Pronoun Problems

Who vs. Whom and

Incomplete Construction

When do I use each one?

Who = Nominative Who will be attending the meeting? (Subject) He is who? (Predicate Nominative)

Whom = Objective To whom did you give the money? (Object of

prep) She gave whom the money? (Indirect Object) He kissed whom? (direct object)

The Challenge

The use of who and whom in a subordinate clause is determined by the pronoun’s function IN THE CLAUSE ONLY

Steps1. Pick out the subordinate clause2. Decide how the relative pronoun functions in the clause.3. Determine case of pronoun according to function. 4. Select the correct form of pronoun.

Rule

No words outside the clause affect the case of the pronoun.

Try it out!

Alex is the student (who/whom) got a perfect score

Clause: (who/whom) got a perfect score Use: subject of the clause Case: subjects are nominative case Form: who, because who is nominative

Try again!

I saw Ellen (who/whom) I knew from school.

Clause: (who/whom) I knew from school Use: direct object: I knew (who/whom) Case: objects use objective case Form: whom

One more time!

Do you know (who/whom) she is?

Clause: (who/whom) she is Use: predicate nominative: she is

(who/whom) Case: pred noms are the nominative case Form: who

Remember- no words outside the clause count; Do you know can NOT be considered.

Incomplete construction

A sentence that is not finished, but is not grammatically incorrect as a result-“Than” and “As”

She is taller than I. She is taller than I am.

After than and as in an incompletely constructed sentence, use the form of the pronoun you would use if you finished the sentences

Examples-Incomplete Construction

The news surprised her more than me. (more than the news surprised me)

I understand Jim better than he. (better than he understands Jim)

I understand Jim better than him. (better than I understand him [some other guy]).

Incomplete Split Construction

A thought that is interrupted must be finished Maintaining a stable share is as important, if

not more important than, making a profit. As important as, if not more important than…

Her colleagues always speak of Professor Collins as a person who has and will always be sensitive. Should be who has been and always will be