Lesson 20Joseph C. Blumenthal

The Who-Whom Problem in Noun Clauses

Few people notice the sign.

The noun sign is the direct object of the verb ______.

Few people notice the sign.

The noun sign is the direct object of the verb notice.

a. A few people notice the sign.b. Few people notice who directs a

movie.

The clause who directs a movie in sentence b does the same job as the noun sign in sentence a.

Both are _____ _____ of the verb notice.

a. A few people notice the sign.b. Few people notice who directs a

movie.

The clause who directs a movie in sentence b does the same job as the noun sign in sentence a.

Both are direct objects of the verb notice.

a. Few people notice the sign.b. Few people notice who directs a

movie.

Because the clause who directs a movie in sentence b is used just like the noun sign in sentence a, it is a _____ clause.

a. Few people notice the sign.b. Few people notice who directs a

movie.

Because the clause who directs a movie in sentence b is used just like the noun sign in sentence a, it is a noun clause.

who directs a movie

The clause signal who is the subject of the verb _____.

The choice between who and whom, when they start noun clauses, depends upon their use within the clause.

who directs a movie

The clause signal who is the subject of the verb directs.

The choice between who and whom, when they start noun clauses, depends upon their use within the clause.

who directs a movie

We use the subject from who because it is the (subject, direct object) of the verb directs.

Use the subject form who for subjects and subject complements; use the object form whom for objects of verbs and prepositions.

who directs a movie

We use the subject from who because it is the (subject, direct object) of the verb directs.

Use the subject form who for subjects and subject complements; use the object form whom for objects of verbs and prepositions.

Few people notice who directs a movie.

The direct object of the verb notice is not the clause signal but the entire noun _____.

Be careful to avoid the mistake of thinking that the clause signal is the direct object of the verb notice and therefore requires the object form whom.

Few people notice who directs a movie.

The direct object of the verb notice is not the clause signal but the entire noun clause.

Be careful to avoid the mistake of thinking that the clause signal is the direct object of the verb notice and therefore requires the object form whom.

WRONG: Few people notice whom directs a movie.

The object from whom is wrong because the clause signal is not the object of the verb notice but the subject of the verb ______ within the clause.

WRONG: Few people notice whom directs a movie.

The object from whom is wrong because the clause signal is not the object of the verb notice but the subject of the verb directs within the clause.

Few people notice who the director was.

The direct object of the verb notice is not the clause signal who but the entire noun _____.

Now we shall change the wording of our sentence.

Few people notice who the director was.

The direct object of the verb notice is not the clause signal who but the entire noun clause.

Now we shall change the wording of our sentence.

who the director was

Within the noun clause, the subject of the linking verb was is not who but _______.

who the director was

Within the noun clause, the subject of the linking verb was is not who but director.

who the director was

When we straighten out this clause by putting the subject first, we get:

the director was who

Since who completes the linking verb was, it is a (subject compliment, direct object).

who the director was

When we straighten out this clause by putting the subject first, we get:

the director was who

Since who completes the linking verb was, it is a (subject compliment, direct object).

Few people notice (who, whom) the director was.

Because the clause signal is a subject complement, we use the subject from (who, whom).

Few people notice (who, whom) the director was.

Because the clause signal is a subject complement, we use the subject from (who, whom).

WRONG: Few people notice whom the director was.

The object from whom is wrong because the clause signal is not the object of the verb notice.

The object of the verb notice is the entire _____ _____.

WRONG: Few people notice whom the director was.

The object from whom is wrong because the clause signal is not the object of the verb notice.

The object of the verb notice is the entire noun clause.

Few people pay any attention to the director.

Now we shall put the same idea in a different way:

The noun director is the object of the preposition ___.

Few people pay any attention to the director.

Now we shall put the same idea in a different way:

The noun director is the object of the preposition to.

a. Few people pay any attention to the director.

b. Few people pay any attention to who directs a movie.

In sentence a, the object of the preposition to is the noun director.

In sentence b, the object of the preposition to is the noun clause _________________.

a. Few people pay any attention to the director.

b. Few people pay any attention to who directs a movie.

In sentence a, the object of the preposition to is the noun director.

In sentence b, the object of the preposition to is the noun clause who directs a movie.

Few people pay any attention to who directs a movie.

Within the noun clause, the subject of the verb directs is the clause signal ____.

Few people pay any attention to who directs a movie.

Within the noun clause, the subject of the verb directs is the clause signal who.

WRONG: Few people pay any attention to whom directs a movie.

The object form whom is wrong because the clause signal is not the object of the preposition to but the subject of the verb ______ within the clause.

