Use relative pronouns: who and whom

Key Notes:

Definition of Relative Pronouns:

• Relative Pronouns: Words that connect clauses or phrases to nouns or pronouns.
• Who and whom are relative pronouns used to refer to people.

Using “Who”:

• Subject Pronoun: Use “who” when referring to the subject of a sentence or clause.
• Examples:
  • “The teacher who teaches math is very kind.” (Here, “who” refers to “the teacher,” who is the subject of the clause.)

Using “Whom”:

• Object Pronoun: Use “whom” when referring to the object of a verb or preposition in a sentence or clause.
• Examples:
  • “The student whom I met yesterday is very talented.” (Here, “whom” refers to “the student,” who is the object of the verb “met.”)
  • “The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.” (Here, “whom” is used after the preposition “to.”)

Determining Which to Use:

• Test for Subject or Object: To decide between “who” and “whom,” first determine if the pronoun is the subject or object in the clause.
• Substitute with He/She or Him/Her: Replace “who” with “he” or “she,” and “whom” with “him” or “her,” to check if it sounds correct.
  • “She is the one who (he) knows the answer.”
  • “I spoke to him, the one whom (him) you saw.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Using “who” for objects: Avoid saying “The person who I saw” instead of “The person whom I saw.”
• Overusing “whom”: Sometimes “who” is used in informal speech where “whom” would be technically correct but sounds awkward.