Question on who/whom

Question

In these sentences:"He is the man "whom" they 'have chosen' to be their next leader.""Peter is the man "whom" they 'want' to be their next captain."1. Am I right to use "whom" in both of the sentences?2. Does "whom" function as object of the verbs, "have chosen" and "want"?These are from an online quiz and I can't help but question their answers  which is "who" for both of the sentences. If I am wrong, will you please care to explain? Thanks a lot in advance.

Enoon · Accepted Answer

Well, I'm an online thing, myself, so who to believe?

Your analysis is correct. Have more faith in your grammar. The quiz is faulty in two ways. Whoever wrote it had no grasp of English grammar or idiom.

First, nobody would say either "who" or "whom" in those sentences, they would be "He is the man they have chosen to be their next leader." and "Peter is the man they want to be their next captain."

Second, in the unlikely event the pronoun was used, grammar demands "whom", but usage demands "who". The quiz maker did not realize the complexity of the situation. "Whom" is moribund except when it immediately follows its preposition and in certain fixed expressions, but it is still correct elsewhere when the objective case is called for.

Virginiajean · Answer

Thanks a lot enoon! Yah, sometimes I think I should just go with what's norm nowadays, not putting too much emphasis on the proper usage for both pronouns, who cares; but then, there is that part of me that simply can't part with what is markedly right for these. So, here I am.

Question on who/whom

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions