon arrogant oder ironisch. Bleib hier lieber bei The person I was talking to. Als Faustregel gilt: Wenn du im Deutschen „Sie“ sagen würdest, ist die formelle Struktur oft angemessen.- Falsch:
The project on which I am working on... - Richtig:
The project on which I am working...
work on als Einheit gespeichert hat und das on automatisch am Ende „ausspuckt“. Erinnere dich: Die Präposition kann nur an einem Ort gleichzeitig sein!who statt whom nach einer Präposition- Falsch:
The client with who I spoke... - Richtig:
The client with whom I spoke...
that nach einer Präpositionthat ist extrem kamerascheu – es mag keine Präpositionen direkt vor sich.- Falsch:
The house in that I live... - Richtig:
The house in which I live...(Oder informell:The house (that) I live in.)
- Falsch:
The results on which we are proud... - Richtig:
The results of which we are proud...
rely on, consist of, comply with).where/when und in which/at which ist für B2-Lerner wichtig.where | Lokal (eher informell/neutral) | The office where I work. |in which | Lokal (sehr formell/präzise) | The office in which I work. |whose | Besitzanzeigend (Personen & Sachen) | The company whose CEO resigned. |of which | Besitzanzeigend (nur Sachen, sehr formell) | The company, the CEO of which resigned. |when | Zeitlich (neutral) | The day when we met. |on which | Zeitlich (formell) | The day on which we met. |where vs. in whichwhere. Aber in which ist nützlich, wenn du abstrakte Räume meinst.The situation in which we find ourselves...klingt viel besser alsThe situation where we find ourselves...(obwohl beides geht).
whose vs. of whichWhose ist im Englischen sehr praktisch, weil es für Menschen und Dinge funktioniert. Of which ist die „Königsdisziplin“.- *Standard:*
A book whose title I forgot. - *High-End:*
A book, the title of which I have forgotten.(Klingt wie aus einem Roman von Jane Austen oder einem juristischen Gutachten).
whom durch who ersetzen, wenn ich trotzdem die Präposition vorne lasse?Präposition + Relativpronomen ist who grammatikalisch schlichtweg falsch. Wenn du who benutzen willst, muss die Präposition ans Ende: The person who I was talking to.whom Pflicht: The person to whom I was talking.in which nicht total veraltet?look after - sich kümmern um).- *Richtig:*
The kids I look after. - *Falsch/Seltsam:*
The kids after whom I look.(Das würde bedeuten, dass du physisch hinter ihnen her schaust).
depend on ist, dann heißt es auch the factors on which it depends.Formal Relative Pronoun Selection
| Referent Type | Preposition Position | Relative Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Person
|
After Preposition
|
Whom
|
The man to whom...
|
|
Thing/Idea
|
After Preposition
|
Which
|
The idea of which...
|
|
Place
|
After Preposition
|
Which
|
The city in which...
|
|
Time
|
After Preposition
|
Which
|
The day on which...
|
|
Possession
|
After Preposition
|
Whose
|
The lady to whose son...
|
Meanings
A formal way of connecting two ideas where a preposition is placed before a relative pronoun (which or whom) rather than at the end of the clause.
Spatial/Temporal Context
Used to define a specific time or place using 'in which', 'at which', or 'during which'.
“The year in which the treaty was signed remains a mystery.”
“The hotel at which we stayed was magnificent.”
Interpersonal Relations
Used to describe interactions with people using 'to whom', 'with whom', or 'for whom'.
“The manager to whom I reported was very supportive.”
“The colleagues with whom I worked are now my friends.”
Abstract Association
Used with abstract nouns and specific phrasal verb prepositions like 'of which' or 'by which'.
“The means by which they achieved success were questionable.”
“The conditions under which the experiment was conducted were strict.”
Reference Table
| Funktion | Informelles Beispiel | Formelles Beispiel | Kontext |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sache/Idee
|
The movie `that` we talked `about` was great.
|
The movie `about which` we talked was great.
|
Uni-Vorlesung
|
|
Person
|
She's the professor `who` I sent the email `to`.
|
She's the professor `to whom` I sent the email.
|
Berufliche E-Mail
|
|
Ort
|
This is the cafe `that` I study `in`.
|
This is the cafe `in which` I study.
|
Reiseführer (formell)
|
|
Zweck
|
This is the goal `that` we're working `towards`.
|
This is the goal `towards which` we are working.
|
Business-Bericht
|
|
Besitz
|
The student `whose` project excelled...
|
The student `whose` project excelled...
|
Akademische Review
|
|
Zeit
|
The day `that` it happened `on` was sunny.
|
The day `on which` it happened was sunny.
|
Historischer Bericht
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The individual to whom I was speaking. (social interaction)
The person I was talking to. (social interaction)
The guy I was chatting with. (social interaction)
The dude I was hollering at. (social interaction)
Ablauf formeller Relativsätze
Struktur für Sachen
- Präposition + WHICH e.g., in which, for which, about which
- Nutzung Objects, ideas, places, abstract concepts
Struktur für Personen
- Präposition + WHOM e.g., to whom, with whom, from whom
- Nutzung Only for people (objective case)
Wann nutzen?
