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
who나 which를 쓰는 것을 넘어, in which, to whom과 같은 격식 있는 구조를 자유자재로 구사할 수 있어야 합니다.I am interested in art에서 in은 art라는 목적어를 가집니다. 관계대명사 절 내에서 이 목적어 역할을 하는 명사가 수식 대상(선행사)이 될 때, 전치사는 그 뒤를 따라 관계대명사 앞으로 이동할 수 있습니다.whom의 사용입니다. 현대 영어의 구어체에서는 whom 대신 who를 쓰는 경향이 강하지만, 전치사 바로 뒤에서는 반드시 목적격인 whom을 사용해야 합니다. 이는 우리가 to he라고 하지 않고 to him이라고 하는 것과 같은 원리입니다. 반면 사물을 지칭하는 which는 주격과 목적격의 형태가 같으므로 그대로 사용합니다.내가 살고 있는 집처럼 동사 뒤에 어미를 붙여 명사를 수식하지만, 영어는
The house in which I live처럼 '그 집 안에서(in which)'라는 논리적 관계를 명시적으로 드러냅니다. 즉, 전치사를 앞으로 보냄으로써 수식하는 절이 시작되기도 전에 선행사와 절 내부 동사가 어떤 관계(장소, 도구, 대상 등)를 맺고 있는지 미리 알려주는 '전방 배치(Front-loading)' 효과를 거두게 됩니다.
- 1두 개의 독립된 문장을 생각합니다.
The project was successful.(그 프로젝트는 성공적이었다.)I was working on the project.( 나는 그 프로젝트에 참여하고 있었다.)
- 1공통된 명사를 찾아 관계대명사로 연결합니다 (일반적인 방식).
The project that I was working on was successful.
- 1문장 끝에 홀로 남은 전치사(
on)를 확인합니다.
- 1전치사를 관계대명사 앞으로 이동시킵니다. 이때
that은 사용할 수 없으므로which나whom으로 바꿉니다.
The project on which I was working was successful.
The person who I spoke to... | The person to whom I spoke... |The topic which we agreed on... | The topic on which we agreed... |The firm that she works for... | The firm for which she works... |The means that they escaped by... | The means by which they escaped... |depend on이면 on which, refer to면 to which, deal with면 with which가 되는 식입니다. 한국어 학습자들이 흔히 범하는 실수는 한국어 조사(~에, ~로)에만 의존하여 전치사를 선택하는 것인데, 반드시 영어 동사가 요구하는 특정 전치사를 확인해야 합니다.in which, from which 등을 사용하여 인과관계나 연구 범위를 명확히 규정합니다.The environment within which these cells grow must be sterile.(이 세포들이 자라는 환경은 반드시 멸균 상태여야 한다.)We identified three factors by which the results were influenced.(우리는 결과에 영향을 미친 세 가지 요인을 확인했다.)
The terms under which the agreement was signed are confidential.(합의가 체결된 조건들은 기밀이다.)This is the procedure by which all complaints are handled.(이것은 모든 불만 사항이 처리되는 절차이다.)
I have managed several teams, the members of whom were highly skilled.(저는 구성원들이 매우 숙련된 여러 팀을 관리해 왔습니다.)There are certain values without which our company cannot function.(우리 회사가 제대로 작동하기 위해 없어서는 안 될 특정한 가치들이 있습니다.)
With whom did you go to the PC-bang?이라고 묻는다면 매우 어색하게 들릴 것입니다. 이때는 Who did you go to the PC-bang with?가 훨씬 자연스럽습니다.that 사용하기that은 전치사 바로 뒤에 올 수 없다는 철칙이 있습니다.- Incorrect:
The house in that I live is old. - Correct:
The house in which I live is old. - Why?
that은 전치사와 결합하여 관계절을 이끄는 기능을 하지 못합니다. 반드시which나whom을 써야 합니다.
whom 대신 who 사용하기- Incorrect:
The client to who I sent the email... - Correct:
The client to whom I sent the email... - Tip:
to him이 맞는지to he가 맞는지 생각해보세요.him이 맞으므로whom이 정답입니다.
- Incorrect:
The topic about which we talked about... - Correct:
The topic about which we talked... - Why? 한국어에서도
우리가 대해 이야기한 그 주제에 대해
라고 중복해서 말하지 않는 것과 같습니다. 전치사는 한 번만 이동합니다.
- Incorrect:
The city which I live is beautiful. - Correct:
The city in which I live is beautiful. - Why?
live는 자동사이므로live the city라고 할 수 없습니다. 반드시in the city가 되어야 하므로in이 살아있어야 합니다.