WRONG: Few people pay any attention to whom directs a movie.

The object form whom is wrong because the clause signal is not the object of the preposition to but the subject of the verb directs within the clause.

Few people pay any attention to who directs a movie.

How do we know that the clause signal is not the object of the preposition to?

If the clause signal who(m) were the object of the preposition to, the clause would have no (subject, object).

Few people pay any attention to who directs a movie.

How do we know that the clause signal is not the object of the preposition to?

If the clause signal who(m) were the object of the preposition to, the clause would have no (subject, object).

The producers must consider whom a movie might offend.

Now let us look at another sentence:

The pronoun whom cannot be the subject of the verb might offend because the verb already has a subject, the noun ______.

The producers must consider whom a movie might offend.

Now let us look at another sentence:

The pronoun whom cannot be the subject of the verb might offend because the verb already has a subject, the noun movie.

whom a movie might offend

The clause signal whom is the (subject, direct object) of the verb might offend.

When we straighten out this clause, we get:

a movie might offend whom

whom a movie might offend

The clause signal whom is the (subject, direct object) of the verb might offend.

When we straighten out this clause, we get:

a movie might offend whom

(who, whom) a movie might offend

Because the clause signal is the direct object of the verb might offend, we choose the object form _____.

(who, whom) a movie might offend

Because the clause signal is the direct object of the verb might offend, we choose the object form whom.

The producer must consider whom a movie might offend.

We choose the object form whom because it is the direct object of the verb (must consider, might offend).

The producer must consider whom a movie might offend.

We choose the object form whom because it is the direct object of the verb (must consider, might offend).

To choose between who and whom in a noun clause, see how it is used within the clause itself.

The way in which the entire noun clause is used in the full sentence has no bearing on your choice of who and whom. (true, false)

To decide whether to use the pronoun who or whom, you need to look only (inside, outside) the clause.

To decide whether to use the pronoun who or whom, you need to look only (inside, outside) the clause.

If the clause signal is the subject or subject compliment within the clause, use the subject form (who, whom).

If the clause signal is the subject or subject compliment within the clause, use the subject form (who, whom).

When a noun clause begins with whoever or whomever, we make our choice in exactly the same way as we did with who and whom.

Choose the correct word:

Mrs. Torrey tells (whoever, whomever) will listen about her travels.

When a noun clause begins with whoever or whomever, we make our choice in exactly the same way as we did with who and whom.

Choose the correct word:

Mrs. Torrey tells (whoever, whomever) will listen about her travels.

Whoever is correct because it is the (subject, object) of the verb will listen within the clause.

Mrs. Torrey tells whoever will listen about her travels.

Whoever is correct because it is the (subject, object) of the verb will listen within the clause.

Mrs. Torrey tells whoever will listen about her travels.

Choose the correct word:

(Whoever, Whomever) the country elects will face serious problems.

Choose the correct word:

(Whoever, Whomever) the country elects will face serious problems.

Whomever the country elects will face serious problems.

Whomever is correct because it is the (subject, object) of the verb elects within the clause.

Whomever the country elects will face serious problems.

Whomever is correct because it is the (subject, object) of the verb elects within the clause.

Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.

Choose the correct word:

1. I have great admiration for (whoever, whomever) wrote this article.

Choose the correct word:

2. Scholars have argued about (who, whom) wrote Shakespeare’s plays.

Choose the correct word:

3. The jury could not decide (who, whom) they could believe.

Choose the correct word:

4. The jury could not decide (who, whom) was telling the truth.

Choose the correct word:

5. (Whoever, Whomever) contributed this money is a deep and dark secret.

Choose the correct word:

6. The newspaper would not reveal (who, whom) their informant was.

HINT: Take into account that the subject of the linking verb was is informant.

Choose the correct word:

7. The orchestra extends an invitation to (whoever, whomever) can play a

musical instrument.

Choose the correct word:

8. Margaret Mead, the famous anthropologist, became a friend to (whoever, whomever) she studied.

Choose the correct word:

9. (Whoever, Whomever) wrote this courageous editorial deserves a lot of

admiration.

In conversational English, who and whoever are often used in place of the object forms. In formal speech or writing, however, whom and whomever are the correct object forms.

10. The pronoun who would be considered an error in (a, b).

a. INFORMAL: I wonder … Peggy will invite.b. FORMAL: The public wonders … the

mayor will blame.

11. In which sentence would whoever be more acceptable as conversational

usage? (a, b)

a. The senate is likely to approve … the President appoints.

b. You can vote for … you want.

You are done!!!