Whom, Whose, and Who's: Whom Is An Object Pronoun
Whom, Whose, and Who's: Whom Is An Object Pronoun
Whom, Whose, and Who's: Whom Is An Object Pronoun
Introduction
Certain English words can be confusing for English-language students because they
sound alike, or have similar spellings. Three common ones
are whom, whose and who’s.
Whom
A clause is a group of words which include a subject and a verb. There are two
types. Main clauses, which begin with a capital letter and end with a period or other
form of punctuation, can stand alone as complete sentences. Subordinate clauses
on the other hand, cannot stand alone as complete sentences. Instead, they give
more information about a noun or verb in the main clause. Whom is a relative
pronoun used to introduce subordinate clauses that refer to people, not things, as
in example sentences below. Because it is an object pronoun, whom cannot be the
subject of a subordinate clause. The pattern is: whom + subject + verb.
Whom is often used with a preposition, as in the example sentences below. Whether
the preposition comes at the beginning of a clause or at the end makes no
difference to the meaning of the clause. However, placing the the preposition at the
beginning makes it more formal.
Note: In informal spoken English, we are less likely to use whom. For example:
That is the man who(m) we spoke about.
Whose
Whose is also a relative pronoun that introduces subordinate clauses, as in the two
examples below. Whose is used to show possession.
Both whom and whose can be used in expressions of quantity plus “of”, such as
those listed below. See the example sentences which follow.
several
both of a lot of none of
of
a
some of a few of number half of
of
For example:
Who’s
Unlike whom and whose, who’s is not a single word, but rather, a contraction
for who + is. (Who is relative pronoun which, unlike whom or whose, can be the
subject of a subordinate clause.) See the example sentence.
When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the
exercises.
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/410-whom-whose-whos.htm
Exercise 1 - Fill the gaps in these nominal relative clauses with suitable words from the box.
Some words can be used more than once.
how · what · when · where · who · why
1. w ho Y
Sally? No, that's not I meant. I was talking about Jane.
2. w hat Y
she said just then really surprised me.
3. w hy Y
You're supposed to be an expert; that's I'm asking you!
4. w hat Y
It was the opposite of he had suggested.
5. how Y
Strong but smooth, that's just I like my coffee.
6. w ho Y
Here's a list of I've invited so far.
7. w hat Y
That's not I heard he'd said.
8. w here Y
Do you see that bush? That's exactly I saw the fox yesterday.
9. w hen Y
You remember the time, it was we were staying at that hotel.
10. w hat Y
Mmm, that lasagne was good. It was exactly I needed.
11. w hat Y
We've just been talking about we should do later.
12. w hat
Did you tell him we'd agreed?
(I hope those are all correct. For Portuguese and Romanian in particular, I'm relying heavily on
Google Translate)
In this post I use the term subject complement a couple of times. After a linking verb, most
commonly to be, instead of an object we have a subject complement: a noun or adjective which refers
back to the subject and tells us something about it.
Exercise 2 - match the underlined nominal relative clauses with their functions
in the sentence
For the grammatically minded, nominal relative clauses can also function as indirect objects, object
complements and appositives:
I'll give whoever can answer this question a bonus point. (indirect object)
She made him what he is today. (object complement)
That man, whoever he is, just stole your wallet. (appositive)
The most common function seems to be as object, or subject complement after to be.
Exercise 3 - Complete the sentences with words from the box. Where you can,
use a wh-everword. Some words can be used more than once.
what · whatever · which · whichever · who · whoever
1.
I didn't hear she said.
2.
she said was bound to be all lies.
3.
You can invite you like to the party.
4.
That wasn't I spoke to earlier earlier.
5.
He'll do is necessary to win.
6.
You can have cake you want and I'll eat the other.
7.
told you that doesn't know what they are talking about.
8.
I always like to finish book I'm reading.
9.
of the children finish first will get a prize.
10.
I didn't see child finished first.
how, why
Everything is just how I left it. (= the way that)
We're late. That's why I've ordered a taxi. (= the reason that)
Nominal or defining?
Exercise 4a - Fill the gaps with who, which, when, where or what (for this
exercise don't use that)
Exercise 4b - Decide whether these sentences include nominal or defining
relative clauses
Nominal Defining
1.
I'll introduce you to the woman is organising all this.
2.
It was the house he had been born.
3.
On the sitting room table was I last saw them.
4.
It was the book made his name as a novelist.
5.
He only writes he knows about.
6.
You must remember! It was we last visited London.
7.
The sixties was a time being young was suddenly fashionable.
8.
Let me tell you is coming to the party.
1.
And that's exactly I always come to you for advice.
2.
In the pub; that's I'll have left it.
3.
That's just I was thinking.
4.
This must have been you were very young.
5.
Sarah? But that's precisely I wanted to talk to you about.
6.
It's just you always like it. Nice and strong.
