Preposition + Relative Pronoun Usage

[RijulN343]

Hi,

I am confused in the usage of preposition + relative pronoun usage.

Eg. The artist constructed the new sculpture and covered it with a protective layer in which he mixed some harmful chemicals.

I am confused with this kind of usage and the rules that work in these cases.



Note: I have created this sentence on my own. It may have error.

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

Putting a preposition before a relative pronoun sounds odd to most of us, because that's not how we use language usually. However, it's not that complicated if we look at it in this way. Take these (correct) examples:

1. I have a bag, which I keep my books in.
2. This is mat, which the cat likes to sleep on.
3. I have a good friend, whom I can rely on.
4. They live in a house, whose roof has solar panels on it.

In examples 1, 2, and 3 we can just move the preposition before the 'which'

1a. I have a bag, in which I keep my books.
2a. This is mat, on which the cat likes to sleep.
3a. I have a good friend, on whom I can rely.

In example 4, putting the preposition before the 'whose' can make the sentence more efficient even though it might sound unfamiliar.

4a. They live in a house, on whose roof are solar panels.