We're always getting this wrong on TSR! Also had a friend ask me to explain it so figured I'd make a thread in case it's helpful to others too
According to Oxford English Dictionaries: "who should be used in the subject position in a sentence, while whom should be used in the object position, and also after a preposition", but a handy basic/less abstract way to think of it is this:
You take a phrase (1), imagine using either he/she or him/her (whichever makes grammatical sense) in an alternative phrase that is otherwise effectively the same, instead of who or whom (2), and then determine which to use accordingly (colour code indicates which to use) (3) e.g.
Example A:
1) Your phrase: My friend Hannah, wh.. has finally met the man of her dreams
2) Imagine: My friend Hannah, she finally met the man of her dreams*
3) Determination: The correct word to use is therefore who
Example B:
1) Your phrase: My friend Hannah, for wh.. finally meeting the man of her dreams was wonderful
2) Imagine: My friend Hannah, for her finally meeting the man of her dreams was wonderful*
3) Determination: The correct word to use is therefore whom
We're always getting this wrong on TSR (myself included)! Also had a friend ask me to explain it so figured I'd make a thread in case it's helpful to others too
According to Oxford English Dictionaries: "who should be used in the subject position in a sentence, while whom should be used in the object position, and also after a preposition", but a handy basic/less abstract way to think of it is this:
You take a phrase (1), imagine using either he/she or him/her (whichever makes grammatical sense) in an alternative phrase that is otherwise effectively the same, instead of who or whom (2), and then determine which to use accordingly (colour code indicates which to use) (3) e.g.
Example A:
1) Your phrase: My friend Hannah, wh.. has finally met the man of her dreams
2) Imagine: My friend Hannah, she finally met the man of her dreams*
3) Determination: The correct word to use is therefore who
Example B:
1) Your phrase: My friend Hannah, for wh.. finally meeting the man of her dreams was wonderful
2) Imagine: My friend Hannah, for her finally meeting the man of her dreams was wonderful*
3) Determination: The correct word to use is therefore whom
Makes perfect sense and concise and desperately true information,thank you habibti
We're always getting this wrong on TSR! Also had a friend ask me to explain it so figured I'd make a thread in case it's helpful to others too
According to Oxford English Dictionaries: "who should be used in the subject position in a sentence, while whom should be used in the object position, and also after a preposition", but a handy basic/less abstract way to think of it is this:
You take a phrase (1), imagine using either he/she or him/her (whichever makes grammatical sense) in an alternative phrase that is otherwise effectively the same, instead of who or whom (2), and then determine which to use accordingly (colour code indicates which to use) (3) e.g.
Example A:
1) Your phrase: My friend Hannah, wh.. has finally met the man of her dreams
2) Imagine: My friend Hannah, she finally met the man of her dreams*
3) Determination: The correct word to use is therefore who
Example B:
1) Your phrase: My friend Hannah, for wh.. finally meeting the man of her dreams was wonderful
2) Imagine: My friend Hannah, for her finally meeting the man of her dreams was wonderful*
3) Determination: The correct word to use is therefore whom
English grammar is confusing. Is Hannah your friend or some random example?
Makes perfect sense and concise and desperately true information,thank you habibti
Hey you still haven't gotten back to me by PM about the Syrian charity events this Ramadan,are you interested? I hope you Ramadan is going well Where in Syria are you from?
Is it possible if you could make another thread but for the words 'which' and 'that'. I often use them interchangeably.
The easiest way to differentiate between the two is this, imo:
Which: Used when the information introduced (with which) is helpful but not necessary. This means that one can fully understand what your sentence means without the details provided by which (it's called non-restrictive clause). Eg. The books, which have red pages, have been very helpful - the which clause adds extra information, which is not really necessary for the person you're talking to.
That: Used when the information introduced is necessary - called restrictive clause. Eg. The books that have red pages have been very helpful - the information is required, as it specifies that only books with red pages have been helpful (hence why it's called restrictive).
The easiest way to differentiate between the two is this, imo: Which: Used when the information introduced (with which) is helpful but not necessary. This means that one can fully understand what your sentence means without the details provides by which (it's called non-restrictive clause). Eg. The books, which have red pages, have been very helpful - the which clause adds extra information, which is not really necessary for the person you're talking to. That: Used when the information introduced is necessary - called restrictive clause. Eg. The books that have red pages have been very helpful - the information is required, as it specifies that only books with red pages have been helpful (hence why it's called restrictive). Got it? Posted from TSR Mobile