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Mk
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What is the right time to use whom and who?
cepheid said:[2] The second is the situation in which the person being referred to is the direct object of the sentence. I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that the direct object is a grammatical term referring to the noun at the receiving end of the action (ie the action is performed on it). The word "book" was the direct object in my first example.
e.g. To whom does this book belong? (or if you are less picky, you could say...Whom does this book belong to?)
It would be "Sorry to all who"Dr Nick said:OK, thanks for the explanation everyone. However, there is still one thing I am unsure about in the use of who and whom.
If I were to say "Sorry to all ##### have sent me an email...", should I use whom; or who?
I am also unsure about my semicolon use, but that's another topic completely.
No problem, and thanks for not mentioning that I didn't answer the semi-colon question. All I remember is that it connects two sentence parts together; or something.Dr Nick said:Thanks Evo, realized age of thread just after posting ;)
It's never a good time to use people; any people.Mk said:What is the right time to use whom and who?
Evo said:No problem, and thanks for not mentioning that I didn't answer the semi-colon question. All I remember is that it connects two sentence parts together; or something.
I know some grammar guru will step in here and rip me apart.
OUCH!mbrmbrg said:Rip. Evo. Apart. NOW!
Oh, ouch. Oh, ouch.
Yes! That's it!Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, by Lynn Truss.
"A semicolon joins two independent clauses." blah blah. Plainspeak: each phrase on either side of the semicolon could be its own sentence (exactly as it is written!),
The key difference between "who" and "whom" is their function in a sentence. "Who" is used as a subject, while "whom" is used as an object. So, if the person in question is doing the action, use "who." If the person is receiving the action, use "whom."
A simple trick is to rephrase the sentence using "he" or "him." If "he" sounds correct, use "who." If "him" sounds correct, use "whom." For example, "Who/Whom do you admire?" becomes "Do you admire him/he?" The correct choice is "whom" because "him" sounds correct.
No, "whom" is only used as an object. If you are unsure, try rephrasing the sentence using "he" or "him." For example, "Whom is responsible for this mess?" becomes "Is he/him responsible for this mess?" The correct choice is "he" because "he" sounds correct.
Yes, the formality of the sentence and the placement in a clause can also affect the use of "who" and "whom." In formal writing, it is more common to use "whom" in object positions. Additionally, in a clause, "who" is used for a subject or predicate nominative, while "whom" is used for an object or object of a preposition.
No, they have different meanings and functions in a sentence. Using the wrong one can change the meaning of the sentence or make it grammatically incorrect. It is important to understand the difference between the two and use them correctly in your writing.