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Fence Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
implied preposition?
I'm trying to find out if the second sentence is grammatically correct:
"He opened the window and let the bird fly out. It was like a child whom he was now granting freedom."
A friend insists that it should be "It was like a child to whom he was now granting freedom." I think the preposition is implied and isn't required.
Thank you!
"He opened the window and let the bird fly out. It was like a child whom he was now granting freedom."
A friend insists that it should be "It was like a child to whom he was now granting freedom." I think the preposition is implied and isn't required.
Thank you!
Top answer
I have to agree with your friend. My reasoning is based on the fact that we can't normally omit the 'preposition to' in sentences/phrases such as 'To whom did you speak' , 'To whom it may concern' etc. That said, we can usually use 'who' instead of 'whom' , provided that 'who' isn't immediately preceded by a preposition.
- I have to agree with your friend.
- My reasoning is based on the fact that we can't normally omit the 'preposition to' in sentences/phrases such as 'To whom did you speak' , 'To whom it may concern' etc.
- That said, we can usually use 'who' instead of 'whom' , provided that 'who' isn't immediately preceded by a preposition.
- Who did you speak to ?
- ')
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2 Answers
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I have to agree with your friend. My reasoning is based on the fact that we can't normally omit the 'preposition to' in sentences/phrases such as 'To whom did you speak' , 'To whom it may concern' etc.
That said, we can usually use 'who' instead of 'whom' , provided that 'who' isn't immediately preceded by a preposition.
Who did you speak to? (less formal than
That said, we can usually use 'who' instead of 'whom' , provided that 'who' isn't immediately preceded by a preposition.
Who did you speak to? (less formal than
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fenceI think the preposition is implied and isn't required.I do too, but a lot of people disagree with me. I think you and I (at least) are on the losing end of this argument — so far, anyway.
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