Which is correct? For 10 points, please also explain the reason.
1) You don't know who it is you see.
2) You don't know whom it is you see.
(By the way, this is a line from poetry.)
2006-08-08 18:37:53 · 14 answers · asked by Cosette 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The answer I came up with is "who." The last part of the sentence could be rearranged as "it is who (that) you see." "Who," which is the nominative case, would be correct there.
I also found a source that said "In complicated sentences the who/whom pronoun seems to fulfill both the subject and object functions. When this happens, the subject wins--use who."
http://www.drgrammar.org/faqs/#28
The answers I received from you are very mixed. Because I'm not sure who is most correct (and also has the best reason), I'm putting this question up to vote. Thanks!
2006-08-12 03:43:08 · update #1
"Who" is correct in that sentence.
2006-08-08 18:40:19 · answer #1 · answered by Fall Down Laughing 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The line is taken from a poem, so it is a written sentence and not a spoken or ordinary one. According to standard English grammar, the word WHOM is used in formal or written English instead of WHO when it is the object of a verb or preposition. So, under such a strict situation, the second sentence is stylistically correct.
However, if the first one is assumed to be an ordinary or spoken sentence (used in ordinary conversation), we may well rule that it is also a correct sentence.
2006-08-09 03:41:56 · answer #2 · answered by asok c 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who is the person or persons that; the one that. What or which person or persons?
Whom is the objective case of "who" ("who" is also often used in the objective).
I'm going with number 1 all the way.
2006-08-09 01:47:14 · answer #3 · answered by Zeta 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who. You could say "whom do you wish to see" if you want to use the "whom" word.
In many instances where "whom" was once considered proper English it is now correct to use "who". In the cases where it makes the sentence awkward, "who" is now considered correct. So, what is the age of the poem?
Ain't is also in the dictionary now. Times change.
2006-08-09 01:48:25 · answer #4 · answered by lcmcpa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who.
Every verb with a tense in a sentence must have a subject. And that word is always in the nominative case, so it's "who."
2006-08-09 01:42:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The correct answer is "whom". In order, the sentence would read: You see whom. This makes it the direct object, which whom is.
2006-08-09 01:43:07 · answer #6 · answered by Joe Cool 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whom is correct.
Whom is the object of the phrase "I don't know..."
Try substituting he or him. "Him" sounds better and it's the correct choice.
Hope this helps.
2006-08-09 01:43:53 · answer #7 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 1st one is correct. you don't know who it is you see. 'whom' is mostly preceded by 'to'. or in question form if "whom" is the 1st word in the question, then the same ends with to: (eg.) whom does this belong to?
2006-08-09 01:54:48 · answer #8 · answered by anonymous 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who.
2006-08-09 01:45:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 bcuz it's object
2006-08-09 02:50:58 · answer #10 · answered by nastaran 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whom
split the sentence into two sentences:
1.you don't know.
2.who/whom it is you see.
it is he (who) you see.
[simplify it]
you see he.
it is him (whom) you see.
[simplify it]
you see him.
2006-08-09 02:26:07 · answer #11 · answered by water is poison 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