- #1
Eclair_de_XII
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Forgive me for not using the word "correct" as an absolute adjective. Anyway, consider the following sentence.
The adjective phrase "you nominated" modifies the noun "person". Optionally, the noun "person" can be followed by a relative pronoun.
Which is pronoun is "more correct"?
On one hand, you have "that", which is typically used in conjunction with an object, which is acted upon by some verb. In this case, "person" is the object acted upon by the verb "nominated", which is acted by "you". However, it is commonly understood that "that", when used as a relative pronoun, is generally reserved for non-sapient objects. Hence, the use of "that" would be incorrect in this sense.
On the other hand, you have "who", which is used for sapient subjects. As previously discussed, "person" is the object, rather than the subject in this noun phrase. However, "person" is in reference to a human, which is sapient.
I am well-aware that using "whom" in this context is "most correct", as it is for objects that/who happen to be sapient. But I am also ridiculously terrible at using this word consistently. I am well aware of what it is for, but I am rarely ever able to identify when it is most appropriate to use it in normal speech and correspondences.
Alternatively, omitting the relative pronoun, as I have done initially, is also acceptable. But suppose that you had to choose between one of the two more common relative pronouns. Which would be more correct?
The adjective phrase "you nominated" modifies the noun "person". Optionally, the noun "person" can be followed by a relative pronoun.
Which is pronoun is "more correct"?
On one hand, you have "that", which is typically used in conjunction with an object, which is acted upon by some verb. In this case, "person" is the object acted upon by the verb "nominated", which is acted by "you". However, it is commonly understood that "that", when used as a relative pronoun, is generally reserved for non-sapient objects. Hence, the use of "that" would be incorrect in this sense.
On the other hand, you have "who", which is used for sapient subjects. As previously discussed, "person" is the object, rather than the subject in this noun phrase. However, "person" is in reference to a human, which is sapient.
I am well-aware that using "whom" in this context is "most correct", as it is for objects that/who happen to be sapient. But I am also ridiculously terrible at using this word consistently. I am well aware of what it is for, but I am rarely ever able to identify when it is most appropriate to use it in normal speech and correspondences.
Alternatively, omitting the relative pronoun, as I have done initially, is also acceptable. But suppose that you had to choose between one of the two more common relative pronouns. Which would be more correct?