Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In modern English, it is perfectly natural and often preferred to place a preposition at the very end of a sentence or question.
- Use it in questions: 'Who are you talking to?' instead of 'To whom are you talking?'
- Use it in relative clauses: 'The person I work with' is more natural than 'The person with whom I work.'
- Keep it for phrasal verbs: 'What are you looking for?' cannot be changed to 'For what are you looking?'
Overview
To whom are you speaking? なんて言ったら、19世紀の亡霊みたいに聞こえちゃうよ。Who are you talking to? と言えば、普通の人間らしく聞こえる。これを「preposition stranding（前置詞の残留）」と呼ぶんだ。これが、自然でリラックスした響きにするための秘密だよ。ネイティブスピーカーは、ほぼすべての会話でこれを使っている。テキストメッセージやゲーム、友達と遊ぶときには完璧だね。文法警察に脅かされて使わないなんてことのないようにね。あのウィンストン・チャーチルでさえ、「文末に前置詞はダメ」というルールがいかに馬鹿げているか冗談を言っていたくらいだ。彼はそのルールのことを up with which I will not put （我慢ならないルールだ）と言ったとされているよ。どれだけぎこちなく聞こえるかわかるでしょ？前置詞を後ろに残すバージョン（stranded version）を使い続けよう。その方が脳にとっても処理しやすいからね。How This Grammar Works
to、with、for、at のような前置詞は、通常名詞の前に置かれます。フォーマルな書き言葉では、それらはその位置にとどまる。でもカジュアルな英語では、その名詞を前に移動させるんだ。そして前置詞を一番後ろに「取り残された（stranded）」状態にする。これは主に4つの特定の状況で起こるよ。第一に、Wh- 疑問文。第二に、that や who を使った関係詞節。第三に、受動態の文。最後に、不定詞句の中だね。複雑に聞こえるかもしれないけど、たぶん君はもうやっているはずだよ。What are you looking at? という質問を考えてみて。at という単語が最後に残されているよね。後ろに続く名詞とはつながっていない。この構造にすることで、最も重要な情報を最初に持ってくることができるんだ。そうすると、文のバランスが良くなって、パンチが効いた感じになる。冗談のオチを最後に持ってくるようなものかな。ただし、前置詞は冗談じゃなくてアンカー（錨）の役割を果たしているんだけどね。まあ、前置詞についての冗談を言っているなら話は別だけど。その場合は、続けてどうぞ。
Formation Pattern
wait for。
Who や What のような疑問詞を使ってね。
Who are you waiting for? で試してみよう。for が最後にちょこんと座っているのがわかる？友達である名詞が前に移動しちゃったから、それを待っているんだね。関係詞節では、関係代名詞を省略することさえできるよ。The movie that I was talking about は The movie I was talking about になる。効率的で速いよね。ちゃんと機能している時の5G回線みたいにね。
When To Use It
This is the view I’ve been dreaming of!（これが夢にまで見た景色だ！）」。「This is the view of which I have been dreaming」と言うよりずっといい響きでしょ。前者は旅行者みたいだけど、後者は教科書みたいだ。教科書になっちゃダメだよ。
Common Mistakes
To who are you talking to? なんていうのが典型的な間違い。場所は一つに決めて、そこにとどまろう！もう一つの間違いは、動詞に対して間違った前置詞を選んでしまうこと。前置詞はまだ動詞とつながっていることを忘れないで。動詞が depend on なら、文末の前置詞は on でなければならない。Who does it depend of? は間違いだよ。動詞が前置詞を必要としない場合は、使っちゃダメだ。Where are you? の最後に at を付ける人もいる。Where are you at? は一部の方言では一般的だけど、多くの場合は余計だね。シンプルにいこう。あと、句動詞にも気をつけて。give up や break down のような言葉は、実際には stranding ではないんだ。それらは単に動詞の一部だからね。もし What did you give up? の up を落としたら、意味が完全に変わってしまう。自分の 'up' をなくさないでね！Contrast With Similar Patterns
With whom did you go? はFront-shiftingされている。前置詞が代名詞と一緒に前に移動しているね。Who did you go with? はstranded（残留）だ。Front-shiftingは who の代わりに必ず whom を必要とする。カフェで whom なんて使う人はいないよ。無視されたいなら別だけど。Strandingは who、what、which、where で使える。関係代名詞の that でも使えるよ。of that I was thinking とは決して言えない。that I was thinking of と言わなきゃいけないんだ。この点で、Strandingはその堅苦しい相棒（Front-shifting）よりも柔軟なんだ。窮屈なスーツと着心地の良いパーカーを比べるようなものだね。どちらにも出番はあるけど、パーカーを着ることの方がずっと多いはず。ロイヤルウェディングに出席するのでなければね。その場合は、スーツと whom を探した方がいいかも。Quick FAQ
