Who/Whom

The second is quite formal (though its formality could be firmed up by fronting the preposition: About whom does the article tell us more?), and by some grammarians and language proficiency test writers it is considered the only correct answer. Both are OK and in use, and the first is by far the most commonly heard version.

Thanks, MM.


Also, would it be possible to explain the subject/object forms (who/whom) in this case?

I'm sorry, Sunu-- I am not sure what you mean by 'explain' the forms. In every case, who is the subject form of the pronoun and whom is the object form. Could you ask in more detail, perhaps?


Oops! I forgot to log in again. It's me-- MM.

Hi MM:


Yes, that's what I mean. What are the subject and object in the given sentence? One may confidently use whom if we know that it is the object form that is required.


Who(m) does the article tell us more about, Jack or Jill?

Thanks,

S

Ah. Who(m) is the object of the preposition about. The subject of the sentence is article.

Thanks a lot, MM.


One more question:


Is there a sure shot way of determining the subject and object in a sentence? I have come across certain tricky sentences where I get rather confused, or in any event where I cannot be certain.


S

Nothing's sure-shot in English grammar, Sunu. Just the old guidelines: the subject is usually the performer of the verb's action, and the object is usually its recipient. The subject is usually the first noun phrase in a sentence, and it is the only noun phrase that the verb agrees with. Any other noun phrase that is an argument (a necessary association) of the verb is an object.

Thx, MM.


I shall bring them when I come across them again.


S