WHO or WHOM? A 90% Trick

Self | 30APR03 | bannie

[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?

[TaxRelief]

The little tongue twisted we used to chant as a reference was:

Who holds whom for whom?
For whom does who hold what?

[VermiciousKnid]

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,

[Poser]

"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.

[VermiciousKnid]

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,

[CharacterCounts]

Cello player?

High School boys glee club dropout!

[Psycho_Bunny]

How does this affect bunnies?

[Revolting cat!]

"Whom luvs ya, baby?!"

[VermiciousKnid]

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,

[TaxRelief]

Whence he comes, thence he goes, hence he comes again.

Means: From where he comes, from then he goes and he will come again.

[Sloth]

That's Neptune & Pluto... in fact, Pluto only within the last few years crossed back and once again became the more distant planet.

[Revolting cat!]

The Whom:

[VermiciousKnid]

See? I KNEW somebody would know for sure! Thanks, Sloth.

Regards,

[pbear8]

Mother Visits Every Sunday Just Stays Until Noon Period.

[VermiciousKnid]

LOL. That's funny!

[Rocky]

SohCahToa

Sine = Opposite/Hypotenuse
Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse
Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent

[Revolting cat!]

Them:

[TaxRelief]

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.

[openotherend]

Whom do you love?