面接でこれを使っても本当に大丈夫？
もちろん！その方が自然で話しやすい人だと思われるよ。
どんな前置詞でも文末に残していいの？
ほとんどは大丈夫。To、for、with、at、from、about が最も一般的だね。
during や since はどう？
それらが文末に残されることはめったにないね。Which hour was it during? はとても奇妙に聞こえる。普通に使おう。
Strandingの時は whom を使う必要がある？
いや！who を使って。Who are you looking for? が標準だよ。
これはアメリカ英語だけ？
ううん。イギリス人、オーストラリア人、カナダ人も使うよ。これは世界的な英語の習慣なんだ。
3. Question Structure with Stranded Prepositions
| Question Word | Auxiliary | Subject | Verb | Preposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Who
|
are
|
you
|
talking
|
to?
|
|
What
|
is
|
she
|
looking
|
at?
|
|
Where
|
did
|
they
|
come
|
from?
|
|
Which
|
do
|
you
|
agree
|
with?
|
|
Who
|
have
|
you
|
worked
|
for?
|
Common Conversational Short Forms
| Full Question | Short Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
|
Who are you with?
|
Who with?
|
Casual texting
|
|
What is it for?
|
What for?
|
Asking for a reason
|
|
Where are you from?
|
Where from?
|
Quick inquiry
|
Meanings
The practice of leaving a preposition at the end of a clause or sentence when its object (the noun it relates to) has moved to the beginning.
Interrogative Stranding
Placing the preposition at the end of a question starting with 'Who', 'What', 'Which', or 'Where'.
“Who are you going with?”
“What is this for?”
Relative Clause Stranding
Placing the preposition at the end of a relative clause, especially when using 'that' or omitting the relative pronoun entirely.
“This is the book I was talking about.”
“She is the friend that I traveled with.”
Passive Voice Stranding
When a verb + preposition combination is turned into the passive voice, the preposition remains attached to the verb at the end.
“He likes to be listened to.”
“The bed hasn't been slept in.”
Infinitive Stranding
Using a preposition at the end of an infinitive phrase (to + verb).
“I need a chair to sit on.”
“She has no one to talk to.”
Reference Table
| 状況 | 自然な例 | フォーマルな言い換え | なぜ機能するのか |
|---|---|---|---|
|
質問
|
Who are you talking to?
|
To whom are you talking?
|
前置詞の目的語（'who'）が文頭に移動したため。
|
|
関係節
|
That's the project I'm working on.
|
That's the project on which I'm working.
|
目的語（'project'）が省略されているか、文頭に移動したため。
|
|
受動態
|
The problem needs to be dealt with.
|
The problem requires dealing.
|
前置詞が受動態の句動詞の一部であるため。
|
|
句動詞
|
What did you come up with?
|
What did you devise?
|
前置詞が動詞の意味に不可欠なため。
|
|
日常会話
|
This is the app I was looking for.
|
This is the app for which I was looking.
|
より自然で堅苦しくない響きになるため。
|
|
カジュアルなチャット
|
Which movie are you thinking about?
|
About which movie are you thinking?
|
カジュアルな会話や文章で一般的であるため。
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
To whom were you speaking? (Social interaction)
Who were you speaking to? (Social interaction)
Who were you talking to? (Social interaction)
Who you talkin' to? (Social interaction)
文末に前置詞が来る場合
一般的なシナリオ
- 質問 Who are you waiting for?
