In English grammar, the words that are used instead of nouns fall into the category of pronouns. Let us explore whether the word “whom’’ is a pronoun.
The word “whom’’ does the function of a pronoun in a sentence. It is the objective form of the subject pronoun “who’’. It is used in formal English as an object pronoun. It always works as a verb or preposition object in a sentence.
Let us discuss some interesting facts along with when and some examples in an interesting way.
When is “whom’’ a pronoun?
We can use the word “whom’’ as a pronoun. Let us examine when it works as a pronoun.
The word “whom’’ is always regarded as a pronoun when we use it instead of a noun or a noun phrase to refer to a noun or a noun phrase that has been already mentioned.
Let us see the table where the situations are mentioned when we call the word “whom’’ a pronoun
| Situation | Example | Explanation |
| 1.” Whom’’ is used for introducing information that which person we are talking about. | This is the gentleman whom Soham talked about a moment ago. | In this sentence, the word “whom’’ is used as a pronoun to introduce some information. |
| 2.” Whom’’ is used for asking which person is involved in something. | Whom do you think we should support for the upcoming boxing tournament? | This is the example where the word “whom’’ acts as a pronoun. It is used in place of a noun. |
When is “whom’’ an interrogative pronoun?
The word can be used as an interrogative pronoun to ask questions. Now we shall explore when the word “whom’’ acts as an interrogative pronoun.
The pronoun “whom’’ is an interrogative pronoun when it is used to ask questions or frame an interrogative sentence. It is placed instead of a noun.
Examples of “whom’’ as an interrogative pronoun:
We can use the word “whom’’ to ask questions instead of a noun. Thus it acts as an interrogative pronoun. Here we will discuss some examples in an interesting manner.
Let us view the sentences where the word “whom’’ is used as an interrogative pronoun in an amazing way.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Whom does the teacher ask to answer the question? | In this sentence, the word “whom” is used to frame a question. That is why it falls into the category of interrogative pronoun. |
| 2. Whom did you see on the street yesterday? | In this example, the word “whom’’ acts as an interrogative pronoun that is used to frame a question. |
| 3. Whom is the gift given to? | Here it is seen that the word “whom’’ is acting as an interrogative pronoun that is used to ask a question instead of a noun. |
| 4. Whom did you give the sum to work out? | In this example, the word “whom’’ is used to form a question. It is placed instead of a noun and acts as an interrogative pronoun. |
| 5. Whom did the committee choose as the winner of the noble prize for literature this year? | Here the word “whom’’ works as an interrogative pronoun and has been used to make a question. |
| 6. Whom do you consider your best friend? | In this sentence, the word “whom’’ acts as an interrogative pronoun that is used to make a question. |
| 7. Whom did your father love the most among the four brothers? | In this sentence, the word “whom’’ acts as an interrogative pronoun and is used to ask questions. |
When is “whom’’ a relative pronoun?
The relative pronoun is one type of word that is used to join sentences together. Let us examine when “whom’’ is used as a relative pronoun.
The word “whom” is a relative pronoun in the following ways.
- The word “whom’’ is a relative pronoun when it joins the main clause and sub-clause to frame a complex sentence.
- We use the word “whom’’ as a relative pronoun when it is used to join two different clauses to make a complex sentence.
- We use the word “whom’’ as a relative pronoun in such a way that it joins two clauses. It is placed just after the antecedent i.e. a noun.
Ex- The man saw a beggar whom he gave a ten rupees note.
Explanation- In this sentence, the word “whom’’ is used as a relative pronoun. It connects two clauses together and frames a complex sentence. The word “whom’’ is placed just after the antecedent “beggar” and makes a relation between two clauses.
Examples of “whom’’ as a relative pronoun:
We use “whom’’ is used to connect sentences and frame complex sentences. Let us explore it.
Let us follow the table below containing the sentences where the word “whom’’ is used as a relative pronoun interestingly.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Have you seen the boy whom the teacher scolded for late attendance? | The main clause- Have you seen the boy? The sub-clause- the teacher scolded for late attendance. In this example, these two different clauses are connected by the relative pronoun “whom’’ and make a complex sentence. |
| 2. The man whom you saw yesterday is my father. | In this sentence, the word “whom’’ is used as a relative pronoun. It connects two clauses- the main clause “the man is my father’’ and the dependent clause “you saw yesterday’’ and frames a complex sentence. |
| 3. Do you know the boy whom the teacher praised for standing first in the class? | In this example, the word “whom’’ makes a relationship with the two different clauses- the main clause “do you know the boy?’’ and the sub-clause “the teacher praised for standing first in the class’’ and is used after the antecedent “girl’’ and frames a complex sentence. |
| 4. The girl whom you love is dancing on the stage. | This is the example where the word “whom’’ is used as a relative pronoun and frames a complex sentence by making relation with the main clause “the girl is dancing on the stage’’ and the sub-clause “you love’’. |
| 5. The villagers have a profound love for the boy whom everybody praises. | In this sentence the main clause “the villagers have a profound love for the boy’’ and the dependent clause “everybody praises’’ are related to the word “whom’’ and make a complex sentence. |
| 6. He is the person whom Sulekha is talking about. | This is the example where the word “whom’’ acts as a relative pronoun and connects two different clauses- the main clause “he is the person’’ and the sub-clause “Sulekha is talking about’’. |
| 7. The man whom everyone respects is my grandfather. | Here we see that the word “whom’’ establishes a relationship with the main clause “the man is my grandfather’’ and the sub-clause “everyone respects’’. Thus it makes a complex sentence. |
Is “whom’’ an object pronoun?
The word “whom’’ is a pronoun that is used instead of a noun. Here we shall discuss whether it is an object pronoun.
The word “whom’’ is an object pronoun. It always works as an object in a sentence. It is the object pronoun of the subject pronoun “who’’. It simply means that “who’’ is subject to a verb.
Ex- Whom do you like best?
Explanation- In this example, the object pronoun “whom’’ receives the action. It is the object of the verb “like’’.
Is “whom’’ an indefinite pronoun?
An indefinite pronoun is a word that is used to refer to a person or thing indefinitely. Here we shall explore whether the word “whom’’ is an indefinite pronoun.
We can use the word “whom’’ as an indefinite pronoun by adding “ever’’ with it and then it becomes “whomever”’. It simply refers to someone indefinitely.
Ex- Whomever you see is my friend.
Explanation- In this sentence, the word “whomever’’ is an indefinite pronoun. It refers to someone without indicating a particular person.
When is “whom’’ not considered a pronoun?
We have already learned that the word “whom’’ can be used as a pronoun. But in some situations, it works as an adjective. Let us discuss the fact in an interesting way.
The word “whom’’ is not considered a pronoun when it is used as an adjective clause to describe the noun in the main clause.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Mr. Das is a teacher whom you met a long ago. | In this sentence, we see that the word “whom’’ introduces an adjective clause and describe the noun “Mr.Das’’ in here. |
| 2. This is the player whom we support in the match. | In this sentence, the word “whom’’ introduces the adjective clause and describes the noun “player’’. |
| 3. Deepika went with Salini whom her parents love very much. | Here it is seen that the word “whom’’ introduces a relative clause and tells us more about the noun “Salini’’. |
Conclusion
This article deals with the discussion on “whom’’ as a pronoun along with when, and some examples. It is also about the different usage of the word “whom’’. It will certainly help us a lot while framing sentences with this word.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
