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HSS Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
That or who?
Hi, which would I be better off using, that or who? I believe I should use 'that.' Am I right?
He is not the man that we thought he was.
He is not the man who we thought he was.
Chris was praising the industrious worker that she was in the office, not the lazy housewife that she was at home.
Chris was praising the industrious worker who she was in the office, not the lazy housewife who she was at home.
Hiro
P.S. Hi, how are you? I've been away from Englishforum for such a long time. Hope everyone is fine.
He is not the man that we thought he was.
He is not the man who we thought he was.
Chris was praising the industrious worker that she was in the office, not the lazy housewife that she was at home.
Chris was praising the industrious worker who she was in the office, not the lazy housewife who she was at home.
Hiro
P.S. Hi, how are you? I've been away from Englishforum for such a long time. Hope everyone is fine.
Top answer
Either one will work. I prefer 'that', especially in the second group. _______ I think we're all about as fine as ever!
- Either one will work.
- I prefer 'that', especially in the second group.
- _______ I think we're all about as fine as ever!
- CJ
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5 Answers
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Either one will work. I prefer 'that', especially in the second group.
_______
I think we're all about as fine as ever!
CJ
_______
I think we're all about as fine as ever!
CJ
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Hey CalifJim,
I have additional queries concerning the first sentence - why would it be who and not whom? Can you rearrange the sentence to more clearly display what these words are functioning as?
And I also sense that it is elliptical and would, if fully expanded, use another 'that' after 'thought', correct? "He is not the man that we thought that he was"
Edit
I have additional queries concerning the first sentence - why would it be who and not whom? Can you rearrange the sentence to more clearly display what these words are functioning as?
And I also sense that it is elliptical and would, if fully expanded, use another 'that' after 'thought', correct? "He is not the man that we thought that he was"
Edit
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littlefurymanwhy would it be who and not whom?Because was is a linking verb. Linking verbs can't take objects, so the objective case form whom is not possible.
littlefurymanI also sense that it is elliptical and would, if fully expanded, use another 'that' after 'thought', correct? "He is not the man that we th
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littlefurymanand the second example could not employ 'who', could it?Although I believe it is grammatically correct, it makes no sense to me to use 'who' there.
CJ
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