Note - this and that often refer back to what has just been said (or seen). This could be either just
before the present utterance, by the speaker or perhaps by somebody else, (Question numbers 1, 3
and 4); or by the speaker themself in the same utterance (Question numbers 2, 5 and 6).
Cleft sentences
Cleft sentences 'cleave' (split, divide) a clause into two parts in order to emphasise one of the parts.
There are two main types of cleft sentence, it- clefts and what- clefts. What-clefts contain a type of
nominal relative clause, so we'll take a quick look at them. Let's look at a couple of example
sentences.
Sally dumped me
I don't like the way she did it
In what- clefts, also known as pseudo-clefts, the nominal relative clause is usually in subject position,
but it can also be a subject complement. They have three patterns:
To talk about the whole action - what + subject + do / does / did + be + verb etc
What Sally did was (to) dump me.
To accent a specific action - what + happen + be + that-clause
What happened was (that) she locked me out of the flat.
To accent a noun phrase - what-clause + be + noun phrase
What I don't like is the way she did it.
Dumping people is what she's really good at.
We can also use all (meaning the only thing) instead of what in all three patterns.
All I want now is a room somewhere.
All I did was break a vase.
All that happened was (that) I broke a vase.
1.
What I liked most about the movie (1) the music.
2.
What she (2) was (3) look for another job.
3.
(4) I said (5) that he was a bit late, and he bit my head off.
4.
What (6) then (7) that all hell broke loose.
5.
All that has happened is (8) the police (9) given me a warning.
6.
(10) really annoys me (11) that he's always right.
7.
All I (12) (13) to ask for a clean cup, and the waiter went berserk.
8.
What (14) happened was that she'd completely forgotten about it.
9.
Your attitude is exactly (15) I was wanting to talk to you about.
1.
Do you know is faster, the bus or the tram?
2.
I'd like now is a nice, hot shower.
3.
He's not coming; much is obvious.
4.
That is just I thought you'd say.
5.
I told you I wanted you to do.
6.
But you told me you wanted me to do it this way.
7.
She came first in the exam, is pretty amazing really.
8.
Anything you say may be used in evidence against you.
9.
I'll tell you little I know.
10.
one would you choose, the red one or the blue one?
11.
Do you know to do next?
12.
We missed the bus, caused us to be late.
is anyone's guess.
Do you know ?
I wonder .
I can't imagine .
I'm curious as to .
We'll tell you what information we keep about you on our files.
They'll advise you which policy will be best for you.
The long-distance sailor told reporters that what he wanted was a long, hot bath.
They promised that whatever happened they would help us.
She remembered that what had frightened her had been the noise.
.
(That-clauses are another type of noun clause, but I won't be dealing with them in this post. I think
we've got enough on our plates already.)
Concrete Abstract
If only it were that easy! But there are some grey areas.
In fact grammarians themselves recognise that "nominal relative clauses and dependent wh-
interrogative clauses are often difficult to distinguish from each other." (1). And even the experts
themselves don't always agree as to which category some examples fall into. (2)
The verb know, for example, seems to be a particularly tricky case. Most people agree that in
questions and negatives it's followed by an interrogative wh-clause, but not everybody agrees about
positive (affirmative) sentences. Some experts say it's a nominal relative, others an interrogative wh-
clause.
The following examples could all be turned into questions, and I think we can safely call them
interrogative wh-clauses
Exercise 10 - Complete the gaps with wh-words from the box. Each one is
used twice.
how · what · when · where · who
1.
The secret is knowing exactly to take the pasta out of the water.
2.
It tells you to cook it on the box.
3.
It's simply a matter of knowing questions to ask.
4.
I haven't thought about to put it yet. Perhaps over there by the window.
5.
I couldn't think to turn to for advice.
6.
to park is always a problem at this time of day.
7.
I know to ask. We'll ask your mum.
8.
Right, I've decided to do next.
9.
I'm wondering to tell your dad. - Well, the truth, of course.
10.
I don't know to tell you this, but I've broken your Ming vase.
Discussion
Again it's not always easy to tell whether these are nominal relatives or interrogative wh-clauses
In Longman's Grammar and Vocabulary for CAE and CPE for instance, Side and Wellman give these
two example sentences (with their categorisation):
I just don't know what to do about this leak. - (Nominal relative clause)
I never know how to work out percentages. - (Interrogative wh-clause)
Now I'm not sure I really see the difference, except perhaps one is about a specific occasion, and the
other is more general. In fact I would have thought they were both interrogatives - What shall I do
about this leak? and How do you work out percentages?
But as the construction is exactly the same, again it's probably not worth bothering too much, and we
can leave these questions to the linguists and grammarians.
But if you fancy yourself as a grammar nerd, you can do Exercise 11b to help you differentiate
between the two. I think these examples are fairly uncontroversial.
