B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 11

Précision et Élégance : Donne du Relief à ton Anglais

4 Règles totales
43 exemples
7 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Elevate your communication by seamlessly weaving extra details and formal precision into your English sentences.

  • Distinguish between essential and non-essential information.
  • Apply commas correctly to structure complex thoughts.
  • Master formal prepositional phrasing to sound professional.
Add detail, gain clarity, sound professional.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Prêt à passer au niveau supérieur ? Pour l'instant, tes phrases sont claires, mais il leur manque peut-être ce petit côté sophistiqué qui fait toute la différence. Dans ce chapitre, on va voir comment ajouter de la précision chirurgicale à tes propos tout en restant fluide. Tu vas d'abord apprendre à jongler entre les informations essentielles et les simples détails grâce aux « relative clauses ». C’est la clé pour éviter les malentendus : on verra pourquoi une simple virgule change tout et pourquoi le mot « that » est parfois interdit ! Imagine que tu rédiges un mail pro ou que tu décrives un projet complexe : tu sauras enfin quand ajouter ces petits bonus d'information sans perdre ton interlocuteur. Mais on ne s'arrête pas là. Pour briller lors d'un entretien ou dans un contexte académique, on va s'attaquer aux structures plus formelles comme « to whom » ou « for which ». Tu apprendras aussi à décrire des groupes avec finesse en utilisant des quantificateurs (comme « all of whom » ou « none of which »). À la fin de ce chapitre, tu ne te contenteras plus de faire des phrases simples ; tu sauras articuler des idées complexes avec une élégance naturelle. On s'y met ?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use relative clauses to combine two short sentences into one fluid, detailed statement.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Employ formal prepositional structures in professional correspondence.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

As you navigate the B1 level in English, you're moving beyond basic sentences and starting to express more nuanced and complex ideas. This chapter is your key to unlocking that next level of clarity and sophistication. We're diving into the essential skills for adding extra information and formal details, which are crucial for sounding natural and precise, especially in written English or more formal spoken contexts.
Mastering these structures will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively, ensuring your message is always understood exactly as you intend.
You'll learn how to seamlessly weave in additional facts and explanations without making your sentences clunky or confusing. This isn't just about sounding fancy; it's about being clear and concise, whether you're describing a person, an object, or a situation. We'll explore different types of relative clauses – the building blocks for this kind of detail – and show you how to use commas to manage the flow of information.
This includes understanding the subtle yet powerful difference between essential and non-essential information.
Furthermore, we'll equip you with the tools to handle more formal language. This is vital for academic writing, professional emails, or even just impressing an English speaker with your command of the language. By the end of this guide, your B1 English grammar will feel much more robust, allowing you to articulate complex thoughts with confidence and precision, making your English sound truly advanced.

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of adding extra information and formal details are relative clauses. These are parts of a sentence that describe a noun, giving us more specific data about it. They typically start with words like who, whom, which, that, or whose.
The critical distinction here is between defining and non-defining relative clauses.
A defining relative clause provides essential information that pinpoints *which* specific noun you're talking about. If you remove it, the meaning of the main sentence changes or becomes unclear. For instance,
The student who answered the question correctly passed the exam.
Here,
who answered the question correctly
tells us *which* student.
We don't use commas with defining clauses, and we can often use that instead of who or which.
In contrast, a non-defining relative clause adds extra, non-essential information. It's like a bonus detail. The sentence would still make sense and identify the noun without it.
These clauses are always set off by commas. For example,
My brother, who lives in London, is visiting next week.
The main point is
My brother is visiting next week.
The fact that he lives in London is just additional info. You *must* use who for people and which for things in non-defining clauses; that is never used.
For more formal contexts, especially in writing, we often place prepositions *before* the relative pronoun. Instead of saying
The colleague I spoke *to*
, formal English prefers
The colleague to whom I spoke.
Similarly,
The project *which I am working on*
becomes
The project on which I am working.
This structure elevates the formality and precision of your language.
Finally, to describe quantities within a previously mentioned group, we use relative clauses with quantifiers. These are also non-defining and use commas. We say
quantifier + of + whom/which.
For instance,
I invited ten friends to the party, all of whom accepted.
Or,
She bought three books, none of which she had read before.
This allows you to elegantly provide specific details about a subgroup, enriching your descriptions without creating separate sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learning to correctly add extra information is vital for your B1 English grammar, but it's easy to make a few common errors.
  1. 1✗ Using 'that' in non-defining clauses or forgetting commas.
✗ My car, that is red, is fast.
✓ My car, which is red, is fast.
*Explanation:* Non-defining clauses, which add extra, non-essential details, always use which (for things) or who (for people) and are separated by commas. 'That' is only for defining clauses.
  1. 1✗ Incorrectly placing prepositions in formal relative clauses.
✗ The person who I sent the email to was out of office.
✓ The person to whom I sent the email was out of office.
*Explanation:* In formal English, prepositions should precede whom (for people) or which (for things).
  1. 1✗ Not using 'of whom'/'of which' correctly with quantifiers.
✗ I have two brothers, both who live abroad.
✓ I have two brothers, both of whom live abroad.
*Explanation:* When quantifying a previously mentioned group in a non-defining clause, use
quantifier + of whom
(for people) or
quantifier + of which
(for things) after a comma.

