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Seagull Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Relative pronouns

a. The doctor who I saw last Monday said I was all right.
b. The doctor whom I saw last Monday said I was all right.
c. The doctor I saw last Monday said I was all right.

I think that c. is the only natural way to say this, but I'm not so sure. What do you think? Also, it seems to me that a. is a violation of grammar in terms of the use of relative pronouns. What is your take?
  

Top answer

You will hear (a) often, especially in less formal communication and particularly in conversation as "whom" falls out of favor. Option (b) is grammatically correct, because as the direct object of "saw," the relative pronoun takes the objective case. Natural is in the eye of the beholder, but you can't elide the relative pronoun if you want to make the clause non-restrictive.

— Deadrat

  • You will hear (a) often, especially in less formal communication and particularly in conversation as "whom" falls out of favor.
  • Option (b) is grammatically correct, because as the direct object of "saw," the relative pronoun takes the objective case.
  • Natural is in the eye of the beholder, but you can't elide the relative pronoun if you want to make the clause non-restrictive.
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2 Answers
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You will hear (a) often, especially in less formal communication and particularly in conversation as "whom" falls out of favor.

Option (b) is grammatically correct, because as the direct object of "saw," the relative pronoun takes the objective case.

Natural is in the eye of the beholder, but you can't elide the relative pronoun if you want to make the clause non-restrictive.
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I understand.
Thank you very much indeed, Deadrat.
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