divorce

a. She's the woman he divorced.
b. She's the woman who divorced him.
c. She's the woman with whom he got a divorced.
d. She's the woman he divorced from.
e. She's the woman he got a divorce from.

Which are grammatical?

I know (a) works, but it makes it sound like he was the one who wanted the divorce. (b) works but it seems to me to have the opposite implication.

Doesn't (e) sound as if he wanted the divorce managed to convince her to agree to it or managed to get the divorce somehow without her really wanting to divorce him?

The sentences are mine.

Many thanks

a. She's the woman he divorced. He/ her
b. She's the woman who divorced him. She/ him
c. She's the woman with whom he got a divorced. Divorce 'from' someone, not 'with'.
d. She's the woman he divorced. from.
e. She's the woman he got a divorce from. He managed to get divorced from.

I can't see e. with the meaning you suggest. If you want to express the idea that it was difficult for him to get the divorce you could use 'managed to get divorced from'. In England you can divorce after a number of years separation. It might be after seven years.

I agree with Hermione's 'marking'. 👁 Wink ;)


There is now in England legal provision for divorces by mutual consent, so the question of who divorced whom is often no longer a relevant consideration.

You could of course, neatly sidestep the whole issue by saying "She's his ex-wife". 👁 Smile :)