Real Conversations

A

A

Did you enjoy the concert last night?
B

B

Yes, it was fantastic! The lead singer, who has an incredible voice, really brought the house down. And the band, which had a new drummer, sounded tighter than ever.
A

A

"I'm finalizing the report for the CEO."
B

B

Right. Did you get the figures from Sarah?
A

A

Yes. The data, all of which was verified by her department, confirms our initial projections. The CEO, to whom I will present the findings directly, expects a thorough explanation.
A

A

Have you seen John recently?
B

B

"Oh, John? My old classmate, whom I haven't seen in ages, is actually coming to my party next week. He's bringing his new dog, which I hear is a Golden Retriever."

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use 'which' instead of 'that' when adding extra information?

You use which when the information is extra, or non-essential, and set off by commas. For example,

The new office, which is on the third floor, has great views.
If the information is essential to identify the noun, you use that (or which without commas), like
The office that is on the third floor has great views.

Q

What's the main difference between to whom and who...to?

To whom is a formal structure where the preposition comes before the relative pronoun, typically used in written English or very formal speech (e.g.,

The client to whom I sent the email
). Who...to is an informal and more common structure in everyday spoken English (e.g.,
The client who I sent the email to
). Both are grammatically correct but convey different levels of formality.

Q

Can I use all of that or none of that instead of all of which or none of which?

While all of that or none of that can be used in some contexts, particularly informally, when referring back to a *previously mentioned noun or clause* as part of a non-defining relative clause, you should use

all of which
or
none of which.
For example,
She mentioned several problems, all of which need attention.

Q

Why are commas so important when adding extra information with relative clauses?

Commas are crucial because they signal whether the information is essential or non-essential. Using them correctly prevents misunderstandings and makes your writing clearer. Incorrect comma usage can completely change the meaning or make a sentence ungrammatical.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these patterns constantly, though often unconsciously. The more formal structures (like prepositions before whom/which and quantifiers) are far more common in written English – reports, academic papers, formal emails – than in casual conversation. In daily speech, speakers tend to opt for simpler, less formal constructions like splitting the preposition from the relative pronoun or rephrasing entirely.
Understanding this distinction helps you sound natural whether you're chatting with a friend or writing a professional document.

Exemples clés (8)

1

The profile that has the blue checkmark is the real one.

Le profil qui a le badge bleu est le vrai.

Les propositions relatives : Déterminatives vs Explicatives
2

My laptop, which I bought only last month, is already lagging.

Mon ordinateur portable, que j'ai acheté le mois dernier, rame déjà.

Les propositions relatives : Déterminatives vs Explicatives
3

My brother, who lives in Sydney, is a fantastic surfer.

Mon frère, qui vit à Sydney, est un surfeur fantastique.

Propositions subordonnées relatives non-restrictives : Ajouter des informations supplémentaires (avec des virgules)
4

The new restaurant, which opened last week, serves delicious vegan options.

Le nouveau restaurant, qui a ouvert la semaine dernière, sert de délicieuses options véganes.

Propositions subordonnées relatives non-restrictives : Ajouter des informations supplémentaires (avec des virgules)
5

The professor, to whom I submitted my thesis, provided invaluable feedback.

