WHO VS. WHOM

Expert replies

Nidhs: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 69; Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 7:12 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 3 times

by Nidhs » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:16 pm

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.

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:16 pm

hemanth28: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 157; Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:05 am; Thanked: 9 times; GMAT Score:680

by hemanth28 » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:45 pm

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"

GMAT First take :- 680
Getting the guns ready for second shot !!!
https://beatenbygmat.blocked

Like this post

Nidhs: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 69; Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 7:12 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 3 times

by Nidhs » Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:38 pm

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)

Like this post

hemanth28: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 157; Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:05 am; Thanked: 9 times; GMAT Score:680

by hemanth28 » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:32 am

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

Now i am also confused

GMAT First take :- 680
Getting the guns ready for second shot !!!
https://beatenbygmat.blocked

Like this post

Stuart@KaplanGMAT: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3225; Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members; Location: Toronto; Thanked: 1710 times; GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:09 am

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:

This is the man to whom I wanted to speak.

To whom did I want to speak? I wanted to speak to HIM.

I really hate the guy who stole my girlfriend.

Who stole my girlfriend? HE did.

If you answer the question with him/her/them, then "whom" is the right choice.

If you answer the question with he/she/they, then "who" is the right choice.

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course

Like this post

skr172: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 12; Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:00 pm; Thanked: 4 times

by skr172 » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:07 pm

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

Like this post

boston_mba: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 10; Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:13 pm

by boston_mba » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:49 pm

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

Like this post

Stuart@KaplanGMAT: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3225; Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members; Location: Toronto; Thanked: 1710 times; GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:16 pm

boston_mba wrote: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 ?

"Who" is wrong in that example. "I" is the subject (since I'm doing the hating), so the person you hate is the object and we need to use "whom" if we want to use a pronoun.

Like this post

boston_mba: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 10; Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:13 pm

by boston_mba » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:36 am

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.

?

Like this post

JorgeStevenson: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 2; Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:37 pm; Thanked: 1 times

by JorgeStevenson » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:51 pm

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.

Like this post

boston_mba: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 10; Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:13 pm

by boston_mba » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:55 am

Got it Jorge.

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

Like this post

yalephd2007: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 39; Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:17 am

by yalephd2007 » Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:31 am

I have the same confusion. Thanks.

Like this post

netigen: Legendary Member; Posts: 631; Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:57 pmFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 29 times

Who/ Whom?

by netigen » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:26 am

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)

Like this post

mmslf75: Legendary Member; Posts: 503; Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:53 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 31 times

by mmslf75 » Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:45 am

netigen wrote: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)

Do we have real sentences where GMAT tests this ??
Or are we worrying too much ?

Like this post

mohit29: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 1; Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:28 am

by mohit29 » Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:50 am

still getting them wrong
1) The boy who/whom I trusted proved worthy of my confidence.
2) He was the man who/whom they determined should be the next mayor.

why the answer to first one is 'whom' and for second one it is "who".

as for first we can put "who proved worthy of my confidence ?" answer "He is"
for the sec answer " They determined HIM to be the next mayor"

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review