Forum Language Subject Language Exchange Tips

When having trouble with who or whom, substitute he for who and him for whom and rearrange the sentence part to make it fit. (Who-Whom) won the game last night? Who = He Whom= Him "He" won the game last night "Who" won the game last night? (Who-Whom) did you ask to the dance who= He whom= Him Did you ask "him" to the dance? "Whom" did you ask to the dance? You use whose when talking about a form of possesion. Whose money is this? I hope this helped[br][edited by SkyInTheSea on 2005-05-03 19:55:22]

Comment written by

SkyInTheSea on May 03, 2005 @ 19:54

I better understand the difference now. Thank you.

Comment written by

ram on May 02, 2005 @ 14:21

Hi, WHO refers to a person and is used as the SUBJECT. Examples: Who is there? Who is learning English? WHOM refers to a person and is used as the OBJECT. Examples: To WHOM did you give the book? WHOM did you see in the park? He is the student, WHOM I met yesterday. THAT is used with THINGS. Examples: I am reading the new book that I bought. I hope that helps!

Comment written by

rene_usa on May 02, 2005 @ 03:06

Thank you both. It's better now, it's more understandable :biggrin: If i have other questions, i hope you'll want to answer ;)

Comment written by

yuna on Apr 20, 2005 @ 11:25

ok, here's my attempt at explaining "that". It's hard, because "that" is used for so many things... 1. to modify a noun, in an adjective clause: Fido is the dog that ate my shoes (you MUST use the "that." the same subject (Fido) is used for the main verb (is) and the verb in the adjective clause (ate).) Fido is the dog that my shoes ate. ( you DO NOT have to use 'that'. A new subject is introduced in the adjective clause (Shoes ate, not Fido ate)) so you do not have to use "that" when the subect of the entie sentence and the subject of the adjective clause are different. 2. As a demonstrative, like the french "celui-ci/ celui-la," I like this one, not that one. That girl has beautiful earrings. that's the present john gave me. 3.to link two clauses: I discovered that my brother took my toys. (you MUST use 'that') She wishes that you wouldn't throw away her gifts. (you DO NOT have to use 'that'. uou can say "She wishes you wouldn't throw away her gifts". i dont really know why, but i think it has something to do with which VERB you use. you don't have to use 'that' with the verbs "wish, think, know, understand, and pretend. There are probably many others I cant think of now)[br][edited by helloplatypus on 2005-04-17 20:19:05]

Comment written by

helloplatypu on Apr 17, 2005 @ 20:14

true-- whom is not used very often. Only to refer to an object with an indirect verb. in fact, you don't need to worry about it when you are speaking, because no one really says whom at all in common speech.

Comment written by

helloplatypu on Apr 17, 2005 @ 19:18

Ok, it's more comprehensible now :) But i rode that "whom" is not very used.... It's right ?

Comment written by

yuna on Apr 17, 2005 @ 16:45

When you use "whose" in a declarative sentence, not a question, it acts just like the french "dont" for example, when you would in french say "mon meilleur ami est le garcon dont le pere porte toujours un chapeau" you would say in english " my best friend is the boy whose father always wears a hat" "who" and "whom" are kind of like "qui" and " a qui"--- le garcon qui me parle = the boy who speaks to me. le garcon a qui je parle = the boy to whom i speak. you use "whom" to refer to an object when the verb is indirect "that" is tricky... i can't really think of any universal rules right now, sorry.

Comment written by

helloplatypu on Apr 17, 2005 @ 04:33

Hi, You ask a difficult question regarding who/whom; many native English speakers use them incorrectly. I'll try to give you a simple answer that works MOST of the time. "whose" is a possessive adjective that indicates the owner of the noun that follows. WHOSE BOOK IS THIS? WHOSE PEN WAS LEFT ON THE TABLE? Who/whom refer to a person. WHO was at the party? To WHOM shall I give the message. "Whom" is generally the OBJECT of a preposition: "With WHOM are you going to the party?" "To WHOM shall I address this letter." Hope this helps. Emily

Comment written by

mle on Apr 17, 2005 @ 02:38

[br][edited by mle on 2005-04-17 02:39:08]

Comment written by

mle on Apr 17, 2005 @ 02:38

Hi I try to improve my english and so i learn the grammar but i don't understand when you must use whose or who or whom in a sentence... For the questions, it's ok but in the sentence... :???: And for 'that' too it's difficult. Sometimes we can forgive it but in other case, you must write it... Pff it's difficult... :frown: So if you can explain me :biggrin: Thanks

Comment written by

yuna on Apr 16, 2005 @ 21:22