For some reason the whole “who-whom” debate was a comic’s delight, back in the sixties. I remember they made a lot of humour out of it on “Laugh In” and “The Carol Burnett Show” for example. “To whooom do you wish to speak?” was sure to get a big laugh then. It was a lot funnier than constant profanity could ever be.
Toonguy is the most correct of the respondents above :) Mr Roberts is correct that it’s a subject-object difference. In languages like Latin, case was (is?) critical. Some people try to force English into a Latin style, but there is no need.Briefly: He passed the ball to her — He is the subject pronoun (who happens to be a subject pronoun); passed is the verb; (the) ball is the object. “Her” is being used as part of the object (whom is an object pronoun). So Who passed the ball to whom works, in the active voice. Or, in the passive voice, To whom was the ball passed? (Notice the object precedes the verb in this passive sentence, and there is no subject, so ‘who’ is not an option in this sentence.) A preposition is not required, though it does simplify things.
Or, just use who for both subject and object and tell people that you speak 21st century English, not 17th century English :)
Templo S.U.D. almost 6 years ago
Depends on whom you’re asking. (Interesting to ask a grammar question when playing a sport.)
knight1192a almost 6 years ago
Fifty-fifty you’ll lose 575 to zip or 595 to zip.
orinoco womble almost 6 years ago
For some reason the whole “who-whom” debate was a comic’s delight, back in the sixties. I remember they made a lot of humour out of it on “Laugh In” and “The Carol Burnett Show” for example. “To whooom do you wish to speak?” was sure to get a big laugh then. It was a lot funnier than constant profanity could ever be.
eddie6192 almost 6 years ago
Lucy got that right…….both grammatically and figuratively.
Nyckname almost 6 years ago
Good thing he isn’t the catcher, ‘cause he can’t see anything coming.
mai griffin almost 6 years ago
Lucy is WRONG… Whom is only correct when preceded by a preposition… One of those words with which you should not end a sentence!!
F-Flash almost 6 years ago
We Luv Lucy !!
ToonGuy300 almost 6 years ago
Grammar can be confusing at times.
MooToons almost 6 years ago
If you say who repeatedly you can practice having a baby!
JastMe almost 6 years ago
Toonguy is the most correct of the respondents above :) Mr Roberts is correct that it’s a subject-object difference. In languages like Latin, case was (is?) critical. Some people try to force English into a Latin style, but there is no need.Briefly: He passed the ball to her — He is the subject pronoun (who happens to be a subject pronoun); passed is the verb; (the) ball is the object. “Her” is being used as part of the object (whom is an object pronoun). So Who passed the ball to whom works, in the active voice. Or, in the passive voice, To whom was the ball passed? (Notice the object precedes the verb in this passive sentence, and there is no subject, so ‘who’ is not an option in this sentence.) A preposition is not required, though it does simplify things.
Or, just use who for both subject and object and tell people that you speak 21st century English, not 17th century English :)
Ray Helvy Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Who is kidding whom, here?