Prepositions in Relative Clauses

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral
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Meaning: Where to place prepositions with relative pronouns

关系代词中介词的位置
Dónde colocar las 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

In relative clauses, prepositions can go before the relative pronoun (formal) or at the end of the clause (informal). 'The person to whom I spoke' (formal) = 'The person who I spoke to' (informal). You can't use 'that' after a preposition.

在关系从句中,介词可以放在关系代词前(正式)或从句末尾(非正式)。'The person to whom I spoke'(正式)= 'The person who I spoke to'(非正式)。介词后不能用'that'。
En cláusulas relativas, las preposiciones pueden ir antes del pronombre relativo (formal) o al final de la cláusula (informal). 'The person to whom I spoke' (formal) = 'The person who I spoke to' (informal). No se puede usar 'that' después de una preposición.
関係節では、前置詞は関係代名詞の前(フォーマル)または節の最後(カジュアル)に置けます。「The person to whom I spoke」(フォーマル)=「The person who I spoke to」(カジュアル)。前置詞の後に「that」は使えません。
관계절에서 전치사는 관계대명사 앞에 놓거나(격식체) 절의 끝에 놓을 수 있습니다(비격식체). 'The person to whom I spoke' (격식체) = 'The person who I spoke to' (비격식체). 전치사 뒤에는 'that'을 쓸 수 없습니다.

Examples

  1. The company for which I work is expanding.' (formal)
    我工作的公司正在扩张。'(正式)
    La empresa para la cual trabajo está expandiéndose.' (formal)
    私が勤めている会社は拡大しています。'(フォーマル)
    내가 근무하는 회사가 확장하고 있다. (격식체)
  2. The company I work for is expanding.' (informal)
    我工作的公司正在扩张。'(非正式)
    La empresa para la que trabajo está expandiéndose.' (informal)
    私が働いている会社は拡大しています。'(カジュアル)
    내가 다니는 회사가 확장하고 있다. (비격식체)
  3. This is the book about which I told you.' (formal)
    这是我告诉你的那本书。'(正式)
    Este es el libro sobre el cual te hablé.' (formal)
    これは私があなたに話した本です。'(フォーマル)
    이것은 내가 당신에게 말했던 책이다. (격식체)
  4. This is the book I told you about.' (informal)
    这是我告诉你的那本书。'(非正式)
    Este es el libro del que te hablé.' (informal)
    これは私が話した本です。'(カジュアル)
    이것은 내가 말했던 그 책이다. (비격식체)

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, formal, informal

Tone: precise

✓ Do Say

  • The person I was talking to has left. (informal)
    我正在交谈的那个人已经离开了。(非正式)
    La persona con la que estaba hablando se ha ido. (informal)
    話していた人は帰りました。(カジュアル)
    내가 이야기하던 사람이 떠났다. (비격식체)
  • The person to whom I was talking has left. (formal)
    我正在与之交谈的那个人已经离开了。(正式)
    La persona con quien estaba hablando se ha ido. (formal)
    話していた人は帰りました。(フォーマル)
    내가 이야기를 나누던 그 분이 떠나셨다. (격식체)
  • That's the reason for which I called. (formal)
    那就是我打电话的原因。(正式)
    Esa es la razón por la cual llamé. (formal)
    それが私が電話した理由です。(フォーマル)
    그것이 내가 전화한 이유입니다. (격식체)
  • That's the reason I called. (informal)
    那就是我打电话的原因。(非正式)
    Esa es la razón por la que llamé. (informal)
    それが電話した理由です。(カジュアル)
    그것이 내가 전화한 이유야. (비격식체)
  • The company for which I work.
    我工作的那家公司。
    La empresa para la cual trabajo.
    私が働いている会社。
    내가 일하는 그 회사.
  • The person to whom I spoke.
    我交谈过的那个人。
    La persona con quien hablé.
    私が話した相手。
    내가 이야기한 그 사람.

✗ Don't Say

  • The company for that I work. (can't use 'that' after preposition)
    The company for that I work.(介词后不能用'that')
    The company for that I work. (no se puede usar 'that' después de preposición)
    The company for that I work.(前置詞の後に「that」不可)
    The company for that I work.(전치사 뒤에 'that' 사용 불가)
  • The person to that I spoke. (use 'whom')
    The person to that I spoke.(用'whom')
    The person to that I spoke. (usar 'whom')
    The person to that I spoke.(「whom」を使う)
    The person to that I spoke.('whom'을 사용)

Origin & History

Relative clause preposition placement

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

More From This Topic

what (relative) ★★★★★ Using 'what' to mean 'the thing(s) that' Defining vs Non-defining Clauses ★★★★☆ Essential vs extra information about nouns whose / where / when ★★★★☆ Relative pronouns for possession, place, and time which (referring to whole clause) ★★★★☆ Using which to refer to an entire statement Non-defining Relative Clauses ★★★★☆ Extra, removable information about a noun whose (possession in relatives) ★★★★☆ Relative pronoun for possession
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