- 関係節 That's the book I was talking about.
- 受動態 The issue was dealt with.
- 句動詞 What did you come up with?
なぜそうなるのか
- 目的語の移動 The object of the preposition moves to the sentence start.
- 句動詞 Preposition is integral to the verb's meaning.
- 自然な流れ Avoids awkward, overly formal phrasing.
避けるべき時（フォーマル）
- 学術論文 Formal reports, papers.
- 法律文書 Official, precise language.
- 特定のフォーマルな句 To whom, about which.
インフォーマル vs. フォーマルな前置詞の配置
文末に前置詞を置くべきか？
非常にフォーマルな文脈ですか（学術論文、法律文書など）？
前置詞は句動詞の一部ですか（例：「look for」、「deal with」）？
その文章は、前置詞の目的語が文頭に移動した疑問文または関係節ですか？
文末の前置詞：クイックチェック
よくある質問
- • Who with?
- • What about?
- • Which one for?
- • Where from?
句動詞
- • Look for
- • Talk about
- • Deal with
- • Come up with
関係節
- • The person I spoke to.
- • The thing I dreamt about.
- • The job I applied for.
受動態
- • He was looked after.
- • It's been waited for.
- • The matter was decided on.
レベル別の例文
Where are you from?
Who are you with?
What are you looking at?
Who is she talking to?
What are you waiting for?
Which house do you live in?
Who did you go to the party with?
This is the movie I told you about.
That's the guy I was arguing with.
I found the keys I was looking for.
Which company did you apply to?
He is someone you can rely on.
The results were exactly what we had hoped for.
It’s a difficult situation to deal with.
Who was the contract signed by?
The children need someone to look after them.
The sheer number of variables we had to account for was staggering.
He is a man whom I have the greatest respect for.
This is the kind of nonsense I will not put up with.
The city has many hidden gems to marvel at.
The metaphysical implications are what the author is primarily concerned with.
It is a principle that the entire legal system is based upon.
Such are the tribulations that a modern democracy must contend with.
The very ground they stood on seemed to shift.
間違えやすい
Learners often confuse a simple preposition with the particle of a phrasal verb.
Learners think they must use 'whom' if there is a preposition involved.
よくある間違い
Where you from?
Where are you from?
Who you with?
Who are you with?
What you look at?
What are you looking at?
I from Japan.
I am from Japan.
Who are you waiting?
Who are you waiting for?
What are you listening?
What are you listening to?
The book I told you.
The book I told you about.
To who are you talking to?
Who are you talking to?
The man who I work.
The man who I work with.
Which room do you sleep?
Which room do you sleep in?
To whom are you looking for?
Who are you looking for?
文型パターン
Who are you ___ with?
That is the ___ I was telling you about.
What are you so ___ about?
Real World Usage
Who are you with?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
What does this come with?
This is a theory that many scholars agree with.
What can I help you with?
What are you looking for in a partner?
自然さを大切に
場面に合わせて使い分けよう
句動詞と相性ばっちり
古いルールは気にしない
Smart Tips
Just use 'Who' and put the preposition at the end. It's safe, modern, and professional.
Always put the preposition at the end. 'That' cannot follow a preposition.
Drop the relative pronoun ('who' or 'that') entirely and keep the preposition at the end.
Never try to move the particle to the front; it will break the verb's meaning.
発音
Preposition Stress
When a preposition is at the end of a sentence, it is usually unstressed and 'weak'. However, if you want to emphasize it, you can stress it.
Rising-Falling
Who are you with? ↘
A standard, neutral information-seeking question.
