1
   

When to use "whom"

 
 
View Profile Chai
 
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:00 pm
There are quite a few phrases that I know to use the word whom, simply out of habit.

I've never heard an explanation that really made sense to me of when whom should be used instead of who.

Somewhere I remember reading that if you can substitute a person's name instead of whom, you should use it.
That makes no sense whatsoever!

Comments, friends?
 
View Profile SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:37 pm
"Who" is a plaintiff, and "whom" is a defendant.
0 Replies
 
View Profile SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:39 pm
"Who" is coal, while "whom" is diamonds.
0 Replies
 
View Profile Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:40 pm
Substitute the third person singular. If you would normally use he or she, then use who. If you would normally use him or her, then use whom.

Who is subjective, whom is objective. Who does something, whom has something done to it.

To whom it may concern.

(Whom is the object of the conern of the subject "it.")

Who is conerned with this?

(Here, who is the subject which is concerned.)
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:41 pm
Quote:
Q. When do you use whom instead of who?
A. Use who when a nominative pronoun is appropriate, and whom when an objective pronoun is appropriate.
Who is a nominative pronoun (meaning it acts as a subject) and is used:

As the subject of a verb, as in "It was Paul who rescued the dog."
As the complement of a linking verb, as in "They know who you are."
Whom is an objective pronoun (meaning it serves as an object) and is used:

As the object of a verb, as in "Whom did you see?"
As the object of a preposition, as in "That is the group to whom the credit belongs."
Who and whom seem to cause more difficulty than other pronouns. Thus, when in doubt, substitute him and see if that sounds right. If him is OK, then whom is OK. For example: "You talked to whom? You talked to him." It would be incorrect to say "You talked to he," and few native English speakers would make that mistake.


http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/w/who-whom.html
0 Replies
 
View Profile SCoates
 
  1  
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:43 pm
Who is a subject, without any strain (unless countersued).

Whom has some pressure upon it, from prepositions or verbs. (to whom, from whom, of whom, with whom, ate whom).
0 Replies
 
View Profile Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 15 Apr, 2005 02:46 pm
SCoates, one might conclude that your seriousity is lacking . . .

Whom that might be, however, i wouldn't care to say . . .
0 Replies
 
View Profile Chai
 
  1  
Reply Sun 17 Apr, 2005 12:57 pm
Thanks Phoenix32890, now that makes sense! Setanta, you're a help too.
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

Let pupils abandon spelling rules, says academic - Discussion by Robert Gentel
what's the meaning of the sentence? - Question by grace-g
meaning of second paragraph - Question by tanguatlay
Affect vs. Effect. - Discussion by Anonymous
English is a messed up language... - Discussion by Monger
Jumping Jehosaphat - Discussion by Equus
What's Your No. 1 Grammar Pet Peeve? - Discussion by dupre
Why it takes awhile to understand English!! - Discussion by the reincarnation of suzy
present perfect - Discussion by bmo
 
  1. able2know
  2. » When to use "whom"
Copyright © 2009 Horizontal Verticals :: Page generated in 0.35 seconds on 11/27/2009 at 04:22:01 Top End