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Nor Priest Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Whom and Who ?
Who do I need to cantact to ask about my payment problem ?
or
Whom do I need to contact to ask about my payment problem ?
Which one is correct ?
or
Whom do I need to contact to ask about my payment problem ?
Which one is correct ?
Top answer
In precise grammatical formality, "whom" is correct because it is object case. However, this form is considered by today's standards, rather old-fashioned and quaint. So the version with "who" is not only acceptable, it is more commonly used.
- In precise grammatical formality, "whom" is correct because it is object case.
- However, this form is considered by today's standards, rather old-fashioned and quaint.
- So the version with "who" is not only acceptable, it is more commonly used.
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4 Answers
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In precise grammatical formality, "whom" is correct because it is object case.
However, this form is considered by today's standards, rather old-fashioned and quaint.
So the version with "who" is not only acceptable, it is more commonly used.
However, this form is considered by today's standards, rather old-fashioned and quaint.
So the version with "who" is not only acceptable, it is more commonly used.
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you meant both sentences could be grammatically correct on exam paper, but the "Who" sounded more common in general conversation.
Am I correct ?
Am I correct ?
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When I hear 'whom' used, it's usually incorrect, and I'd prefer that the speaker not use it at all.
However, when the pronoun is immediately preceded by a preposition--typically 'to' or 'for'--the construction is already formal enough that, to my ear, 'whom' sounds much better. Thus, "Who did you give the letter to?" is fine with me, but
*"To who did you give the letter?" sounds awful. I
However, when the pronoun is immediately preceded by a preposition--typically 'to' or 'for'--the construction is already formal enough that, to my ear, 'whom' sounds much better. Thus, "Who did you give the letter to?" is fine with me, but
*"To who did you give the letter?" sounds awful. I
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Nor Priestyou meant both sentences could be grammatically correct on exam paper, but the "Who" sounded more common in general conversation.Am I correct ?If your teacher is very strict, then he might mark "who" as wrong, and "whom" as correct. The formal "prescriptivist" grammar books tell us this.
But the language is changing, and some of the English
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