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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Help using relative clauses    

Help using relative clauses



joanadelmar
Portugal

Help using relative clauses
 

Which do you think is the best sentence or are all of them correct?


Join the two sentences using a relative pronoun:

 

Kevin Mitnick is a famous hacker.

We read about him in the papers.

 


Kevin Mitnick, who we read about in the papers, is a famous hacker.

 

Kevin Mitnick, whom we read about in the papers, is a famous hacker.

 

Kevin Mitnick, about whom we read in the papers, is a famous hacker.

 


Thanks!

29 May 2017      





maryse pey�
France

A simpler sentence may be : We read about Kevin Mitnick, (who is) a famous hacker, in the papers.
 
Otherwise the 3 sentences sound grammatically right to me but not really natural. I may be wrong of course and several opinions are better than only one.

29 May 2017     



redcamarocruiser
United States

In this sentence, "Kevin Mitnick, whom we read about...." we should use whom because Kevin is the object. 
 
Kevin Mittnick, about whom we read, is also correct.
 
�Who �,  the nominative case, is only used with subjects in a sentence.
 
"whom we read about" gets 217,000 hits in google.
 
"who we read about" got 10 hits.

29 May 2017     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

To my English ears, �whom � sounds pretentious; it �s going, leaving the language. You rarely hear it, although you do read it, still. To be honest, I use it occasionally and it makes me feel smug, superior! 
Of course, it is correct, but anyone under 30, 40? wouldn �t know how to use it. Language changes and I regret the loss of �whom � but its days are numbered.  

30 May 2017     



joanadelmar
Portugal

I agree with you cunliffe: it sounds pretentious, but it �s gramatically correct.
 
maryse peyé, Thanks for making it simpler.
 
Thanks for your help cunliffe, redcamarocruiser and maryse peyé.
 
Have a nice week.  

30 May 2017     



RabbitWho
Czech Republic

Yes, you can always use whom when "who" is the object of the clause.

30 May 2017     



nawfel
Algeria

 

Kevin Mitnick is such a famous hacker that we read about him in the papers

31 May 2017     



scottmason
Albania

2 and 3 are grammaticaly correct. "Who" the nominative case, is only used with subjects in a sentence. I think this might be helpful: Spanish to English. It offers daily grammar & vocabulary lessons and instant translation!

31 Jul 2017