- Formelle Kontexte Academic writing, professional emails, legal documents
- Klarheit Avoids ambiguity, sounds sophisticated
Häufige Fehler
- Kein 'that' nach Präp. Not 'in that', but 'in which'
- Kein 'who' nach Präp. Not 'to who', but 'to whom'
Formell vs. Informell
Den richtigen Relativsatz wählen
Ist der Kontext formell (Uni, Job)?
Bezieht es sich auf eine Person?
Sache, Idee oder Ort?
Gängige Präpositionen
Für Personen (`whom`)
- • to whom
- • with whom
- • from whom
- • for whom
- • about whom
Für Sachen/Ideen (`which`)
- • in which
- • on which
- • for which
- • about which
- • by which
- • to which
- • upon which
- • within which
Kontext-Keywords
- • academic
- • report
- • formal
- • precision
- • legal
Beispiele nach Niveau
This is the room. I sleep in it.
This is the room I sleep in.
I have a friend. I play with him.
I have a friend I play with.
That is the bus. I go to school on it.
That is the bus I take to school.
This is the book. I read it.
This is the book I am reading.
This is the house that I live in.
This is the house I live in.
The man who I work with is nice.
The man I work with is nice.
The chair that you are sitting on is old.
The chair you're sitting on is old.
The music that we are listening to is loud.
The music we're listening to is loud.
The company which I work for is very big.
The company I work for is very big.
The person to whom you are speaking is the boss.
The person you are speaking to is the boss.
The town in which I was born is very small.
The town where I was born is very small.
The reason for which he left is unknown.
The reason why he left is unknown.
The circumstances under which the deal was made are unclear.
The conditions of the deal are not clear.
She is the candidate for whom I voted.
She is the person I voted for.
The method by which they solved the problem was clever.
The way they solved the problem was clever.
The project on which we are collaborating is vital.
The project we are working on together is vital.
The extent to which technology influences our lives is profound.
Technology influences our lives a lot.
He is a man in whom I have the utmost confidence.
I trust him completely.
The theory, the basis of which is flawed, has been rejected.
The theory was rejected because its basis is wrong.
There are several points upon which we must agree.
We need to agree on a few things.
The labyrinthine ways in which the law operates can be baffling.
The law is very complicated.
It was a period during which the very foundations of society were shaken.
Society changed a lot during that time.
The committee, to whose members I am deeply grateful, worked tirelessly.
I am grateful to the committee members.
The speed with which the virus spread caught the world off guard.
The virus spread very fast.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often use 'who' after prepositions because 'whom' feels old-fashioned.
Learners use 'where' in formal writing when 'in which' is more appropriate.
Learners try to use 'that' after a preposition.
Häufige Fehler
The house in that I live.
The house I live in.
The man to who I spoke.
The man I spoke to.
The room in which I stayed in.
The room in which I stayed.
The person to who I am referring.
The person to whom I am referring.
Satzmuster
The ___ in which I ___ is ___.
He is the person to whom I ___ the ___.
The means by which ___ is ___.
It was a period during which ___.
Real World Usage
The framework within which this study was conducted...
The terms by which both parties agree to abide...
Attached is the document to which I referred in our meeting.
The conditions under which the refugees are living...
That was a project for which I was solely responsible.
The temperature at which the reaction occurs...
Präpositionen richtig platzieren
The topic about which we spoke was complex.
Kein 'that' nach Präpositionen
The room in which I work is very quiet.
Whom vs. Who: Der einfache Trick
To whom it may concern.
Der Kontext ist entscheidend
The pizza for which I wait is finally here!– das wäre eher ein Scherz.
Relativadverbien als Alternative
The year when I graduated was 2020.
Smart Tips
Scan your document for prepositions at the end of sentences (like 'of', 'to', 'for') and try to move them to the front using 'which' or 'whom'.
Change it to 'in which' immediately. 'In that' is almost always a mistake in relative clauses.
Use 'many of whom' or 'some of whom' to sound very sophisticated.
Check the verb. The preposition that goes with the verb (e.g., 'depend ON') is the one that moves to the front ('on which it depends').
Aussprache
Whom
The 'h' is silent in some dialects, but usually pronounced /huːm/. Ensure the 'm' is clear to distinguish it from 'who'.
Formal Stress
The era IN which she lived.
Slight stress on the preposition emphasizes the relationship.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Whom for him/her, Which for it. Move the preposition to the front to make it fit!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a small bird (the preposition) flying from the end of a sentence and landing right in front of the relative pronoun (which/whom).
