The acquaintances who we like most are those that flatter ..

Question

Hello,

I have trouble understanding the correction of the following sentence:

Incorrect : The acquaintances who we like most are those that flatter us best.

Correct : The acquaintances whom we like most are those who flatter us best.

Why could not we say:

-> The acquaintances that we like most are those that flatter us best.

I do not find the MGMAT's explanation very clear on this one.

Thank you.

1022lapog · Answer

The word "acquaintances" is the key. You see it is a plural so "that" is not appropriate, may be "those" can be used. But then "those" is already used in the later part of the sentence and for me "those" doesn't fit in well in that place like "whom". As far as I know "whom" is a common reference for both singulars and plurals. Not really sure if this is right, just my thoughts.

geometric · Answer

In the future, please provide the full question including underlining as well as the answer choices. We're all used to solving problems that way and it's usually easier than without options.

Who vs. whom is actually a very easy rule. Use  who  when referring to the subject of a sentence, and use  whom  when referring to the object of a sentence.

In this sentence, the acquaintances are being liked by us. In other words, they are the object of the sentence.

Hope that makes sense.

cumulonimbus · Answer

The acquaintances who/whom we like most are those that flatter us best.

Please help with the above SC sentence. My understanding is as below. Also I have mentioned some doubts related to pronouns used in this sentence.

In this sentence Pronouns are : who/whom, we, those and that.

My question is related to these pronouns.
1. First of all we will choose who/whom. In the relative clause 'who/whom we like most', the 
subject = we
verb = like
Since here who/whom is the object of verb in the relative pronoun we use whom.
The acquaintances  whom  we like most are those that flatter us best.

2. Pronoun antecedent:
I am sure whom and that refer to the antecedent acquaintances. 
Those refers to acquaintances 'we like most' so does that mean acquaintance is the antecedent of those as well?

3. As per MGMAT guide, 'that' on GMAT can not be used for modifying people. So should it be replaced with who (subject of relative clause 'who flatter us best')
The acquaintances whom we like most are those  who  flatter us best.

Vineetk · Answer

The acquaintances who/whom we like most are those that flatter us best.
In this sentence Pronouns are : who/whom, we, those and that.
My question is related to these pronouns.

1. First of all we will choose who/whom. In the relative clause 'who/whom we like most', the 
subject = we
verb = like
Since here who/whom is the object of verb in the relative pronoun we use whom.
The acquaintances whom we like most are those that flatter us best.

Usage of Who/ Whom:
Who is used as the subject of the clause.
Whom is used as the object of the clause. 
In the first part of the sentence, Whom is correct as it is the object.

2. Pronoun antecedent:
I am sure whom and that refer to the antecedent acquaintances. 
Those refers to acquaintances 'we like most' so does that mean acquaintance is the antecedent of those as well?

"That" do not refer to the antecedent. It is acting as the Connector. "Those" refer to the antecedent

3. As per MGMAT guide, 'that' on GMAT cannot be used for modifying people. So should it be replaced with who (subject of relative clause 'who flatter us best')
The acquaintances whom we like most are those who flatter us best.

Few Rules:
Who, Whom, can modify only people.
Which, That can modify only things. 
Whose can modify both things and People.

Now in the second part of the sentence, Those who flatter us best - "Who" is correct as it is the subject of the clause.

The acquaintances who we like most are those that flatter ..

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