Le professeur, à qui j'ai soumis ma thèse, m'a fourni des commentaires inestimables.

Prépositions Formelles dans les Propositions Relatives (to whom, for which)
6

This is the complex issue for which a solution is urgently needed.

C'est le problème complexe pour lequel une solution est nécessaire de toute urgence.

Prépositions Formelles dans les Propositions Relatives (to whom, for which)
7

I have three brothers, all of whom are engineers.

J'ai trois frères, qui sont tous ingénieurs.

Propositions relatives avec quantificateurs (all of whom, none of which)
8

He sent me ten emails, none of which I have read yet.

Il m'a envoyé dix e-mails, dont aucun je n'ai encore lu.

Propositions relatives avec quantificateurs (all of whom, none of which)

Conseils et astuces (4)

🎯

L'astuce du "doigt qui pointe"

Si tu peux pointer du doigt et dire CELUI-LÀ !, c'est une clause définissante. Pas besoin de virgules.
The bag that I want is blue.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les propositions relatives : Déterminatives vs Explicatives
💡

Les virgules sont tes guides

N'oublie jamais les virgules ! Elles sont le signal visuel que l'information est un bonus et ne définit pas le nom. Si tu peux retirer la clause et que ta phrase a toujours un sens, tu as besoin de virgules :
My sister, who lives in Canada, is visiting soon.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Propositions subordonnées relatives non-restrictives : Ajouter des informations supplémentaires (avec des virgules)
💡

Quand utiliser 'Whom'

Si tu remplaces le pronom relatif par him ou her dans la proposition relative, utilise whom. Si tu peux dire he ou she, alors c'est who. Pense à : to him, ça devient to whom.
The manager to whom I sent the email.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Formelles dans les Propositions Relatives (to whom, for which)
⚠️

La virgule, c'est vital !

N'oublie jamais la virgule avant le quantificateur. Elle signale que l'information est non essentielle et évite les phrases trop longues :
I have three brothers, all of whom are engineers.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Propositions relatives avec quantificateurs (all of whom, none of which)

Vocabulaire clé (5)

clause a part of a sentence containing a verb define to explain the nature or meaning of something formal appropriate for official or serious situations quantifier a word expressing amount, like all or none preposition a word showing relationship like to, for, or with

Real-World Preview

users

Professional Introduction

Review Summary

  • Noun + that/who + verb
  • Noun, + which/who + verb, + rest
  • Prep + whom/which
  • Quantifier + of + whom/which

Erreurs courantes

You don't need 'he' if 'who' already acts as the subject. The extra 'he' is redundant.

Wrong: My brother, who lives in Paris, he is a chef.
Correct: My brother, who lives in Paris, is a chef.

When using a formal structure, the preposition moves to the front, and the object pronoun is removed.

Wrong: The person that I spoke to him was nice.
Correct: The person to whom I spoke was nice.

Use 'which' or 'whom' to connect the clause to the main sentence, not 'them'.

Wrong: I have many books, all of them are new.
Correct: I have many books, all of which are new.

Next Steps

You've unlocked a higher level of English precision! Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to use these structures in your daily writing.

Write a formal email to a professor describing your research interests.

Continue to: Mastering Ability and Polite Requests

Pratique rapide (10)

Quelle phrase est grammaticalement correcte ?

Choisis la meilleure phrase pour un essai formel :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She wrote five books, all of which are famous.
Cette phrase utilise le bon pronom relatif ('which' pour les livres) et inclut la virgule nécessaire. C'est parfait !

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Propositions relatives avec quantificateurs (all of whom, none of which)

Quelle phrase utilise correctement la structure de la proposition relative formelle ?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The regulations, about which they complained, were difficult.
Dans les propositions relatives formelles, la préposition précède which pour les choses. That n'est pas utilisé dans cette structure formelle.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Formelles dans les Propositions Relatives (to whom, for which)

Complète le blanc avec 'that' ou 'which'. N'oublie pas la règle des virgules !

Tokyo, ___ is the capital of Japan, is a huge city.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: which
C'est une clause non-définissante (information supplémentaire sur un lieu unique), donc nous devons utiliser 'which', jamais 'that'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les propositions relatives : Déterminatives vs Explicatives

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase formelle.

