English Language Arts
Grade 10
15 min
Identify and correct pronoun errors with "who"
Identify and correct pronoun errors with "who"
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between the subjective case pronoun 'who' and the objective case pronoun 'whom'.
Analyze sentences to determine the grammatical function of a pronoun as a subject, direct object, or object of a preposition.
Apply the 'he/him' substitution test to correctly choose between 'who' and 'whom' in complex sentences.
Identify errors in the use of 'who' and 'whom' within various clause structures.
By the end of a this lesson, students will be able to correct sentences containing 'who' and 'whom' errors in their own writing and in provided examples.
Construct sophisticated sentences using 'who' and 'whom' correctly in academic and formal context...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Pronoun CaseThe grammatical function of a noun or pronoun in a sentence. The case determines which form of a pronoun to use (e.g., I vs. me, he vs. him, who vs. whom).In 'She gave him the book,' 'She' is in the subjective case, and 'him' is in the objective case.
Subjective Case ('Who')The case used for a pronoun that acts as the subject of a verb, performing the action.'Who' wrote the analysis? ('He' wrote the analysis.)
Objective Case ('Whom')The case used for a pronoun that acts as a direct object, an indirect object, or the object of a preposition. It receives the action or follows a preposition.To 'whom' should I address the letter? (Address it to 'him'.)
Subject of a VerbT...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Subject Rule
Use 'who' (or 'whoever') when the pronoun is the subject of a verb.
If the pronoun is performing the action in its clause, it must be in the subjective case. Ask yourself, 'Who is doing the action?'
The Object Rule
Use 'whom' (or 'whomever') when the pronoun is the object of a verb or the object of a preposition.
If the pronoun is receiving the action or is the final word in a prepositional phrase, it must be in the objective case.
The Substitution Test
Mentally substitute 'he/they' for 'who' and 'him/them' for 'whom'.
Restate the clause using 'he' or 'him'. If 'he' or 'they' sounds correct, use 'who'. If 'h...
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Challenging
Analyze the following sentence: 'The prize will go to the debater ___ the judges believe argued most persuasively.' Which choice correctly fills the blank and provides the accurate reasoning?
A.who; because the pronoun is the subject of the verb 'argued', and 'the judges believe' is an interrupting phrase.
B.whom; because the pronoun is the object of the verb 'believe'.
C.who; because the pronoun is the subject of the verb 'believe'.
D.whom; because the pronoun is the object of the preposition 'to'.
Challenging
The following sentence contains a subtle but critical error: 'We must identify the official whom, according to the recently declassified documents, was responsible for the policy change.' What is the correct revision?
A.We must identify the official whom, according to the recently declassified documents, were responsible...
B.We must identify the official who, according to the recently declassified documents, were responsible...
C.The sentence is grammatically correct as written.
D.We must identify the official who, according to the recently declassified documents, was responsible...
Challenging
Read the following sentences, each analyzing a literary work. Which sentence is grammatically flawless in its use of 'who' and 'whom'?
A.The character whom everyone thought was a hero is revealed to be the villain.
B.The protagonist, for whom the audience feels great sympathy, is a character whom many critics have analyzed.
C.The author, who many scholars admire, wrote with profound insight into the human condition.
D.This is the poet who the literary award was given to.
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