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Would anyone please tell me simply when/ in which situation the followings are the same and interchangeable? and when they are not?

- of which
- whose

Thanks in advance

2 Answers 2

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You cannot use "of which" to precede the object of possession. So they're not interchangeable synctactically. Also to ask about possesion you must use whose, see Maulik V answer.

It was a war the effect of which still continues.
It was a war whose effect still continues.

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  • What is wrong with the war of which the effect still continues? The reason your "wrong" sentence is wrong is because you left out the article, if you leave out the article in your first sentence, it is as wrong. That has nothing to do with the position of of which.
    – oerkelens
    Aug 18, 2014 at 6:50
  • I've never heard something like "of which the effect" so it sounded so strange to me, but after searching, I'm certainly wrong. Editing... Aug 19, 2014 at 0:50
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In the following sentences, they are the same (first concern of yours)

'Of which' serves as a relative clause. And, a comma would make sentence clear. In below mentioned sentence, since the phrase serves as 'relative clause', I'll be needing an article to introduce door.

It's the house whose door is painted red = It's the house, of which a/the door is painted red.

In the following sentences, they are not the same (second concern of yours)

Whose house is that? cannot be written like this Of which house is that?

Further reading is here.

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