1. slurpy_NinJa

    slurpy_NinJa Member

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    Who or Whom

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by slurpy_NinJa, Oct 10, 2011.

    First of all let me say that I'm sure there is already a post for this question and secondly I should probably already know this anyway....I apologize for both. :D SO here it is: When should I use who and when should I use whom?
     
  2. lostinwebspace

    lostinwebspace Active Member

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    Who = he or she. Whom = him or her. Just replace when necessary.

    ---------- Post added at 02:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------

    Use "who" to replace "he/she, "whom" for "him/her." It's a question of subject or object.
     
  3. madhoca

    madhoca Contributor Contributor

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    Who are you? (Who is the subject pronoun)
    Whom are you going to marry? (Whom is the object pronoun)
    Whom did you speak to? "
    BUT
    'Whom' is dying out, so even if it's more correct, it looks and sounds at best pompous and at worst archaic (at least to British English speakers, excuse me if you use it more often in the US). We tend to use 'who' for both situations now, i.e. we say 'Who are you going to marry?' or 'Who did you speak to?'
    I only use the correct grammar rule as a secret weapon for my students to score highly in the horrible tests that are still inflicted on them where I work.
     
  4. lostinwebspace

    lostinwebspace Active Member

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    No, we don't really use it in the U.S. The stigma is that it's growing more pompous to say "whom." But I see it here and there.

    ---------- Post added at 03:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:02 PM ----------

    I should say they don't use it in the U.S., but I meant we all on this side of the world don't.
     
  5. slurpy_NinJa

    slurpy_NinJa Member

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    thanks guys. Much appreciated.
     
  6. chellelouj16

    chellelouj16 New Member

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    Thanks Slurpy for coming up with this question because sometimes I'm having a difficulty of using both in a sentence construction or even when communicating with others. Your answers lostinwebspace are excellently correct. May this thread help those people having a difficulty distinguishing who or whom.
     

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