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Whose is it

Posted by Henry on August 23, 2003

In Reply to: The title of which, which title posted by GPP on August 23, 2003

: : : Hi!

: : : A book says only the first sentence is acceptable. I don't know why the second sentence is not acceptable.

: : : The movie The Wizard of Oz, _________ is taken from the book of the same name, has been a children's favorite for years.

: : : a) the title of which
: : : b) which title

: : : Thanks for your help.

: : : Tom

: : I have to admit I don't either, except that b) is a little more formal and fussier-sounding--but maybe I'm missing some fine point of grammar.

: Oh, I think I see--the subject of the sentence is the word "movie", not "The Wizard of Oz"; and "movie" isn't a title. That's why.

You need a possessive adjective.
'The boy, the name of whom is taken from his father...' can be rephrased as 'The boy, whose name is taken from his father...'
Unfortunately, English does not have a possessive adjective for 'which', so 'whose' must make do for both 'of whom' and 'of which'. Thus; The movie The Wizard of Oz, whose title is taken from the book...

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