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Pedants' corner

Who or whom?

13 replies

Gawjus · 22/07/2024 13:33

I thought I knew how to use who and whom but these sentences in an essay I am writing have stumped me and google has not provided the answer. Thanks for any help.
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Jane barely acknowledged her father’s existence, focussing instead entirely on her mother, whom/who she idolised as ‘everything to me’.

Jane described her friend, who/whom she named ‘Cuddles’, as pretty.

She was shocked and bewildered that her former ally, who/whom she knew as a Christian...

OP posts:
DoopSnoggySnogg · 22/07/2024 13:37

My way is if it would be “s/he” it’s “who” and if “him (or her)”, then “whom”.

So I think She idolised her, therefore whom
in the first one.

Same in the second and third. She named HER Cuddles so WHOM. She knew HIM as a Christian, so whom.

Oneearringlost · 22/07/2024 13:47

I'd say:

a) Whom

b) Who

c) Who

Oneearringlost · 22/07/2024 13:48

I may not very right though😀

Oneearringlost · 22/07/2024 13:49

be not very

WombatCowgirl · 22/07/2024 13:50

All are whom.

ShowOfHands · 22/07/2024 13:54

PP is correct.

She/he and you use who.

Her/him and you use whom.

She idolised her.
She called her pretty.
She knew him as Christian.

All her/him so all whom.

HotCrossBunplease · 22/07/2024 13:55

I agree with @WombatCowgirl .

That said, much as I am a diehard pedant, I think that “whom” has become a bit archaic and it’s arguable that “who” is now equally correct if you go by frequency of usage. I admit that I sometimes write “who” when I know it should be “whom” because I don’t want to come across to certain audiences as old-fashioned.

HUGE disclaimer- I fully understand the point of pedants’ corner and hate the glib “oh language evolves” responses that sometimes pop up. But this one is a lost battle I think.

ErrolTheDragon · 22/07/2024 14:01

HotCrossBunplease · 22/07/2024 13:55

I agree with @WombatCowgirl .

That said, much as I am a diehard pedant, I think that “whom” has become a bit archaic and it’s arguable that “who” is now equally correct if you go by frequency of usage. I admit that I sometimes write “who” when I know it should be “whom” because I don’t want to come across to certain audiences as old-fashioned.

HUGE disclaimer- I fully understand the point of pedants’ corner and hate the glib “oh language evolves” responses that sometimes pop up. But this one is a lost battle I think.

Yes.

If in any doubt use 'who', I don't think anyone considers it incorrect nowadays in either case except in specific phrases such as 'to whom it may concern'.

NewUser1111 · 22/07/2024 14:02

All are whom.

this is where studying other languages is so helpful! Not the subject of the verb but the object

Gawjus · 22/07/2024 14:06

Thank you for the replies. So far most people say ALL of them should be whom.

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IsThePopeCatholic · 22/07/2024 14:06

All of them whom.

VeryQuaintIrene · 22/07/2024 14:24

They are all the objects of verbs so whom X3

Gawjus · 22/07/2024 14:28

... almost unanimous now.

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