English Language Arts
Grade 10
15 min
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
What you'll learn
- Identify the relative pronouns 'who' and 'whom' in at least 8 out of 10 sentences.
- Explain the difference between using 'who' and 'whom' in a sentence, demonstrating understanding with at least two examples.
- Apply the correct relative pronoun ('who' or 'whom') to complete 5 out of 6 fill-in-the-blank sentences accurately.
- Rewrite 3 sentences, initially using the incorrect relative pronoun ('who' or 'whom'), using the correct pronoun and explaining the grammatical reason for the change.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between the subjective case (who) and the objective case (whom) for relative pronouns.
Identify the grammatical function (subject, direct object, object of a preposition) of a relative pronoun within a clause.
Apply a substitution method (he/him or they/them) to determine the correct pronoun choice in complex sentences.
Construct sentences using both 'who' and 'whom' correctly in restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.
Analyze sentences from literature and academic texts to identify and justify the use of 'who' or 'whom'.
Edit their own research-based writing to ensure the correct usage of 'who' and 'whom'.
Have you ever hesitated while writing an email, wondering if it should be &...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative PronounA pronoun that introduces a relative clause and connects it to an antecedent (the noun it refers to). 'Who' and 'whom' are relative pronouns that refer to people.The author, **who** won the prize, wrote about her childhood. ('who' introduces the clause and refers to 'author')
Relative ClauseA dependent clause that starts with a relative pronoun. It functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun.The student **whom the committee selected** will receive a scholarship. (The clause modifies 'student')
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers back to.The **historian**, who wrote the book, is a renowned scholar. ('historian' is the antecedent of 'who')
Subjective CaseThe...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Subject Rule: Use 'Who'
Use 'who' when the pronoun is the subject of the verb in the relative clause.
If the pronoun is performing the action in its own clause, it must be 'who'. Think of 'who' as the doer of the action.
The Object Rule: Use 'Whom'
Use 'whom' when the pronoun is the direct object of the verb or the object of a preposition in the relative clause.
If the pronoun is receiving the action or follows a preposition (like 'to', 'for', 'with', 'by'), it must be 'whom'.
The He/Him Substitution Test
Isolate the relative clause and substitute 'he' or 'him'. If 'he' fits, use 'who'. If 'him' fits, use &#...
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Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Easy
According to the key concepts, which term describes the pronoun 'who' when it is used as the subject of a verb in a relative clause?
A.Objective Case
B.Subjective Case
C.Possessive Case
D.Antecedent Case
Easy
The pronoun 'whom' is used when it functions as the direct object of a verb or the object of a preposition. What is the grammatical term for this function?
A.Objective Case
B.Subjective Case
C.Nominative Case
D.Relative Case
Easy
Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence: The student ___ won the scholarship is an accomplished debater.
A.whom
B.which
C.who
D.that
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Use relative pronouns: who and whom is a Grade 10 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use relative pronouns: who and whom?
You'll be able to: Identify the relative pronouns 'who' and 'whom' in at least 8 out of 10 sentences; Explain the difference between using 'who' and 'whom' in a sentence, demonstrating understanding with at least two examples; Apply the correct….
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This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.