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WHO or WHOM? A 90% Trick
Self
| 30APR03
| bannie
Posted on 04/30/2003 6:15:29 PM PDT by bannie
In a recent thread, we discussed teachers' various abilities/inabilities. With the banter about math "blocks," I had to start calling people on the frequent mis-usage of the pronoun "that."
I teased others--and I hope the understood my playful intent! Even true mathematicians can make simple mistakes in math. Likewise, even true grammarians can make simple mistakes in grammar. I only made note because of the subject of the thread (An English teacher who was having trouble passing a required math test).
In the thread, I mentioned that I could give a quick-fix lesson on how to determine whether one should use the pronoun "who" or the pronoun "whom."
The Rule:
WHO = SUBJECTIVE
WHOM = OBJECTIVE
or...
While "who" holds the grammatical position of a SUBJECT, "whom" holds the grammatical position of an OBJECT.
Subject = the "doer." Object = the DIRECT OBJECT or the INDIRECT OBJECT or the OBJECT of a preposition...the "do-ee."
THE TRICK:
IF replacing the who/whom in question with HE--simply because it SOUNDS BETTER--use WHO.
IF replacing the who/whom in question with HIM--simply because it SOUNDS BETTER--use WHOM.
IE:
With the question:
To who/whom should I give the "Offed by a Clinton" Award?
Try replacing the space with each, "he" and "him."
Although it's not totally "sensical," the better sounding choice is...
To HIM should I give...
(more clearly, Should I give the "Offed by a Clinton" award to HIM?
SOOOOOooooo...since "HIM" = "WHOM,"
the correct "who/whom-ness" of the question should be:
To WHOM should I give...?
IE:
Who/Whom was the oldest goat in the pool?
Try replacing the space with each, "he" and "him."
It makes much more sense to the ear to replace the who/whom with:
He was the oldest...
than with:
Him was the oldest...
SOOOOOoooooo....since "HE" = "WHO"...
The answer is...WHO was the oldest goat in the pool?
TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: grammar
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To: bannie
The little tongue twisted we used to chant as a reference was:
Who holds whom for whom?
For whom does who hold what?
To: Rocky
I hear you, Rocky.
I, however, will NEVER give in to the PC crowd. I will go right on using "he" when it is appropriate, and I will teach my children to use the proper wording, too. Anyone who complains can stick it.
Regards,
To: Erasmus
"Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Goes Willingly"
I learned this one differently:
Batman Bl*w Robin On Yonder Gotham Bridge. Very Good Work.
83
posted on
04/30/2003 7:30:28 PM PDT
by
Poser
To: Conservativegreatgrandma
Yes, they are in order. Usually. I believe that Uranus and Pluto occasionally switch orbits, but I wouldn't bet my last nickel on that.
I'm sure some astronomy whiz here on FR will be able to tell you for sure.
Regards,
To: Senator Pardek
Cello player? High School boys glee club dropout!
Comment #86 Removed by Moderator
To: bannie
How does this affect bunnies?
To: bannie
"Whom luvs ya, baby?!"
88
posted on
04/30/2003 7:33:43 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
Comment #89 Removed by Moderator
To: Anamensis
Remember your trigonometry? I don't. (LOL) Actually, just about the ONLY thing I remember from trig is Chief SohCahToa.
SOH = Sine = Opposite/Hypotenuse
CAH = Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse
TOA = Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent
Regards,
To: Fifth Business
Whence he comes, thence he goes, hence he comes again.
Means: From where he comes, from then he goes and he will come again.
91
posted on
04/30/2003 7:36:17 PM PDT
by
TaxRelief
(That really helped, huh?)
To: VermiciousKnid
That's Neptune & Pluto... in fact, Pluto only within the last few years crossed back and once again became the more distant planet.
92
posted on
04/30/2003 7:36:24 PM PDT
by
Sloth
("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
To: bannie
The Whom:
93
posted on
04/30/2003 7:37:07 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
To: Sloth
See? I KNEW somebody would know for sure! Thanks, Sloth.
Regards,
To: Conservativegreatgrandma
Mother Visits Every Sunday Just Stays Until Noon Period.
95
posted on
04/30/2003 7:38:58 PM PDT
by
pbear8
( sed libera nos a malo)
To: Revolting cat!
LOL. That's funny!
To: VermiciousKnid
SohCahToa
Sine = Opposite/Hypotenuse
Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse
Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent
97
posted on
04/30/2003 7:39:20 PM PDT
by
Rocky
To: bannie
Them:
98
posted on
04/30/2003 7:40:44 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
To: Rocky
Use one/one's to keep it singular. I don't care if 'he' is sexist: I still use the masculine whenever I desire. They'll get over it. No other language has tried to eliminate the feminine/masculine.
To: bannie
Whom do you love?
100
posted on
04/30/2003 7:41:38 PM PDT
by
openotherend
(I'm their leader! Which way did they go?)
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