which took him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which took him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that required someone's time or effort, often in a narrative context. Example: "He embarked on a journey which took him across several countries and through various cultures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He faked insanity which took him to a hospital.

The New Yorker

Officer Marcano then is shown happening upon an ambulance, which took him to a local hospital.

The New York Times

Jonson embarked on a walking tour in 1618 19, which took him to Scotland.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Also in 1949, he was awarded the Octavia travelling scholarship, which took him to Rome.

The Guardian - Music

His father was employed by a pharmaceutical company, which took him all over Japan.

The New Yorker

In 1961, he was granted a travelling scholarship, which took him to Europe.

The Guardian - Music

"Sick" is an account of the author's listening tour, which took him across the country.

The New York Times - Books

That may explain his caution in creeping to his fifty, which took him 60 balls.

The Guardian - Sport

Martin Scorsese's pet project, which took him decades to get made, is worth the wait.

The New York Times

He founded Hamos and Company, which took him all over the world.

The New York Times

Mr. Clelland's first serious project was a 1961 Chrysler 300G convertible, which took him five years to restore.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which took him" to smoothly introduce a consequence or destination resulting from a prior action or event in your narrative. Ensure the antecedent of 'which' is clear to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using 'that took him' when 'which took him' is appropriate. 'Which' introduces nonrestrictive clauses that provide additional, non-essential information, while 'that' introduces restrictive clauses essential to the sentence's meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which took him" functions as a relative clause, adding extra information about a noun or pronoun. Ludwig AI shows it often describes the duration, effort, or means by which someone reached a destination, state, or completed an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

18%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which took him" is a versatile relative clause commonly used to provide supplementary details about how someone arrived at a particular destination, state, or outcome. Ludwig AI analysis reveals it frequently appears in news articles, encyclopedias, and wiki sources, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, be mindful of the subtle differences between "which" and "that" when introducing the clause. Consider alternatives like "that led him" or "that brought him" to vary your writing. Ludwig confirms its correctness and broad applicability across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that brought him

Replaces "took" with "brought", emphasizing the result of being led to a place or situation.

that led him

Substitutes "took" with "led", focusing on guidance or direction.

which guided him

Replaces "took" with "guided", highlighting direction and assistance.

that conveyed him

Uses "conveyed" instead of "took", suggesting a means of transportation or transmission.

which transported him

Replaces "took" with "transported", emphasizing physical movement.

that carried him

Uses "carried" instead of "took", which focuses on supporting and moving someone.

that moved him

Replaces "took" with "moved", emphasizing a change in location or circumstance.

which steered him

Uses "steered" instead of "took", implying controlled direction.

that directed him

Replaces "took" with "directed", focusing on providing instructions or guidance.

which propelled him

Uses "propelled" instead of "took", suggesting a forceful push or drive forward.

FAQs

How can I use "which took him" in a sentence?

Use "which took him" to add extra information about a journey, a process, or an event that led someone to a specific place, situation, or outcome. For example, "He embarked on a walking tour, "which took him" to Scotland."

What are some alternatives to "which took him"?

You can use alternatives like "that led him", "that brought him", or "that conveyed him" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that took him" instead of "which took him"?

While both can be used, "which took him" is generally preferred when the clause is nonrestrictive (i.e., it adds extra information but is not essential to the sentence's meaning). "That took him" is used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the sentence's meaning.

What's the difference between "which took him" and "that brought him"?

"Which took him" emphasizes the route or process involved in getting somewhere, while "that brought him" focuses more on the result or destination achieved.