By Relative pronouns, Whom

In a very formal situation, the relative pronoun 'whom' could be used. In real life conversation, though, 'who' and that' are more usual, the latter being preferred. It is also possible, and even more common, to omit the relative pronoun altogether: He is the only man we need.

Hi, everyone. Someone said that when using a relative pronoun after the word 'the only person', they prefer to use 'that' as a relative pronoun rather than 'who'. Is that correct? For example: He is the only man that we need.He is the only man that can do it. I think the word 'who' or 'whom'(in...

Anonymous wrote: Hi there, 1. Note from these examples, that in statements when the preposition is placed at the end of the clause, we can use that instead of who or which or we can omit the relative pronoun completely. I don't understand the function of the underlined that in this sentence...

She has found relatives whom she never knew is needed in this context to make better sense. Whom -is the relative pronoun in this clause for the existed relatives.

Thanks Clive, I think I understand what you are saying, but it would take me a while to learn this as it is not clear to me when a context switches from plural to singular ('they' is always plural to me). I believe that is something I have to learn from experience as there is no grammar rules to...

That does not mean your second sentence analysis is correct, but that we are of the same opinion. when is an adverb and conjunction, but not a relative pronoun. In modern English there are five relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, and whose.

No, it's not mandatory. However, if you use it, in formal contexts, who should be replaced with whom, as it's grouped with a preposition (about). Especially in BrE.

CalifJim wrote:insects which / insects that insects with whichI'm astonished at "insects who".CJ Like CJ, I'm surprised to see 'who' used in relation to insects. The relative pronoun ‘who’ can be used only with humans. In children’s stories, animal characters are personalised and we can...

Hi Inchoateknowledge, frantically is an adverb, not an adjective. ( I agree) Is it that modifies the adjective word "even"? even frantically is not a clause, because it does not contain a verb. It is an adverb phrase. (I agree but I've never said even frantically was a clause.) The dog...

Hi Inchoateknowledge, frantically is an adverb, not an adjective. ( I agree) Is it that modifies the adjective word "even"? even frantically is not a clause, because it does not contain a verb. It is an adverb phrase. (I agree but I've never said even frantically was a clause.) The dog...