Proper Usage Of “Who” And “Whom”
Using “who” and “whom” correctly can be a challenge for many people. However, understanding the basic rules can help in determining the proper usage of these pronouns.
As a general rule, “who” is used as the subject of a sentence, while “whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition. For example, “She is the one who wrote the letter” or “To whom should I address this letter?”
Substituting Pronouns To Determine Correct Usage
One helpful technique to determine whether to use “who” or “whom” is to substitute pronouns such as “he/she/they” for “who” and “him/her/them” for “whom” in the sentence. If the pronoun works, then “who” is the correct choice.
If the pronoun doesn’t fit, then “whom” should be used instead. For example, “He is the one who wrote the letter” or “To him should I address this letter?”
Identifying Pronoun Case In Interrogative Sentences
Sentences in the interrogative form can also help in identifying the correct pronoun case. By rearranging the sentence, it becomes easier to determine the proper usage of “who” and “whom.” For example, “Whom should I invite to the party?” can be rearranged as “Should I invite whom to the party?” This transformation makes it clear that “whom” is the correct pronoun.
Difference Between Casual And Formal Usage Of “Whom”
It is worth noting that in casual speech or writing, many people do not use “whom” and instead use “who” in all contexts. However, understanding the correct rules can be helpful in formal writing or situations where grammatical accuracy is important.
Correct Phrase: “Some Of Whom”
When using the phrase “some of whom,” it is essential to remember that “whom” is the correct choice, while “some of who” is incorrect. The phrase “some of whom” is used to refer to a specific number of people within a group.
For example, “Some of whom attended the conference” indicates that a certain number of people from a larger group attended the conference.
Using “Who” And “Whom” With Quantifying Words
When using words like “some” to quantify a group, it is important to use “whom” and not “who.” This is because “whom” is used when referring to objects and can be quantified. On the other hand, “who” is subjective and cannot be used in this context.
Examples Of Using “Some Of Whom” Correctly
To illustrate the proper usage of the phrase “some of whom,” let’s consider a few examples:
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Some of whom were doctors attended the medical conference. – She invited several friends, some of whom she hadn’t seen in years.
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They divided the cake among themselves, and some of whom took two slices.
In these examples, “some of whom” is correctly used to quantify a specific number of people within a larger group.
Interchangeability With “Some Of Them” And “Some Of Those”
In some cases, “some of whom” can be replaced with “some of them” to refer to a group of people. However, it is crucial to include the word “and” to show a connection between two clauses.
For example, “She invited several friends, some of them she hadn’t seen in years.”
On the other hand, if the group is plural but not made up of people, the phrase “some of which” can be used instead of “some of whom.” For instance, “They visited several houses, some of which were modernized.” This sentence refers to multiple houses, and “modernized” can be seen as a characteristic of the houses.
In conclusion, understanding the proper usage of “who” and “whom” can significantly improve one’s grammar skills. By substituting pronouns, rearranging sentences, and recognizing the appropriate context, it becomes easier to determine when to use “who” as the subject or “whom” as the object.
Remember to use “some of whom” when specifying a certain number of people in a group, and consider using alternative phrases like “some of them” or “some of those” when appropriate.
