Who does these pencils belong to?

Question

Hi teachers,Who does / do these pencils belong to?Should I use do or does in this sentence?Thank you.Tinanam

Avangi · Accepted Answer

tinanam0102Who does / do these pencils belong to?

Use "do." These pencils do belong to somebody.

Whom does this pencil belong to?

As an aside, I would use "Whom," but most people would not.
(They belong to whom. - object of the preposition.)
These pencils belong to whomever wants them.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Thank you for your help.

Can I delete "to" at the end of the sentence?

Whom do these pencils belong?

Thank you.

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

tinanam0102Can I delete "to" at the end of the sentence?
Whom do these pencils belong?

No, you can't. But you can put it at the beginning:

To whom do these pencils belong?(It's a bit higher register!)

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

To whom does it concern? Is it correct?

Thank you.

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

tinanam0102To whom does it concern? Is it correct?

You're gonna hate me!

In this case we don't use the "to." Perhaps you have two different expressions woven together here.

(question) Whom does it concern? (It does concern whom.) "Whom" is the direct object of the verb "concern."
We don't need a preposition.

You could ask, "To whom does this relate?" (certain verbs require certain prepositions.)

To whom it may concern: This is not a sentence. It's a salutation in a letter, or on a sign.
To whom should this letter be addressed? To whom is this letter addressed?

To whom shall I send this? (I shall send this to whom.) "To" functions like a normal preposition:
I'm going to the moon.
This notice is addressed to whoever broke the window.
In this case we don't use "whomever" because "whoever broke the window" is a clause, and "whoever" is the subject of the clause. (The whole clause is object of the preposition, I'd say.)

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Thank you for your explanations.

I understand it now.

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

tinanam0102Can I delete "to" at the end of the sentence?
Whom do these pencils belong?

The use of "to" is always tricky, because it can be the infinitive marker and it can also be a simple preposition.
When it's the infinitive marker, some verbs require it and some do not.
That does not mean that it's optional. If a particular verb requires it in a particular case, it may not be omitted.
Likewise, when it's a preposition, certain verbs require it in certain cases, and it's not optional.
Sometimes it indicates the indirect object. But sometimes we use "for" instead.
I gave a present to Jane. I made a cake for Jane.

But when the indirect object comes first, we "omit" the preposition. That doesn't mean it's optional.
I gave Jane a present. I made Jane a cake.

I think your idea of keeping a notebook of sample usages (per your PM) is a great one.

The real problem comes when you try to use these structures in a question.
It really helps to try to convert the question to a statement when deciding if a particular word is necessary.
I can't think offhand of a particular example in which the "to" is optional, although they probably exist. My idea is that it's either required or it should not be used.

Sometimes a particular verb has more than one sense - one which requires "to" and one which does not:
Put the pencils where they belong. (no "to") Where do the pencils belong?
This belongs to Jane. ("to" is required) Whom does this belong to?

Well, now I have to change my mind.

I gave Jane a cake. I gave a cake to Jane.

There are two forms, one with "to" and one without. The sentence order is also different!

But when you convert this to a question, we can say,
To whom did you give a cake? ; Whom did you give a cake to? ; and Whom did you give a cake?

So the last pair give us an example in which the "to" at the end may be omitted.

I'm afraid I've just made matters worse!

- A.

CalifJim · Answer

Avangiwe can say,
To whom did you give a cake? ; Whom did you give a cake to? ; and Whom did you give a cake?

So the last pair give us an example in which the "to" at the end may be omitted.

Not according to some speakers of BrE. That seems to be considered an Americanism by some. Who knew?

See and following.

CJ

Vardogr · Answer

You don't want to strand the preposition. This gives the appearance of being colloquial. In formal writing, this should be avoided.

"To whom do these pencils belong?" — If we're talking about multiple pencils.

"To whom does this pencil belong?" — If we're talking about a single pencil.

Remember that the oblique case is applied to a pronoun that is the object of a verb or preposition.

"You gave it to [...]" — You are the subject giving something to any of these objects:

-me
-whom
-him
-her

"[...] gave it to me." — I am the object of any of these subjects:

-you

-who
-he
-she

"I gave it to myself." — I am both the subject and object.

"You gave it to yourself." — You are both the subject and the object.

"He gave it to himself." — He is both the subject and object.

"She gave it to herself." — She is both the subject and object.

"It gave it to itself." — It is both the subject and object.

Anonymous · Answer

as do refers to pencils, you should use do because they are more than one. Hessam khafi

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