The room I met him in. | 일상 대화, 친근함. 관계대명사 생략 가능. |The room in which I met him. | 격식체, 학술적, 명확한 논리 관계 명시. |The room where I met him. | 장소/시간의 의미가 강할 때 사용. 자연스러운 중급 표현. |in which vs where / whenin which는 where로, on which는 when으로 바꿀 수 있습니다. 하지만 where나 when은 장소나 시간의 개념이 명확할 때만 쓸 수 있는 반면, in which는 추상적인 상황(예: The case in which...)에서도 폭넓게 쓰입니다. 또한 by which, with whom처럼 수단이나 동반자를 나타내는 경우에는 관계부사로 대체가 불가능하므로 반드시 '전치사 + 관계대명사' 구조를 써야 합니다.to whom은 너무 딱딱해 보이는데, 항상 써야 하나요?the person I talked to라고 하는 것이 훨씬 세련되어 보일 수 있습니다. 하지만 대학 과제, 공식적인 비즈니스 제안서, 법적 분쟁 관련 서류 등에서는 to whom을 쓰는 것이 여러분의 전문성을 증명하는 길이 됩니다. 상황(Context)에 따라 선택하세요.look for나 wait for처럼 동사와 전치사가 하나의 의미 단위를 이루는 구동사의 경우, 전치사를 앞으로 보내면 의미가 어색해지는 경우가 많습니다. 예를 들어 The key for which I was looking은 문법적으로는 맞지만 매우 부자연스럽습니다.The key I was looking for라고 하거나, search for와 같은 격식 있는 단일 동사를 사용하여 The key for which I searched라고 표현하는 것이 좋습니다.of which와 whose는 어떻게 다른가요?The building whose roof is red는 The building the roof of which is red로 바꿀 수 있습니다. of which 구조가 훨씬 더 격식 있고 문어체적인 느낌을 줍니다. 다만 사람의 소유를 나타낼 때는 of whom보다는 whose를 쓰는 것이 일반적입니다.in which, to whom, for which)부터 하나씩 익혀보세요. 여러분의 영어가 한층 더 깊이 있고 우아해질 것입니다. 쉽죠? 직접 한 문장 만들어 보세요!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
| 기능 | 비격식 예시 (Informal) | 격식 예시 (Formal) | 사용 맥락 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
사물/아이디어
|
The movie `that` we talked `about` was great.
|
The movie `about which` we talked was great.
|
대학교 강의
|
|
사람
|
She's the professor `who` I sent the email `to`.
|
She's the professor `to whom` I sent the email.
|
비즈니스 이메일
|
|
장소
|
This is the cafe `that` I study `in`.
|
This is the cafe `in which` I study.
|
공식 여행 가이드
|
|
목적
|
This is the goal `that` we're working `towards`.
|
This is the goal `towards which` we are working.
|
비즈니스 보고서
|
|
소유
|
The student `whose` project excelled...
|
The student `whose` project excelled...
|
학술 리뷰 (전치사 불필요)
|
|
시간
|
The day `that` it happened `on` was sunny.
|
The day `on which` it happened was sunny.
|
역사적 기록
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
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)
격식 있는 관계절 흐름도
사물을 위한 구조
- 전치사 + WHICH e.g., in which, for which, about which
- 용도 Objects, ideas, places, abstract concepts
사람을 위한 구조
- 전치사 + WHOM e.g., to whom, with whom, from whom
- 용도 Only for people (objective case)
사용 시기
- 격식 있는 상황 Academic writing, professional emails, legal documents
- 명확성/정밀함 Avoids ambiguity, sounds sophisticated
흔한 실수
- 전치사 뒤 'that' 금지 Not 'in that', but 'in which'
- 전치사 뒤 'who' 금지 Not 'to who', but 'to whom'
격식 vs. 비격식 관계절 비교
올바른 격식 관계절 선택하기
격식 있는 상황(학술, 업무)인가요?
수식하는 명사가 사람인가요?
수식하는 명사가 사물, 아이디어, 장소인가요?
격식 있는 관계절의 주요 전치사
사람용 (`whom`)
- • to whom
- • with whom
- • from whom
- • for whom
- • about whom
사물/아이디어용 (`which`)
- • in which
- • on which
- • for which
- • about which
- • by which
- • to which
- • from which
- • upon which
- • within which
맥락 키워드
- • academic
- • report
- • formal
- • precision
- • legal
수준별 예문
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.
혼동하기 쉬운
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.
자주 하는 실수
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.
문장 패턴
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...
전치사 위치 확인하기
The project on which we are working.
that과 전치사를 섞지 마세요
The environment in which they live.
Whom vs Who: 쉬운 구별법
To whom it may concern.
상황에 맞는 스타일 선택
The person with whom I dined.
관계부사 활용하기
The year when I graduated.
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').
발음
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.
암기하기
기억법
Whom for him/her, Which for it. Move the preposition to the front to make it fit!
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
Write three sentences about your last job using 'in which', 'to whom', and 'for which'.
문화 노트
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.
대화 시작하기
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?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
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
연습 문제
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.
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
다음 문장을 영어로 번역하세요: '이것은 우리가 투쟁하는 명분입니다.'
단어들을 배열하여 문장을 만드세요:
비격식 표현과 그에 맞는 격식 있는 관계절을 연결하세요:
The contract, ___ both parties agreed, contained several new clauses.
This is the hypothesis that the experiment relies on.
어떤 문장 구조가 올바른가요?
영어로 번역하세요: '프로젝트가 개발된 기간은 매우 중요했습니다.'
단어들을 배열하여 문장을 만드세요:
각 전치사에 어울리는 대명사를 연결하세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (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
관련 동영상
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Overview 친구에게 정말 멋진 피자집에 대해 말해주려다가 문장 중간에 막힌 적 있나요? 있잖아요, 거기. 도우 끝에 꿀을 발라주...
문장 줄이기: 축약된 관계절
### Overview 영어를 모국어처럼 구사하고 싶은 B2 레벨의 학습자라면, 문장을 더 간결하고 세련되게 만드는 기술인 '축약된 관...
Whose: 소유를 나타내기
### Overview 영어에서 `whose`는 **소유격 관계대명사(possessive relative pronoun)**로 불리며, 문장 내에서 두 가지 정보를...
축약 관계절: 분사 사용 (명사 후위 수식)
### Overview 영어 학습의 여정에서 C2 레벨, 즉 원어민에 가까운 최상위 수준에 도달한다는 것은 단순히 문법적으로 '틀리지...