暗記しよう
記憶術
The preposition is like a 'tail'—it's natural for it to wag at the end of the sentence dog.
視覚的連想
Imagine a fishing hook at the end of a sentence. The preposition is the hook that catches the object at the very beginning of the sentence.
Rhyme
If a question you must send, put the 'with' or 'to' at the end.
Story
A traveler named 'Who' went on a journey. He always left his bags ('with', 'for', 'from') at the hotel (the end of the sentence) while he went to explore the city (the beginning of the sentence).
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write 5 questions you would ask your favorite celebrity, ensuring every single one ends with a preposition (e.g., 'Who do you look up to?').
文化メモ
Some older teachers or very formal institutions still cling to the 'never end with a preposition' rule, despite it being linguistically debunked.
Americans are generally very comfortable with stranded prepositions in almost all contexts, including business.
While common, some high-level British RP (Received Pronunciation) speakers might use fronted prepositions to sound more 'proper' or 'upper-class'.
Preposition stranding is a native feature of Old English and other Germanic languages like Old Norse.
会話のきっかけ
Who is the person you look up to most?
What kind of music are you into lately?
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go to?
What is a problem you've recently dealt with?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
Which movie are you talking ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Whom did you go to the concert with?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesWho are you waiting ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
To whom are you talking?
Select the natural-sounding sentence.
you / looking / what / at / are / ?
¿Con quién estás?
Listen, Wait, Look, Talk
The man / I / work / with
It is grammatically incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition in modern English.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThat's the problem we need to deal ___.
正しい文章を選びましょう。
This is the person to whom I spoke with.
Translate into English: 'Com quem você está saindo?'
単語を並べ替えて文章を作りましょう。
インフォーマルな質問を、そのフォーマルな言い換えと一致させましょう。
The meeting was cancelled. I don't know why, but it was decided ___.
正しい文章を選びましょう。
The project with which I am involved is very complex.
Translate into English: 'Isso é algo em que você pode confiar.'
単語を並べ替えて疑問文を作りましょう。
動詞を、よく文末に来る前置詞と一致させましょう。
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
Yes, absolutely! It is a natural part of English. The 'rule' against it was made up in the 1600s to make English more like Latin, but it doesn't fit how English actually works.
In extremely formal documents, like a legal contract or a very traditional academic paper, you might choose to 'front' the preposition (e.g., 'The person to whom...'). However, even then, if it sounds awkward, stranding is fine.
It's the linguistic term for leaving a preposition at the end of a clause when its object has moved to the front, like in 'Who are you with?'.
It's grammatically possible but sounds very strange. It's a 'register clash'—'whom' is very formal, but stranding is more informal. Stick to 'Who... to' or 'To whom...'.
Phrasal verbs *must* keep their particles. You can't move the 'up' in 'What did you give up?' to the front. 'Up what did you give?' is nonsense.
Most common ones like 'to', 'for', 'with', 'at', and 'from' are frequently stranded. Longer prepositions like 'concerning' or 'despite' are rarely stranded because they sound awkward at the end.
It's a 'zombie rule'—a rule that is dead but still haunts classrooms. Many people were taught this in school by teachers who were following outdated textbooks.
Technically no, but more than two usually sounds confusing. For example: 'What did you bring that book I don't like being read to out of up for?' is a famous (but silly) example of too many.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Preposition + Relative Pronoun
The preposition must always precede the pronoun in Spanish.
Preposition + Qui/Lequel
Ending a sentence with 'à' or 'de' is grammatically impossible in French.
Da-compounds or fronting
German uses 'W-compounds' for questions (e.g., Womit) rather than stranding.
Postpositions
Japanese particles are always attached to the noun they modify.
Resumptive Pronouns
Arabic requires a pronoun to 'fill the gap' left by the moved object.
Pre-verbal prepositional phrases
Word order is strictly Preposition + Object + Verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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Grammar rules for prepositions | Common English Grammar Mistakes
WOW English
English Grammar Lesson (Confusing Prepositions)
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