WHO VS. WHOM

Nidhs · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: WHO VS. WHOM

however many times i do this i still get this wrong. Please explain

This is the man (who / that/whom) I wanted to speak to and whose name I'd forgotten

Marvin wondered whom he should give the message.

Why does the first statement take who and the second take whom.

hemanth28 · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject:

In the fist example "who" is subject...but in second example who is used as object....
For clear understanding go through Manhatten SC under topic "Pronoun Case"

Nidhs · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject:

If who is the subject of the first sentence..then what is I

This is the man (who / that/whom) I wanted to speak to and whose name I'd forgotten

This is the man. I wanted to speak to him( him object...therefore whom)

hemanth28 · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:32 am Post subject:

Hi Nidhs,

I am sorry..i didnt think while replying.I blindly went with the answer you gave.
I think in the first case also it should be "whom".

"I wanted to speak to" is the dependent clause and as you rightly pointed out I is the subject and speak is the verb acting on object "man".
So i guess the pronoun refering to it should be objective.

So i IMO "whom" should be used instead of who in first case also.

Could someone let me know,i am wrong again Sad

Now i am also confused Sad

Stuart Kovinsky · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:09 am Post subject:

Both of them should be "whom".

This is the man to whom I wanted to speak...

Marvin wondered to whom he should give the message...

We use "whom" when we're referring to the object of the sentence.

We use "who" when we're referring to the subject.

There's a very simple test you can use to figure out which version to use:

Turn the statement into a question and answer it with a pronoun.

For example:

skr172 · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

Why isnt "This is the man that i wanted to speak to." correct? Is it becoz of the "...and whose name.."?

boston_mba · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject:

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for explanation.

Quick follow-up though.

In the sentence,

I really hate the guy who stole my girlfriend.

why is it wrong to ask:

who do I hate? I hate HIM

I think it's because the "who" is the subject of the subordinate clause - right?

However, the point that confuses me is - isn't the same "who" also the object of another clause (I hate HIM).

Sigh - why do people mix clauses Smile

?

Stuart Kovinsky · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject:

boston_mba · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:36 am Post subject:

Hi Stuart,

Let me repeat to be sure I understand. You believe that the sentence shoudl read -

I really hate the guy whom stole my girlfriend.

?

JorgeStevenson · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject:

No, I think he's referring to the question you formed: "Who do I hate? I hate him".

It's incorrect to say "Who do I hate" in the first place, so your example question doesn't really make sense. In the sentence "Who do I hate", I is the subject, because I am the one hating (i.e. the verb belongs to I). "Who" could therefore not be the subject, and therefore it should be "whom".

As for why the question "who do I hate?" is not a legitimate application of the rule this guy is introducing, in the sentence he presented ("I really hate the guy who stole my girlfriend")...he's saying you should consider the dependent clause as a separate entity entirely from the rest of the sentence. Then, ask a question based solely on the information in this clause.

Hope that helps buddy. Good luck on the test.

boston_mba · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

Got it Jorge.

Thank you. And yes, I'll need that luck on the test!

yalephd2007 · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

I have the same confusion. Thanks.

netigen · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:26 am Post subject: Who/ Whom?

Rule for Who/ Whom, works in most of the cases

You can tell when ‘who’ is more appropriate, and when ’whom’ is more
appropriate by changing the adjective clause into a free running sentence. If
the free running sentence contains he, she or they – use who

e.g.: He had none of the appearance of a man who sailed before the mast.
(He sailed before the mast)
If the free running sentence contains him, her or them – use whom
e.g.: A man stepped in on whom I had never set my eyes before.
(I have never set my eyes on him before)
e.g.: Who are you going to marry? I am going to marry ‘he/she’. (Wrong)
Whom are you going to marry? I am going to marry ‘him/her’. (Correct)