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mcelroytutoring
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Expert reply
Updated on: 21 Jul 2016, 11:14
Originally posted by mcelroytutoring on 13 Jul 2016, 17:06.
Last edited by mcelroytutoring on 21 Jul 2016, 11:14, edited 4 times in total.
Last edited by mcelroytutoring on 21 Jul 2016, 11:14, edited 4 times in total.
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First, let’s define subject pronouns and object pronouns.
Subject pronouns are the actors of the sentence: I, you, he, she, we and they are common subject pronouns.
Object pronouns are the receivers of the action. Me, you, him, her, us and them are common object pronouns.
"Who” is a also a subject pronoun, so use “who” in places where you would say “he” or “she”:
“Who wants to know?”
“Who is it?” (which explains why “it is he” is the correct usage, not “it is him”)
“Who is your favorite writer?”
Conversely, "whom” is an object pronoun. Use “whom” in places where you would say “him” or “her”:
“To whom are you speaking?” (“I am speaking to her.”)
“To whom was this letter sent?” (“It was sent to him.”)
However, “who” can also serve as a modifier (a word used to describe someone further), which can create some confusion among those who understand the correct usage of “whom” in all other instances.
The rule is easy: “whom” should never be used as a adjectival modifier, no matter whether it refers to the subject or the object of a sentence. In other words, if the word is used to describe someone already mentioned, then you should always say "who", not "whom".
“I am looking for a tutor whom understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal” = incorrect
“I am looking for a tutor who understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal” = correct
Why? Because the object of these sentences is the word “tutor”, not the word “who.” In this case, “who” serves as more of an adjectival modifier to the main object.
-Brian
Subject pronouns are the actors of the sentence: I, you, he, she, we and they are common subject pronouns.
Object pronouns are the receivers of the action. Me, you, him, her, us and them are common object pronouns.
"Who” is a also a subject pronoun, so use “who” in places where you would say “he” or “she”:
“Who wants to know?”
“Who is it?” (which explains why “it is he” is the correct usage, not “it is him”)
“Who is your favorite writer?”
Conversely, "whom” is an object pronoun. Use “whom” in places where you would say “him” or “her”:
“To whom are you speaking?” (“I am speaking to her.”)
“To whom was this letter sent?” (“It was sent to him.”)
However, “who” can also serve as a modifier (a word used to describe someone further), which can create some confusion among those who understand the correct usage of “whom” in all other instances.
The rule is easy: “whom” should never be used as a adjectival modifier, no matter whether it refers to the subject or the object of a sentence. In other words, if the word is used to describe someone already mentioned, then you should always say "who", not "whom".
“I am looking for a tutor whom understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal” = incorrect
“I am looking for a tutor who understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal” = correct
Why? Because the object of these sentences is the word “tutor”, not the word “who.” In this case, “who” serves as more of an adjectival modifier to the main object.
-Brian
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20 Jul 2016, 19:17
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Well, not always. How about "I am dancing with the girl to whom you have been introduced"?
The reason why it's "I am looking for a tutor who understands..." is that you have a phrase in which "who" is serving as the subject. So, your phrase is, "I am looking for a tutor /who understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal/". Take that on its own, switch out the pronoun, and you get "He understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal", which is an obvious subject pronoun. You just have to make sure you know what purpose the pronoun is serving in the sentence.
The reason why it's "I am looking for a tutor who understands..." is that you have a phrase in which "who" is serving as the subject. So, your phrase is, "I am looking for a tutor /who understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal/". Take that on its own, switch out the pronoun, and you get "He understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal", which is an obvious subject pronoun. You just have to make sure you know what purpose the pronoun is serving in the sentence.
mcelroytutoring
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Tutor
Joined: 10 Jul 2015
Last visit: 19 Mar 2026
Posts: 1,206
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 282
Status:Expert GMAT, GRE, and LSAT Tutor / Coach
Affiliations: Harvard University, A.B. with honors in Government, 2002
Location: United States (CO)
Age: 45 (10 years and counting on GMAT Club!)
GMAT 1: 770 Q47 V48
GMAT 2: 730 Q44 V47
GMAT 3: 750 Q50 V42
GMAT 4: 730 Q48 V42 (Online)
GRE 1: Q168 V169
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Expert reply
Updated on: 21 Jul 2016, 11:11
Originally posted by mcelroytutoring on 20 Jul 2016, 23:10.
Last edited by mcelroytutoring on 21 Jul 2016, 11:11, edited 3 times in total.
Last edited by mcelroytutoring on 21 Jul 2016, 11:11, edited 3 times in total.
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TrevorKleeTutor
Hmm...it's true that one should say "whom" in that particular case, but that's because the "whom" is not acting as a modifier in that sentence, but instead as an object, which is obvious because it is preceded by a preposition, a classic giveaway of an object pronoun. (To her, for him, about me, at us, to whom, etc.)
It is also related to the rule "don't end a sentence with a preposition," which would change the common phrasing, "I am dancing with the girl who you have been introduced to" (focus on describing the girl) to "I am dancing with the girl to whom you have been introduced" (focus on the object of the verb "introduced").
"Who" and "whom" can usually be subjected to the "object pronoun or subject pronoun?" test, but this doesn't work in the case of "who" being used as a modifier. For example, you wouldn't say "I am dancing with the girl she has long hair", but you would say "I am dancing with the girl who has long hair".
"I am dancing with the girl who has long hair" = correct because the "who" modifies the object
"I am dancing with the girl to whom you have been introduced" = correct because the "whom" is not serving a modifier, but instead as an object.
