who vs. whom

Question

Hi Everyone,My friend and I are discussing who vs. whom. The sentence isPlease feel free to share this with anyone whom you believe would find it useful.She says "whom" should be "who" because it's the subject of the second clause. I believe it's the opposite, that "whom" is the object of "you believe," but am not sure if that's the right way to explain it.Hope you can help, thanks.Sarcandra

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

Only 'who' is grammatically correct.

Sarcandra · Answer

Thanks for replying. Why is it "who" and not "whom"?

Thanks again.

Ozzourti · Answer

The object of the preposition is the entire clause: anyone who [you believe] would find it useful.

Sarcandra · Answer

Thanks, Ozzourti.

Anonymous · Answer

sarcandraShe says "whom" should be "who" because it's the subject of the second clause.

Your friend is right that the relative pronoun is in subject function, and so it should be in the nominative.

There are three finite clauses, and who is the subject of the third.

Please feel free to share this with anyone who you believe would find it useful.< main clause
who you believe would find it useful< relative clause
(who) would find it useful < content clause

The content clause, not who, is the complement of ~~you~~ believe, just as in I believe he would find it useful the complement of believe is the underlined content clause and obviously not he.

Sarcandra · Answer

Thanks for the replies.

Could you tell me the difference from this sentence, which is an example of the proper use of "whom" in the book "The Right Word at the Right Time" (2001, London, Reader's Digest Association Limited):

The Emergency Powers Act gave the Home Secretary under Regulation 18B authority to arrest and detain anyone whom he regarded with suspicion.

Thanks!

Fivejedjon · Answer

In that sentence, 'whom' is the direct object of 'regarded'.

Sarcandra · Answer

Thanks, fivejedjon.

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