Mastering Who and Whom: Grammar Guide

Spelling WordsWord Endings: –ty, -ity, and -tion

GrammarUsing Who and Whom

thomasedison needed electricety in their lab • Thomas Edison needed electricity in his lab. • thomasedison were the man whom invented the electric pen • Thomas Edison was the man who invented the electric pen.

Using Who and Whom • He often gave assistants who worked closely with him on an invention a percentage of the profits it made. • The underlined pronoun who acts as the subject of a dependent clause(who worked closely with him…) in this complex sentence.

Using Who and Whom • The pronoun who is used as a subject. • Who called my brother? (Who is the subject of the sentence.) • My brother asked me who had called him.(Who is the subject of the clausewho had called him.)

Using Who and Whom • The pronoun whom is used as the object of a preposition, such as to, for, and from, and as a direct object. Most often, whom will be a direct object in questions.

Using Who and Whom • To whom did you give the assignment? (Whom is the object of the prepositionto. • This was an assistant whom he trusted. (Whom is the direct object of the verb trusted in the clause whom he trusted.)

Using Who and Whom • Whom did you tell? (Whom is a direct object.) • You can check if whom should be used as a direct object. Change the word order so that the subject comes first.(Whom did you tell? You did tell whom?)

Using Who and WhomWhich pronoun correctly completes each sentence? • (Who, Whom) was investing in Edison Electric Light Company? • Who • With (who, whom) did Edison work when he had an idea for an invention? • whom

Using Who and WhomWhich pronoun correctly completes each sentence? • (Who, Whom) gave us the most valuable inventions? • Who • The committee decided on (who, whom) they would award the Nobel Prize. • whom

Using Who and WhomWhich pronoun correctly completes each sentence? • With (who, whom) did J.P. Morgan invest money? • whom • The helper (who, whom) worked the hardest became the top assistant. • who

Using Who and WhomChoose who or whom to complete each sentence correctly. • To ____ was Edison speaking when he recorded the nursery rhyme? • whom • ____ ran the show at the lab in Menlo Park? • Who

Using Who and WhomChoose who or whom to complete each sentence correctly. • He was the man _____took Thomas Edison’s job at the telegraph company after he left. • who • The boss is the one to ____ the records were sent. • whom

edison was a celebraty whom patented 75 inventions in two years • Edison was a celebrity who patented 75 inventions in two years. • as the “chief mucker,” edison deserved reconitionfor his work • As the “Chief Mucker,” Edison deserved recognition for his work.

Using Who and Whom • Use who as a subject. • Use whom as the object of a preposition, such as to, for, or from. • Use whom as a direct object in formal writing. Most often, whom will be a direct object in questions.

Using Who and Whom • When a clause makes the choice of who and whom difficult, think about the sentence without the clause. • Example: Edison is the man (who, whom) many Americans believe was the greatest inventor of the century.

Using Who and Whom • Think: Edison is the man (who, whom) many Americans believe was the greatest inventor of the century. • Correct: Edison is the man who many Americans believe was the greatest inventor of the century.

pope and edison was engineers with a specialtey in electricity • Pope and Edison were engineers with a specialty in electricity. • if youre interested in technology, get a subscribton to a science magazine • If you’re interested in technology, get a subscription to a science magazine.

Using Who and Whom • Test Tip: If you are confused about whether to use who or whom in a question, make the question into a statement and try substituting he or him. If he sounds correct, use who. If him sounds correct, use whom.

Using Who and Whom • Example: From (who, whom) did you receive the news? • (You received the news from he. You received the news from him. The second sentence sounds correct.) • From whom did you receive the news?

in many families, the tradishon are to give children nicknames • In many families, the tradition is to give children nicknames. • of all edisons employees, batchelor was the more valuable • Of all Edison’s employees, Batchelor was the most valuable.

when edison was 22 he patented a electric vote recorder • When Edison was 22, he patented an electric vote recorder. • it was edisons intention to call his children dot and dash • It was Edison’s intention to call his children Dot and Dash.

Mastering Who and Whom: Grammar Guide