How do you use "Prepositions in Relative Clauses" in a sentence?

The company for which she works is expanding.' (formal) The company which she works for is expanding.' (informal) Is this the book you were looking for? The person I was talking to left.

Prepositions in Relative Clauses

Q: What does "Prepositions in Relative Clauses" mean?

Where to place prepositions with relative pronouns Prepositions can go before the relative pronoun (formal) or at the end (informal): 'the person to whom I spoke' (formal) vs 'the person who I spoke to' (informal). End position is more natural in speech.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: Where to place prepositions with relative pronouns

关系代词中介词的放置位置

Dónde colocar preposiciones con pronombres relativos

関係代名詞と一緒に前置詞をどこに置くか

관계대명사와 함께 전치사를 어디에 놓을 것인가

Prepositions can go before the relative pronoun (formal) or at the end (informal): 'the person to whom I spoke' (formal) vs 'the person who I spoke to' (informal). End position is more natural in speech.

介词可以放在关系代词前面（正式）或放在句末（非正式）：'the person to whom I spoke'（正式）vs 'the person who I spoke to'（非正式）。句末位置在口语中更自然。

Las preposiciones pueden ir antes del pronombre relativo (formal) o al final (informal): 'the person to whom I spoke' (formal) vs 'the person who I spoke to' (informal). La posición final es más natural en el habla.

前置詞は関係代名詞の前（フォーマル）または文末（カジュアル）に置けます：「the person to whom I spoke」（フォーマル）vs「the person who I spoke to」（カジュアル）。文末の位置は話し言葉でより自然です。

전치사는 관계대명사 앞에 놓거나(격식체) 끝에 놓을 수 있습니다(비격식체): 'the person to whom I spoke' (격식체) vs 'the person who I spoke to' (비격식체). 끝 위치가 회화에서 더 자연스럽습니다.

Examples

The company for which she works is expanding.' (formal)
她工作的公司正在扩张。'（正式）
La empresa para la cual trabaja se está expandiendo.' (formal)
彼女が働いている会社は拡大しています。'（フォーマル）
그녀가 일하는 회사가 확장하고 있습니다. (격식체)
The company which she works for is expanding.' (informal)
她工作的公司正在扩张。'（非正式）
La empresa para la que trabaja se está expandiendo.' (informal)
彼女が働いている会社は拡大しています。'（カジュアル）
그녀가 일하는 회사가 확장하고 있습니다. (비격식체)
Is this the book you were looking for?
这是你在找的书吗？
¿Es este el libro que buscabas?
これがあなたが探していた本ですか？
이것이 당신이 찾고 있던 책인가요?
The person I was talking to left.
我正在和他说话的那个人离开了。
La persona con la que estaba hablando se fue.
私が話していた人は去りました。
내가 이야기하고 있던 사람이 떠났습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

The film I told you about is on TV.
我告诉你的那部电影在电视上播放。
La película de la que te hablé está en la tele.
私が話した映画がテレビでやっています。
제가 말했던 영화가 TV에 나옵니다.
That's the chair I was sitting on.
那是我刚才坐的椅子。
Esa es la silla en la que estaba sentado.
あれが私が座っていた椅子です。
그것이 제가 앉아있던 의자입니다.
Who were you talking to?
你在和谁说话？
¿Con quién estabas hablando?
誰と話していたの？
누구와 이야기하고 있었나요?

✗ Don't Say

The film about which I told you... (overly formal in speech)
The film about which I told you...（口语中过于正式）
The film about which I told you... (demasiado formal para hablar)
The film about which I told you...（話し言葉では堅すぎる）
The film about which I told you... (회화에서 지나치게 격식적입니다)
That's the chair on which I sat. (too formal for casual)
That's the chair on which I sat.（日常会话太正式）
That's the chair on which I sat. (muy formal para casual)
That's the chair on which I sat.（カジュアルには堅すぎる）
That's the chair on which I sat. (일상 대화에는 너무 격식적입니다)

Origin & History

Preposition stranding vs pied-piping

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal