Chapter 1 Common Grammar Mistakes
7
who/whom
When to use "who" and "whom" is such a bother, especially if you
didn't have a grandmother like Mrs. B's, a one room school teacher
in rural middle Tennessee, who began indoctrinating her first
granddaughter at the malleable age of three.
How simple is this:
A "who" DOES something.
v
She's the reporter WHO got the story.
A "whom" has something done TO her or him.
v
WHOM do you want to be promoted to chief engineer?
If you can replace the word with "she" or "he," use "who."
v
(She's the reporter) SHE got the story.
If you can replace the word in question with "her" or "him," use
"whom."
v
(I want to see) HIM promoted to chief engineer.
However, Mrs. B thinks that most of the time the use of "whom"
sounds pretentious and off putting, certainly not a way to win friends
and influence viewers.
You have Mrs.B's permission to break the rule, now that you know
it.
By the way, the same rules apply to "whoever" and "whomever."
v
WHOEVER wants to take issue with Mrs. B, line up.
