most of whom · whereby · whoever · whatever · the first person to… · in which case
Building on B2
Relative structures for dense, precise writing
At B2 you shortened relative clauses (the man standing there) and used which for a whole clause. C1 adds structures that pack more information into one sentence.
Quantifier + of whom / which
Talking about part of a group
some / many / most / none / both / all + of whom (people) / of which (things)
I have two brothers, both of whom live abroad.
She wrote ten novels, most of which were bestsellers.
Not both of them in a relative clause: both of whom.
whereby · whose for things
Formal relative words
They introduced a system whereby students can choose their exams.
whereby = by which / through which
It's a city whose history goes back 2,000 years.
whose works for things too.
-ever relatives
whoever · whatever · wherever · whichever
Whoever finishes first wins a prize.
any person who
Take whatever you want.
any thing that
Sit wherever you like.
any place where
Choose whichever colour you prefer.
any one of a limited set
What I need is… (wh-cleft): see Cleft Sentences.
the first to · in which case
Two compact patterns
She was the first woman to win the prize.
the first / last / only + noun + to-infinitive
It may rain, in which case we'll eat inside.
in which case = and if that happens
He started shouting, at which point I left.
Common mistakes
Where learners go wrong most often
I have two sisters, both of them are doctors.
→
I have two sisters, both of whom are doctors.
quantifier + of whom
Sit where you like, any seat.
→
Sit wherever you like.
any place → wherever
She was the first person who win it.
→
She was the first person to win it.
the first + to-infinitive
Who arrives first gets the best seat.
→
Whoever arrives first gets the best seat.
any person who → whoever
Your turn
Answer out loud — full sentences
Use the C1 relative structures.
1
Describe your family or friends using both of whom / most of whom.
2
Tell a friend to choose: Take whichever…, sit wherever…
3
Name someone who was the first person to do something.
4
Make a plan with in which case: We might…, in which case…