Rhyme
If a preposition starts the clause, 'Whom' or 'Which' must be the cause.
Story
A professor (Formal English) always carries his preposition in a briefcase at the front of his sentences, while a teenager (Informal English) leaves his preposition lying on the floor at the end of the room.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write three sentences about your last job using 'in which', 'to whom', and 'for which'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Formal relative clauses are very common in the BBC and high-quality newspapers like The Guardian.
Often seen as 'overly formal' in speech, but strictly required in US legal writing and Ivy League academic standards.
Using 'whom' correctly is often used as a 'shibboleth' or a sign of high education in English-speaking universities.
This structure comes from Latin grammar, which was heavily influential on English during the Renaissance.
Gesprächseinstiege
Tell me about a project on which you worked recently.
What is the city in which you would most like to live?
Describe a person to whom you look up.
In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge with which the world is currently dealing?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
The university building ___ many important lectures are held was recently renovated.
Find and fix the mistake:
The colleague to who I spoke yesterday provided valuable feedback.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesThe manager to ___ I sent the email has not replied.
The house ___ ___ I grew up is now a museum.
Find and fix the mistake:
The person for who I bought this gift is my sister.
Informal: The topic I am interested in is history.
The company for that he works is very successful.
Match the following:
A: To whom should I address this letter? B: You should address it to the director, ___.
Select the formal option.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe committee meeting, ___ the decision was made, lasted for hours.
The research findings, upon that the new policy is based, are groundbreaking.
Wähle den korrekten Satz:
Übersetze ins Englische: 'Dies ist die Sache, für die wir kämpfen.'
Bringe die Wörter in die richtige Reihenfolge:
Ordne die informellen Phrasen ihren formellen Entsprechungen zu:
The contract, ___ both parties agreed, contained several new clauses.
This is the hypothesis that the experiment relies on.
Welcher Satz ist korrekt strukturiert?
Übersetze: 'Der Zeitraum, während dessen sich das Projekt entwickelte, war entscheidend.'
Ordne die Wörter:
Verbinde die Präposition mit dem richtigen Pronomen für formelle Zwecke:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
In formal writing, yes. If you place a preposition before the pronoun, you must use `whom` for people. In casual speech, most people just say 'who' and put the preposition at the end.
No. In relative clauses, `that` cannot follow a preposition. You must use `which` (e.g., 'the box in which').
It is the linguistic term for moving a preposition to the front of a relative clause. It's called this because the preposition 'leads' the pronoun.
Yes, in many cases. 'The city where I live' is neutral. 'The city in which I live' is formal. However, for abstract concepts, 'in which' is often better (e.g., 'the situation in which').
In modern English, yes, it is perfectly fine for 99% of situations. The rule against it was created by 18th-century grammarians who wanted English to be more like Latin.
You can use it for things. Instead of 'the car's engine,' you can say 'the car, the engine of which was broken.' This is very formal and literary.
This is used for people's possessions in a formal way. 'The woman to whose house we went.' It is rare but grammatically correct.
Avoid it in casual conversation, text messages, or when speaking to children. It will make you sound distant or robotic.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
en el que / en el cual
Spanish requires the preposition to move, whereas English gives you a choice between formal and informal.
dans lequel / auquel
French relative pronouns are more complex because they must agree with the noun's gender.
in dem / mit dem
German relative pronouns change based on the grammatical case required by the preposition.
None
Japanese has no equivalent to 'which' or 'whom'; the relationship is shown through word order and particles.
alladhi + resumptive pronoun
Arabic uses 'resumptive pronouns' which are forbidden in English (e.g., 'the house in which I live in it').
... de structure
Chinese lacks relative pronouns entirely, making this English structure very difficult for native speakers.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Verwandte Videos
Related Grammar Rules
Relativsätze: Bestimmend vs. Nicht-bestimmend (Meaning Difference)
Overview Stell dir vor, du scrollst durch deinen Instagram-Feed. Du siehst einen Post von einem Freund, der zwei Katzen...
Relativadverb: 'Where' für Orte
Overview Hast du jemals versucht, einem Freund von dieser tollen Pizzeria zu erzählen, bist aber mitten im Satz steckeng...
Sätze kürzen: Reduzierte Relativsätze
### Overview Stell dir vor, du sitzt in einem Meeting oder schreibst eine wichtige E-Mail an einen internationalen Kund...
Whose: Besitz anzeigen
### Overview Das Wort `whose` spielt eine zentrale Rolle als **possessives Relativpronomen** im Englischen. Seine Haupt...
Gekürzte Relativsätze: Verwendung von Partizipien (postnominal)
### Overview In der Welt der englischen Grammatik auf C2-Niveau geht es nicht mehr nur darum, fehlerfrei zu sprechen, s...
