Which or In which

[Freeguy]

Hey,
I have trouble understanding the difference between WHICH and IN WHICH. When we can use WHICH and when we can use IN WHICH in relative clauses. Can you elaborate on with practical examples?

Thanks in advance

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forums, Freeguy.:-D

Only use 'in which' when you have a reason to.

'This is the car which I bought.' ('in which' makes no sense).

'This is the car in which I go to work' means 'This is the car which I go to work in' (omitting 'in' from either sentence wouldn't make sense).

To read more answers to your question, enter your excellent thread title in the Google Custom Search box near the top of the page.

Rover

 

[Raymott]

Note that this includes all prepositions that apply to 'which', such as 'on which', 'to which', 'according to which'....
You can use any preposition that makes sense.
"This is the lake [which] he runs around." = "This is the lake around which he runs."

 

[Freeguy]

I'm convinced now. Put it other way round. What's the difference between IN WHICH and WHEREBY. Are they synonymous?
Thanks a million

 

[MikeNewYork]

I'm convinced now. Put it other way round. What's the difference between IN WHICH and WHEREBY. Are they synonymous?
Thanks a million

"Whereby" has the meaning of "by which" or "through which".

 

[Raymott]

"Whereby" has the meaning of "by which" or "through which".

They can sometimes be used in similar places.
"This is the way in which I get top marks."; "This is the way whereby I get top marks".
Here, "in this way" means close enough to "by this way". However it would be dangerous to generalise this. For example "by this technique" can't be changed to "in this technique. Hence, "This is the technique by which I get top marks" is right, but "This is the technique in which I get top marks" is wrong.
In any case, "whereby" isn't such a commonly used word.

 

[MikeNewYork]

They can sometimes be used in similar places.
This is the way in which I get top marks."; "This is the way whereby I get top marks".
Here, "in this way" means close enough to "by this way". However it would be dangerous to generalise this. For example "by this technique" can't be changed to "in this technique. Hence, "This is the technique by which I get top marks" is right, but "This is the technique in which I get top marks" is wrong.
In any case, "whereby" isn't such a commonly used word.

Yes, I agree. In some situations "in which" can be used for "by which".

 

[Freeguy]

In some cultures, marriage is an official process _______________ a man and a woman agree to spend the rest of their lives together.
1- in which2- by which3- whereby

I'm discombobulated in this question !!!!

 

[bhaisahab]

In some cultures, marriage is an official process _______________ a man and a woman agree to spend the rest of their lives together.
1- in which2- by which3- whereby

I'm discombobulated in this question !!!!

They are all possible.

 

[Raymott]

In some cultures, marriage is an official process _______________ a man and a woman agree to spend the rest of their lives together.
1- in which2- by which3- whereby

I'm discombobulated by this question !!!!

You've read the thread, and come up with a sentence in which any of the answers could be used. What's the confusion?

 

[Freeguy]

The only correct ones here would be WHEREBY and in which. According to one Toefl related book. That's why I can't recognize the reason that why BY WHICH is wrong here.

 

[bhaisahab]

The only correct ones here would be WHEREBY and in which. According to one Toefl related book. That's why I can't recognize the reason that why BY WHICH is wrong here.

"In some cultures, marriage is an official process _______________ a man and a woman agree to spend the rest of their lives together."

"by which" would not be wrong in that sentence.