Who & Whom/That: adding a descriptive clause

On this page:
Relative Pronoun–who
Subject vs. Object who
Omitting Who
Preposition Placement
Common Mistakes
Practice 1

Who & Whom

Adding a descriptive clause

Relative Pronouns for people — who or whom

SUBJECT PRONOUNS	OBJECT PRONOUN
Use who to replace the subject noun of a modifying clause (relative clause) for an animate noun (a person). The pronoun that is used informally.	Use whom, who to replace the object noun of a modifying clause (relative clause) for an animate noun (a person). The pronoun that is used informally.
The woman who called you is my friend.	The woman whom/ who you called is my friend.
The woman that called you is my friend. (informal)	The woman that you called is my friend. (informal)

which is not used for people

Subject who vs. Object whom Pronouns

WHO - SUBJECT OF THE CLAUSE	WHOM / THAT – OBJECT OF THE CLAUSE
Who connects the subject of the modifying clause to the noun in the main clause. The subject pronoun cannot be omitted (deleted). That is used informally for a personal pronoun.	Who or whom (more formal) connects the object of the modifying clause to the noun in the main clause. The object pronoun can be omitted (deleted). That is used informally for a personal pronoun.
The woman who called you is here. She called you.	The woman (whom) you called is here. You can omit whom. You called her.
The woman that called you is here. (informal) She called you.	The woman (that) you called is here. (informal) You can omit that. You called her.

Object Pronouns

Omitting Who(m)

When can you omit who?

SUBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE	OBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE
When who takes the place of the subject noun/pronoun of a clause, it cannot be omitted (deleted).	When who(m) takes the place of the object noun/pronoun of a clause, it can be omitted (deleted).
The woman — who called you — is here. She called you. The woman is the subject of the clause.	The woman — [whom] you called — is here. You called the woman. The object of the clause is the woman.

How do you know if it takes the place of an object? (This is a method for simple clauses.)

FOLLOWED BY A VERB	FOLLOWED BY A SUBJECT
If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, then it is likely that the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. It cannot be deleted.	If the relative pronoun is followed by a subject noun or pronoun – I, we, he, she, they – then that or who must be the object and it can be deleted.
They guy who showed us his car appears to be honest. (Cannot delete who.) (verb)	The guy [who] we spoke to appears to be honest. (Can delete who.) (subject pronoun)
The guy who sold me the car disappeared. (Cannot delete who.) (verb/	The guy [who/whom] Jack sold the car to is angry. (Can delete who.) (subject pronoun)
The driver who probably hit my car lives next door. (Cannot delete who.) (adverb + verb)	The driver [who] Jack and I probably hit is angry. (Can delete who.) (double subject pronoun)

Modifying Clauses

Preposition Placement

AT END OF CLAUSE	BEFORE THE RELATIVE PRONOUN
When the verb accepts an indirect object, the object preposition is likely to occur at the end of the clause. Leaving the preposition at the end of the clause is informal use.	When using whom or which , a preposition belonging to the indirect object is placed before the relative pronoun. This is formal use (academic and business).
The police officer whom I gave my passport to took down my information. I gave my report to the officer.	*The police officer to whom I gave my passport took down my information. I gave my report to the officer.
The police officer who I gave my passport to took down my information.	*The police officer to who I gave my passport took down my information. (Use whom.)
The police officer that I gave my passport to took down my information.	*The police officer to that I gave my passport took down my information. (Use whom.)
The passport which he was looking at had expired the week before.	*The passport at which he was looking had expired the week before.
The passport that he was looking at had expired the week before.	*The passport at that he was looking had expired the week before. (Use which.)

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

Common Mistakes

ERRORS	FIXES
*The guy is here who wants to play football.	The guy who wants to play football is here. The clause, the who-clause, must be next to the word it modifies.
*The man which you are talking about isn't a friend.	The man whom/ who/ that you are talking about isn't a friend. Which is not used as a personal pronoun for a person. Use that.
*There's a man on the phone wants to talk with you. missing relative pronoun	There's man on the phone who wants to talk to you. A subject pronoun cannot be omitted.

ERRORS

FIXES

*The guy is here who wants to play football.

The guy who wants to play football is here.
The clause, the who-clause, must be next to the word it modifies.

*The man which you are talking about isn't a friend.

The man whom/ who/ that you are talking about isn't a friend.
Which is not used as a personal pronoun for a person. Use that.

*There's a man on the phone wants to talk with you. missing relative pronoun

There's man on the phone who wants to talk to you. A subject pronoun cannot be omitted.

Practice

Taking Classes

Which relative pronoun(s) can complete each sentence?

Select an option to the right. (Internet Explorer users may need to click inside the feedback box to force the text to appear.)

#	YOUR RESPONSE	FEEDBACK
1	My friend told me about a student. The student has taken the TOEFL test twelve times! My friend told me about a student has taken the TOEFL test twelve times! who whom which that	Feedback 1
2	The professor didn't know the answer to my question. I talked to the professor. The professor I talked to didn't know the answer to my question. who whom which that	Feedback 2
3	I am looking for a college program. The program offers a lot of computer courses. I am looking for a college program offers a lot of computer courses. who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that	Feedback 3
4	Some of the courses have been very useful. I took the courses last semester. Some of the courses I took last semester have been very useful. who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that	Feedback 4
5	My friend studies with me in the afternoon. My friend is in my Networks class. My friend is in my Networks class studies with me in the afternoon. who whom which 0 (omit the pronoun)	Feedback 5
6	Computer Information Systems is a field of study. The study will guarantee a good job after graduation. Computer Information Systems is a field of study will guarantee a good job after graduation. who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that	Feedback 6
7	The class was Programming with PHP. I didn't do will in the class. The class I didn't do well in was Programming with PHP. who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that	Feedback 7
8	The courses are mostly graphic arts classes. The courses are taught in the evening. The courses are taught in the evening are mostly graphic arts classes. 0 (omit the pronoun) which that who	Feedback 8
9.	You should always study the subjects. You really like the subjects. You should always study the subjects you really like. who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that	Feedback 9
10.	A person will do well in life. A person has a positive outlook. A person has a positive outlook will do well in life. who 0 (omit the pronoun) which	Feedback 10

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