English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify relative pronouns in sentences.
Distinguish between the subjective and objective cases of pronouns.
Correctly apply the 'he/him' substitution test to determine whether to use 'who' or 'whom'.
Construct sentences using 'who' as the subject of a relative clause.
Construct sentences using 'whom' as the object of a verb or preposition in a relative clause.
Revise sentences to correct errors in the usage of 'who' and 'whom'.
Ever wondered if you're using 'who' or 'whom' correctly, or why it even matters? 🤔 Let's unlock the secret to sounding super precise and polished!
In this lesson, you'll learn the essential rules for using the relative pronou...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Relative PronounA pronoun (like 'who,' 'whom,' 'whose,' 'which,' 'that') that introduces a dependent clause and connects it to an antecedent (the noun or pronoun it refers to) in the main clause.The student *who* aced the test received a scholarship. ('who' refers to 'student')
Relative ClauseA type of dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun and describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun (its antecedent). It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.The author *whom I admire most* writes fantasy novels. ('whom I admire most' is the relative clause)
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a relative pronoun refers back to or replaces.The teacher, *who* is very pati...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
Rule for 'Who' (Subjective Case)
Use 'who' when the relative pronoun functions as the subject of the verb within its own relative clause.
Think of 'who' as replacing 'he' or 'she'. If you can substitute 'he' or 'she' into the relative clause and it makes sense, then 'who' is the correct choice.
Rule for 'Whom' (Objective Case)
Use 'whom' when the relative pronoun functions as the object of a verb or the object of a preposition within its own relative clause.
Think of 'whom' as replacing 'him' or 'her'. If you can substitute 'him' or 'her' into the relative clause and it makes sense, then 'whom' is the correct choice....
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
In the sentence 'The council will give the award to whoever deserves it most,' why is 'whoever' used instead of 'whomever'?
A.It is the object of the preposition 'to'.
B.It is the subject of the verb 'deserves' within its own clause.
C.It is the object of the verb 'will give'.
D.It is an error; 'whomever' should be used.
Challenging
Which of the following statements provides the most accurate analysis for choosing the pronoun in 'Give the message to ___ is waiting at the front desk'?
A.Use 'whom' because the entire clause is the object of the preposition 'to'.
B.Use 'who' because the pronoun is the subject of the verb 'is waiting'.
C.Use 'whom' because it sounds more formal in this context.
D.Use 'who' because it is the object of the verb 'Give'.
Challenging
Analyze the following sentence: 'The prize will go to the student whom, in the opinion of the judges, has shown the most improvement.' What is the error and how should it be corrected?
A.There is no error; 'whom' is correctly used as an object.
B.The comma after 'whom' is incorrect and should be removed.
C.'whom' is incorrect; it should be 'who' because it is the subject of 'has shown'.
D.'whom' is incorrect; it should be 'that' because 'student' is not a proper noun.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing FreeMore from Pronouns
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 8 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use relative pronouns: who and whom?
Use relative pronouns: who and whom
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.