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Erroranalysis Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Aksing for the indirect object (question word)
He sometimes gives him a book.
If you want to ask for HIM, you say:
Whom does he sometimes give a book?
What about the following sentence:
He gave his vase a kiss. (I know this sentence is absurd, but I need it for my question.)
How would you ask for HIS VASE?
Would you use WHOM or WHAT?
What did he give a kiss?
If you want to ask for HIM, you say:
Whom does he sometimes give a book?
What about the following sentence:
He gave his vase a kiss. (I know this sentence is absurd, but I need it for my question.)
How would you ask for HIS VASE?
Would you use WHOM or WHAT?
What did he give a kiss?
Top answer
erroranalysis Would you use WHOM or WHAT? What did he give a kiss? )
- erroranalysis Would you use WHOM or WHAT?
- What did he give a kiss?
- )
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4 Answers
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erroranalysisWould you use WHOM or WHAT?I'd use "what." ("Whom" is for people!)
What did he give a kiss?
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I was actually expecting that reply. Who/whom is always for people; there is no doubt about that. My irritation was triggered by realising that in German one and the same question word is used for indirect objects. In German it doesn't matter whether that indirect object is a person or a thing.
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AvangiWhat did he give a kiss?I'd use "what." ("Whom" is for people!)
Some might argue that kissing is usually for people too.
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khoffSome might argue that kissing is usually for people too.We're saving that pronoun for when the vase reciprocates.
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