25a. In subordinate clauses

25aUse who and whom correctly in subordinate clauses.

When who and whom (or whoever and whomever) introduce subordinate clauses, their case is determined by their function within the clause they introduce.

In the following two examples, the pronouns who and whoever function as the subjects of the clauses they introduce.

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The subordinate clause is who earns the most points. The verb of the clause is earns, and its subject is who.

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The writer selected the pronoun whomever, thinking that it was the object of the preposition by. However, the object of the preposition is the entire subordinate clause whoever is interested in the effects of racial prejudice on children. The verb of the clause is is, and the subject of the verb is whoever.

When functioning as an object in a subordinate clause, whom (or whomever) also appears out of order, before the subject and verb. To choose the correct pronoun, you can mentally restructure the clause.

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The subordinate clause is whom you will meet later. The subject of the clause is you, and the verb is will meet. Whom is the direct object of the verb. The correct choice becomes clear if you mentally restructure the clause: you will meet whom.

When functioning as the object of a preposition in a subordinate clause, whom is often separated from its preposition.

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Whom is the object of the preposition to. In this sentence, the writer might choose to drop whom: The tutor I was assigned to was very supportive.

note: Inserted expressions such as they know, I think, and she says should be ignored in determining whether to use who or whom.

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Who is the subject of was suffering, not the object of knew.

Checking for problems with #em#who#/em# and #em#whom#/em#

In subordinate clauses (25a)

Isolate the subordinate clause. Then read its subject, verb, and any objects, restructuring the clause if necessary. Some writers find it helpful to substitute he for who and him for whom.

Samuels hoped to become the business partner of (whoever/whomever) found the treasure.

test: . . . whoever found the treasure. [ . . . he found the treasure.]

Ada always seemed to be bestowing a favor on (whoever/whomever) she worked for.

test: . . . she worked for whomever. [ . . . she worked for him.]

In questions (25b)

Read the subject, verb, and any objects, rearranging the sentence structure if necessary.

(Who/Whom) conferred with Roosevelt and Stalin at Yalta in 1945?

test: Who conferred . . . ?

(Who/Whom) did the committee nominate?

test: The committee did nominate whom?