16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardWhose for a thing

Standard English Conventions practice question

The lighthouse, ____ lamp was replaced in 2001, is now fully automatic.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. whoseCorrect
  2. B. which
  3. C. of which the
  4. D. that its

Answer: A. whose

"whose" serves as the possessive relative for things as well as people.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. which
"which lamp was replaced" has no possessive link.
C. of which the
"of which the lamp" would need the article before "lamp" in the right place; as written it is garbled.
D. that its
Not standard.

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