Who & Whom/That: adding a descriptive clause

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Who & Whom / That

Adding a descriptive clause

An adjective clause uses pronouns to connect the dependent clause to the independent clause.

Relative Pronouns

SUBJECT PRONOUNS	OBJECT PRONOUN
Use who or that to replace the subject noun of an adjective clause for a person.	Use whom, who or that (informal) to replace the object noun of an adjective clause for a person.
The woman who called you is my friend.	The woman whom/ who you called is my friend.
The woman that called you is my friend. (informal)	The woman that you called is my friend. (informal)

which is not used for people

Subject who vs. Object whom Pronouns

WHO - SUBJECT OF THE CLAUSE	WHOM - OBJECT OF THE CLAUSE
The woman who called you is here. She called you.	The woman (whom) you called is here. You can omit the object pronoun. You called her.
	The woman (that) you called is here. You can omit the object pronoun. You called her.

Common Mistakes

ERRORS	FIXES
The guy is here who wants to play football.	The guy who wants to play football is here. The adjective clause, the who-clause, must be next to the word it modifies.
*The man which you are talking about isn't a friend.	The man whom/ who/ that you are talking about isn't a friend. Which is not used as a personal pronoun for a person. Use that.

Object Pronouns

Omitting Who(m)

When can you omit who?

SUBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE		OBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE
When who takes the place of the subject noun/pronoun of a clause, it cannot be omitted (deleted).		When who(m) takes the place of the object noun/pronoun of a clause, it can be omitted (deleted).
The woman	who called you is here. She called you. The woman is the subject of the clause.	The woman	[who] you called is here. You called the woman. The object of the clause is the woman.

How do you know if it takes the place of an object? (This is a method for simple clauses.)

FOLLOWED BY A VERB	FOLLOWED BY A SUBJECT
If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, then it is likely that the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. It cannot be deleted.	If the relative pronoun is followed by a subject noun or pronoun – I, we, he, she, they – then that or who must be the object and it can be deleted.
They guy who showed us his car appears to be honest. (Cannot delete who.) (verb)	The guy [who] we spoke to appears to be honest. (Can delete who.) (subject pronoun)
The guy who sold me the car disappeared. (Cannot delete who.) (verb/	The guy [who/whom] Jack sold the car to is angry. (Can delete who.) (subject pronoun)
The driver who probably hit my car lives next door. (Cannot delete who.) (adverb + verb)	The driver [who] Jack and I probably hit is angry. (Can delete who.) (double subject pronoun)

Advanced Points

Prepositions in Clauses

AT END OF CLAUSE	BEFORE THE RELATIVE PRONOUN
When the verb accepts an indirect object, then the object preposition is likely to occur at the end of the adjective clause. Leaving the preposition at the end of the clause is informal use.	When using whom or which , a preposition belonging to the indirect object is placed before the relative pronoun. This is formal use (academic and business).
The police officer whom I gave my license to took down my information. I gave my license to the officer.	The police officer to whom I gave my license took down my information. I gave my license to the officer.
The police officer who I gave my license to took down my information.	The police officer to who I gave my license took down my information. (Use whom.)
The police officer that I gave my license to took down my information.	The police officer to that I gave my license took down my information. (Use whom.)
The license which he was looking at had expired the week before.	The license at which he was looking had expired the week before.
The license that he was looking at had expired the week before.	The license at that he was looking had expired the week before. (Use which.)

Practice

Taking Classes

Which relative pronoun(s) can complete each sentence?

Select an option to the right. (Internet Explorer users may need to click inside the feedback box to force the text to appear.)

#	FEEDBACK	OPTIONS
1	My friend told me about a student. The student has taken the TOEFL test twelve times! My friend told me about a student has taken the TOEFL test twelve times! Feedback 1	who whom which that
2	The professor didn't know the answer to my question. I talked to the professor. The professor I talked to didn't know the answer to my question. Feedback 2	who whom which that
3	I am looking for a college program. The program offers a lot of computer courses. I am looking for a college program offers a lot of computer courses. Feedback 3	who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that
4	Some of the courses have been very useful. I took the courses last semester. Some of the courses I took last semester have been very useful. Feedback 4	who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that
5	My friend studies with me in the afternoon. My friend is in my Networks class. My friend is in my Networks class studies with me in the afternoon. Feedback 5	who whom which 0 (omit the pronoun)
6	Computer Information Systems is a field of study. The study will guarantee a good job after graduation. Computer Information Systems is a field of study will guarantee a good job after graduation. Feedback 6	who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that
7	The class was Programming with PHP. I didn't do will in the class. The class I didn't do well in was Programming with PHP. Feedback 7	who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that
8	The courses are mostly graphic arts classes. The courses are taught in th evening. The courses are taught in the evening are mostly graphic arts classes. Feedback 8	0 (omit the pronoun) which that who
9.	You should always study the subjects. You really like the subjects. You should always study the subjects you really like. Feedback 9	who 0 (omit the pronoun) which that
10.	A person will do well in life. A person has a positive outlook. A person has a positive outlook will do well in life. Feedback 10	who 0 (omit the pronoun) which