Who or Whom and some adverbs

Grammar book explains when to use who and when to use whom really well.

http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/whoVwhom.asp

 Use the he/him method to decide which word is correct.

he = who

him = whom

Examples:

Who/Whom wrote the letter?

He wrote the letter. Therefore, who is correct.

For who/whom should I vote?

Should I vote for him? Therefore, whom is correct.

We all know who/whom pulled that prank.

This sentence contains two clauses: We all know and who/whom pulled that prank. We are interested in the second clause because it contains the who/whom. He pulled that prank. Therefore, who is correct.

We want to know on who/whom the prank was pulled.

This sentence contains two clauses: We want to know and the prank was pulled on who/whom. Again, we are interested in the second clause because it contains the who/whom. The prank was pulled on him. Therefore, whom is correct.

I know many publishers/editors/agents hate adverbs, and that is because often if you delete them you have not removed any additional information.

 The old man’s bones creaked and groaned as he slowly, gradually lowered himself into the armchair.

Take out gradually or slowly and you still have a clear picture of what happened.

 Words like “just” and “actually” can almost always be deleted without changing the sense of the line.

I just walked in the room and saw him.

I walked in the room and saw him.
I actually walked in the room and saw him.
I walked in the room and saw him.
 

Some authors seem to think if they delete the suffix from a word it magically is not an adverb. Ah no. if you are using it as an adverb you’re now using incorrect grammar instead of the adverb.

When she stood on my toe I yelled loud.

No. You yelled loudly.

But since you can’t yell softly just When she stood on my toe I yelled would work fine.

 

Helen Woodall

helen.woodall@gmail.com

Helen is available to line edit and/ or content edit fiction and non-fiction. Rates on application.