Quick grammar question - Who/Whom

[amc80]

Which is correct?

Suzie explained that her mother, WHO/WHOM she identified as Mary Adams, was verbally and physically abusive to her, especially on the day of running away.

 

[kenny]

I believe whom is considered correct.

I expect in a generation or so the word 'whom' will vanish.

 

[amc80]

I believe whom is considered correct.

I expect in a generation or so the word 'whom' will vanish.

Agreed. I'm generally pretty good with grammar, but I don't know if I was every taught the who/whom thing. I've read tricks and tips for how to know which is correct, but I'm still having trouble with this sentence.

 

[TravelingGal]

she identified WHOM.

 

[mayerling]

It's the object of the verb so WHOM.

 

[movie zombie]

I believe whom is considered correct. I expect in a generation or so the word 'whom' will vanish.

agreed. i'm surprised it is still used in this day and age.

 

[TravelingGal]

I believe whom is considered correct. I expect in a generation or so the word 'whom' will vanish.

agreed. i'm surprised it is still used in this day and age.

It's so English majors can feel --->

 

[TravelingGal]

I have to say though, sometimes "whom" comes naturally to me, and sounds polite. Such as "With whom am I speaking?" (or "I am speaking with whom?" Because "I am speaking with who?" sounds rude to my ears.

 

[Astra]

Knock knock.

Who's there?

To.

To who?

To whom.


Sorry, I just had to

 

[rainwood]

I love nerdy grammar humor.

 

[amc80]

Knock knock.

Who's there?

To.

To who?

To whom.


Sorry, I just had to

 

[amc80]

I love nerdy grammar humor.

I love lots of nerdy humor. Half the fun is knowing that most people won't get it.

For example-

Economists do it with Slutsky matrices.

 

[Dancing Fire]

do i have the WORSE or WORST grammer?..

 

[amc80]

do i have the WORSE or WORST grammer?..

Worst Worse is used for comparison, I think worst is the absolute...my grammar is worse than yours, but Bob's is the worst of all.

I'm sure a grammar person will correct me on that one

 

[AGBF]

I love grammar threads and I know Haven does, too. I just wish that there was something more for me to say. Once the question was answered, there didn't seem to be a lot more to say about "who" and "whom"! My daughter asks me grammar, spelling, and vocabulary questions daily. (She is 19 and has a pretty good vocabulary already.) Today she became fixated on the phrasal verb, "attend to". (We know it is a "phrasal verb" because she looked it up on-line and the on-line dictionary told her so!) I had said that I didn't want to have to, "attend her" every minute of the day and she had said that I should have said, "attend to" her...and that started us off. That is quite typical of our family. My husband, daughter, and I are all grammar buffs although we come to it from different backgrounds.

Oh...and by the way, DF has either "worse" or "the worst" grammar depending on with whom he is comparing himself! "Worse" is comparative. His grammar is worse than that of one other person. "Worst" is superlative. His grammar is the worst on Pricescope. In other words, amc80 was correct!

Deb/AGBF


(Edited a second time to add a space after a period. It was driving me crazy!)

 

[kenny]

I have given up trying to learn the correct forms of lay, lie, lied, laid, lain.
I've tried so many times I just have a mental block now.

One very common booboo is insure/ensure.

Ensure is to make something more certain.
Insure is the business of insurance.

VERY often we see even professionally published pieces use insure when they mean ensure.

 

[kenny]

Is it enamored of, enamored with, or enamored by?

I think of is correct.
She is enamored of dark chocolate.

 

[Laila619]

Here's a great trick to know when to use who/whom:

Substitute he/him in the sentence. If him works, use whom. If he works, use who.

 

[minousbijoux]

But does that work in the example sentence provided?

 

[amc80]

But does that work in the example sentence provided?

That was my problem when I was consulting Professor Google. You have to switch things around a bit to get that trick to work.

 

[Dancing Fire]

color or colour diamonds?..

 

[amc80]

color or colour diamonds?..

Depends on what side of the ocean you're on Either is fine.

Another one that annoys me is advice/advise. I would think people would be able to figure it out by simply pronouncing the word, but apparently not.

 

[AGBF]

My daughter asks me grammar, spelling, and vocabulary questions daily. (She is 19 and has a pretty good vocabulary already.) Today she became fixated on the phrasal verb, "attend to". (We know it is a "phrasal verb" because she looked it up on-line and the on-line dictionary told her so!) I had said that I didn't want to have to, "attend her" every minute of the day and she had said that I should have said, "attend to" her...and that started us off.

In case any other grammar buff was sent into a frenzy by whether one could, "attend" another person or if it was necessary to attend to him, I believe I have the answer. (Had I not been backed up by an on-line dictionary, I probably would have continued to search for a real one since I find the on-line ones woefully incomplete. I was in luck, however, since the Oxford Dictionary had my meaning listed in its on-line version.)

I excerpted the part of the definition that applied to my situation. It is below. (I have to make my daughter's dinner, so now I am rushing. I hope I don't make any errors now!)


2 [no object] (attend to) deal with:

he muttered that he had business to attend to

.give practical help and care to; look after:
the severely wounded had two medics to attend to their wounds

[with object]:
each of the beds in the intensive care unit is attended by a nurse pay attention to

Deb/AGBF

 

[hlmr]

color or colour diamonds?..

Depends on what side of the ocean you're on Either is fine.

Another one that annoys me is advice/advise. I would think people would be able to figure it out by simply pronouncing the word, but apparently not.

Even on this side of the pond, we use lots of "u's" north of the border.

 

[radiantquest]

I use who/whom depending on how it sounds. I probably say who more than I should.

This one I refuse to say because I cant take how it sounds even though I know its correct

"Hello, I'm trying to reach Radiantquest"
"This is she"

I think it sounds so incredibly silly

 

[amc80]

color or colour diamonds?..

Depends on what side of the ocean you're on Either is fine.

Another one that annoys me is advice/advise. I would think people would be able to figure it out by simply pronouncing the word, but apparently not.

Even on this side of the pond, we use lots of "u's" north of the border.

Ha, you're right...I forgot about Canadians

 

[amc80]

I use who/whom depending on how it sounds. I probably say who more than I should.

This one I refuse to say because I cant take how it sounds even though I know its correct

"Hello, I'm trying to reach Radiantquest"
"This is she"

I think it sounds so incredibly silly

I totally agree!! I always say "this is AMC," rather than use "this is she." It just sounds weird.

 

[Fly Girl]

I use who/whom depending on how it sounds. I probably say who more than I should.

This one I refuse to say because I cant take how it sounds even though I know its correct

"Hello, I'm trying to reach Radiantquest"
"This is she"

I think it sounds so incredibly silly

I use it all the time. It is correct, although it often causes the other person to pause for a bit to digest the meaning.

 

[hlmr]

I use who/whom depending on how it sounds. I probably say who more than I should.

This one I refuse to say because I cant take how it sounds even though I know its correct

"Hello, I'm trying to reach Radiantquest"
"This is she"

I think it sounds so incredibly silly

I totally agree!! I always say "this is AMC," rather than use "this is she." It just sounds weird.

I just say "speaking". It feels less awkward for some reason.

 

[hlmr]

color or colour diamonds?..

Depends on what side of the ocean you're on Either is fine.

Another one that annoys me is advice/advise. I would think people would be able to figure it out by simply pronouncing the word, but apparently not.

Even on this side of the pond, we use lots of "u's" north of the border.

Ha, you're right...I forgot about Canadians

LOL, no problem