Exercise 11a - Fill each gap with one suitable word. (They're not all wh-words.)
Exercise 11b - Choose which type of construction these clauses are.
Nominal Inter-
relative rogatory
clause wh-clause
1.
Just he succeeded, I’ve no idea. But succeed he did!
2.
I never know to give him for his birthday.
3.
This is just what we get her for Christmas. It's ideal.
4.
They're very late. I wonder they could have got to.
5.
That was they first met, just after she started work.
6.
Over by the fountain is where I found the silver coin.
7.
Do you know who she’s spoken to about this?
8.
And that’s exactly he moved to Australia.
9.
I can't remember when I saw him. In 2005, I think.
10.
You know I like it, nice and strong.
11.
I can’t imagine he thinks that I don't like him.
12.
Mrs. Brown? That’s not I was talking about at all.
I can't remember exactly (1) it was Shirley said to him that day, but (2) it
was, it made him absolutely furious. (3) it was that said "Hell hath no fury like a woman
scorned" obviously hadn't seen Peter in action. This was (4) I began to think
that (5) some people said about him (that he had a filthy temper) might perhaps be true after
all.
I had known Peter for (6) seemed like ages, and we'd always got on well together. But I was
also friendly with Shirley, (7) put me in a bit of an awkward situation. One day I'd have Peter
coming and confiding in me, - "That's (8) I needed," he would say, "and
just (9) everything was going so well". The next day it would be Shirley - "You wouldn't
believe (10) sensitive that man is! I can't think (11) he has
(13) had happened was that some time ago Shirley had borrowed one of Peter's course
books, I've forgotten (14) one, but (15) one it was, Peter now desperately
needed it to revise for his exams, (16) were only a week away.
Apparently she had lost it and couldn't remember (17) she had had it last, probably in some
café or other, knowing her, as that's where she likes to do (18) little studying she does. At first
she didn't tell him (19) she had done, having a fairly good idea of (20) he
would react.
So, when he asked (21) his book was, she tried to laugh it off. And when he told her that he
couldn't see (22) he was going to pass his exams now, and
that (23) chances he had had been ruined, and that it was all her fault, she had just laughed
You can't blame Peter for flying off the handle, really.
This (the thing that's just been mentioned) is what I was talking about earlier.
That (the reason that's just been mentioned) is exactly why I asked you.
That (the time that's just been mentioned) was when they first met.
b. - if the wh-clause is referring to something concrete mentioned in the same utterance.
Over there (where I'm pointing) is where I found the silver coin.
Mrs. Brown? That’s not who I was talking about.
You're supposed to be an expert; that's why I'm asking you!
Mmm, that lasagne was good. It was exactly what I needed.
c. - if the wh-clause is referring to something concrete which is not necessarilly mentioned, but which
we could add after the clause.
That’s exactly what we should give him for his birthday ( - a skateboard).
This is just how I like it ( - hot and spicy).
That's who we should ask. ( - Susan).
d. - if it involves whatever, whoever or whichever. These are rarely used in interrogative wh-clauses
I don't know what she sees in him. (What does she see in him?)
I can't remember when I last saw him. (When did I last see him?)
Why she behaved like that is anyone's guess. (Why did she behave like that?)
I wonder how this works. (How does this work?)
( Whoever thought of that idea is a noun clause. It contains the subject whoever and
the verb thought. The clause acts as a subject in the sentence.)
The focus of our work is how we can satisfy customers most effectively.
( How we can satisfy customers most effectively is a noun clause. It contains the
subject we and the verb phrase can satisfy. The clause acts as a predicate
nominative in the sentence, identifying focus.)
Choose a gift for whomever you want.
( Whomever you want is a noun clause. It contains the subject you and the
verb want. The clause acts as an object of the preposition for in the sentence.)
( Whichever restaurant you pick is a noun clause. It contains the subject you and the
verb pick. The clause acts as a subject in the sentence.)
( Whoever interviewed you is a noun clause. It contains the subject whoever and the
verb interviewed. The clause acts as an indirect object in the sentence.)
( What the weather will be is a noun clause. It contains the subject weather and the
verb phrase will be. The clause acts as a direct object in the sentence.)
( That I am a hard worker is a noun clause. It contains the subject I and the verb am.
The clause acts as a predicate nominative in the sentence, identifying asset.)
( Why we make certain decisions is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the
verb make. The clause acts as an object of the preposition about in the sentence.)
( How long we should wait here is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the
verb phrase should wait. The clause acts as a direct object in the sentence.)
( Whichever audience you perform for is a noun clause. It contains the subject you
and the verb perform. The clause acts as an indirect object in the sentence.)
( Whatever we want is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the verb want.
The clause acts as a direct object in the sentence.)
I’m packing extra snacks for when we get hungry.
( When we get hungry is a noun clause. It contains the subject we and the verb get.
The clause acts as an object of the preposition for in the sentence.)