The candidate, _____ the committee voted unanimously, accepted the position.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: for whom
Comme the candidate est une personne et que la préposition for précède le pronom relatif, whom est le bon choix formel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Formelles dans les Propositions Relatives (to whom, for which)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase formelle.

Find and fix the mistake:

This is the objective to who we are striving.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This is the objective to which we are striving.
Objective est une chose, donc which doit être utilisé. Whom est pour les personnes. La préposition to précède correctement which.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prépositions Formelles dans les Propositions Relatives (to whom, for which)

Trouve l'erreur dans cette phrase à propos d'une personne spécifique, déjà connue.

Find and fix the mistake:

Mr. Smith that is my teacher is very kind.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mr. Smith, who is my teacher, is very kind.
Puisque nous connaissons son nom, l'information est supplémentaire. Nous avons besoin de virgules et de 'who' au lieu de 'that'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les propositions relatives : Déterminatives vs Explicatives

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

I have many unread notifications, some of who are from Instagram.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: some of which are from Instagram.
Les notifications sont des choses, donc on doit utiliser 'which' au lieu de 'who'. Facile, non ?

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Propositions relatives avec quantificateurs (all of whom, none of which)

Choisis le pronom relatif et la ponctuation corrects.

My best friend ___ is a brilliant artist, just had her first exhibition.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: , who
Puisque 'my best friend' est déjà identifié, la clause 'is a brilliant artist' ajoute une information supplémentaire, non essentielle. Par conséquent, elle doit être encadrée par des virgules, et 'who' est utilisé pour les personnes.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Propositions subordonnées relatives non-restrictives : Ajouter des informations supplémentaires (avec des virgules)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

The new cafe that has a rooftop terrace is very popular.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new cafe, which has a rooftop terrace, is very popular.
La clause 'has a rooftop terrace' ajoute une information non essentielle sur 'the new cafe' (qui est suffisamment unique pour être identifié par 'the new'). Par conséquent, elle a besoin de virgules, et 'which' doit être utilisé à la place de 'that' dans les clauses non-définissantes.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Propositions subordonnées relatives non-restrictives : Ajouter des informations supplémentaires (avec des virgules)

Quelle phrase sous-entend que la personne qui parle a plus d'un frère ?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My brother who lives in London is a doctor.
L'absence de virgules signifie que c'est une clause définissante, qui identifie *quel* frère parmi plusieurs.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les propositions relatives : Déterminatives vs Explicatives

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Les clauses définissantes te disent DE QUEL objet tu parles (c'est essentiel). Les clauses non-définissantes donnent juste une info en plus sur quelque chose que tu connais déjà (un bonus). Par exemple :
The car that is parked outside is mine.
(définissant) vs
My car, which is black, is parked outside.
(non-définissant).
Utilise toujours des virgules pour les clauses non-définissantes. Elles agissent comme des parenthèses autour de l'information supplémentaire. Pense à :
My brother, who lives in Paris, is a chef.
.
Elle ajoute des informations supplémentaires, non essentielles, sur un nom qui est déjà clairement identifié. Pense-y comme une note latérale utile ou un détail bonus, pas quelque chose de crucial pour comprendre de qui ou de quoi tu parles. Par exemple, si tu dis :
My mother, who loves gardening, just bought new tools.
, le fait qu'elle aime jardiner est un plus, tu sais déjà qui est ta mère.
Le moyen le plus simple est de chercher les virgules ! Les clauses non-définissantes sont toujours encadrées par des virgules. De plus, essaie de retirer la clause ; si la phrase principale a toujours un sens parfait, c'est une clause non-définissante. Comme dans :
My dog, which is a golden retriever, loves to play.
Tu peux enlever
which is a golden retriever
et ça marche toujours :
My dog loves to play.
Who joue le rôle de sujet (comme he ou she), alors que whom est l'objet (comme him ou her). Dans les propositions formelles où la préposition est placée avant, tu utiliseras toujours whom, par exemple :
the person to whom I spoke.
Apprendre cette structure te permet de communiquer avec plus de précision et de formalité. C'est super important si tu écris des textes académiques, dans un cadre pro, ou si tu veux faire bonne impression ! Par exemple :
the report for which I was responsible.
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Maîtrise l'art du détail : Lieux, Temps et Appartenance
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