Who? whom?

Question

Hi
I have a question about who and whom.
I know, in modern English, who is replacing whom.
I wonder, however, whether this sentence is correct.
The supervisor determines what tasks get done by who.
After 'by', can I use 'who'?

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

Anonymous After 'by', can I use 'who'?

Of course you can, but many will think it's wrong. It doesn't sound very bad because who and whom are so similar. Grammatically, it is just as "good" as saying: It was done by I instead of by me.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Avangi · Answer

Cool Breeze it is just as "good" as saying: It was done by I instead of by me.

You're crackin' me up, CB!

(but I see your point)

(Must I put the "Grammatically" back in??)

Anonymous · Answer

(1) The rule is that an objective form follows a preposition such as "by."

(2) Thus, it would be preferable to say the following:

(a) He will decide what tasks get done BY whom.

(b) Excuse me. TO whom are you speaking? (You are speaking to whom?)

(c) Whom do you live WITH? (You do live with whom?)

(d) FOR whom is this package? (This package is for whom?)

(e) Whom are you looking AT? (You are looking at whom?)

(e) ON whom do children depend? (Children do depend on whom?)

(3) You are correct. In ordinary speech, most native speakers use "who" because it's easier to pronounce.

(a) "Who do you live with?" is easier to say than the correct form of "Whom do you live with?"

(4) Please remember, however, that in written English, many native speakers still try to follow the rules.

Who? whom?

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