English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
What you'll learn
- Identify instances of correct and incorrect relative pronoun usage (who and whom) in complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a formative assessment.
- Apply knowledge of grammatical rules to correctly choose between 'who' and 'whom' in 8 out of 10 original sentences, demonstrating understanding of subjective and objective case.
- Explain the grammatical function of relative pronouns 'who' and 'whom' in subordinate clauses, providing clear and concise definitions with illustrative examples in a written paragraph.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of relative pronoun usage in a provided excerpt of professional writing, justifying choices with specific grammatical reasoning in a short essay.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the relative pronouns 'who' and 'whom' in sentences.
Explain the grammatical function of 'who' as a subject pronoun within a dependent clause.
Explain the grammatical function of 'whom' as an object pronoun within a dependent clause.
Correctly choose between 'who' and 'whom' based on their role (subject or object) in a dependent clause.
Apply the 'He/Him' test as a strategy to determine the correct relative pronoun.
Construct grammatically correct complex sentences using 'who' and 'whom' to connect ideas.
Ever wonder if you should say 'Who is coming?' or 'Whom are you inviting?' 🤔 Getting these right makes your writing sound super smart...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative PronounA word that connects a dependent clause (a part of a sentence that can't stand alone) to a noun or pronoun (called the antecedent) in the main part of the sentence. 'Who' and 'whom' are examples.The student *who* won the award smiled.
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that the relative pronoun refers back to and describes.In 'The student *who* won...', 'student' is the antecedent for 'who'.
SubjectThe noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb in a clause.In 'He runs fast,' 'He' is the subject because 'He' is doing the running.
ObjectThe noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb or is the object of a preposition in a clause.In 'She saw him,'...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
Rule for 'Who' (Subject Form)
Use 'who' when the relative pronoun is performing the action (the subject) of the verb in its own dependent clause.
Think: If you can replace the relative pronoun with 'he' or 'she' and the dependent clause still makes sense, then 'who' is correct. 'Who' acts like 'he' or 'she'.
Rule for 'Whom' (Object Form)
Use 'whom' when the relative pronoun is receiving the action (the object) of the verb or is the object of a preposition in its own dependent clause.
Think: If you can replace the relative pronoun with 'him' or 'her' and the dependent clause still makes sense, then 'whom' is correct. 'Whom' acts like ...
5 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
The politician, ______ many journalists have interviewed about the new law, will be giving a speech tonight.
A.who
B.whom
C.which
D.that
Challenging
A student is analyzing the sentence: 'She is the one ______ I believe is right for the job.' The student says, 'Since 'I' is the subject of 'believe', the pronoun must be the object, so the answer is 'whom'.' Why is the student's reasoning incorrect?
A.The pronoun is not the object of 'believe'; it is the subject of the verb 'is'.
B.The student is correct; 'whom' is the right answer.
C.The clause 'I believe' should be ignored, and it's a simple subject case.
D.The pronoun is the object of the preposition 'for'.
Challenging
It was the new student from Brazil ______ the team captain chose for the final spot on the roster.
A.who
B.which
C.whom
D.whose
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing FreeMore from Dashes
English Language Arts for other grades
Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Use relative pronouns: who and whom"?
Use relative pronouns: who and whom is a Grade 6 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use relative pronouns: who and whom?
You'll be able to: Identify instances of correct and incorrect relative pronoun usage (who and whom) in complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a formative assessment; Apply knowledge of grammatical rules to correctly choose between 'who' and….
Is "Use relative pronouns: who and whom" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Use relative pronouns: who and whom?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.