Which is the correct phrase to use in a sentence, "from who" or "from whom"?
2023-06-26
This is what goPenpal answered
First off, the correct phrase to use is "from whom". Here's why: English pronouns have five different cases: nominative, objective, possessive, reflexive, and interrogative. In the case of "whom", it's used in objective and interrogative cases to indicate the object of an action - that is, the recipient. "From whom" is correct because "whom" is the object of the preposition "from".
To illustrate, consider this example: "From whom did you receive the letter?" Here, "whom" refers to the person who gave you the letter, hence it's an object.
The confusion with "who" and "whom" arises because contemporary English usage often favor the nominative form ("who"), even when grammar mandates the objective ("whom"). In fact, many people today consider "whom" to be old-fashioned or overly formal, and so they opt for "who" instead. Still, if you want to be grammatically accurate, "from whom" is the way to go.
A handy trick, think about answering the corresponding question—if you’d answer with “him” or “her”, use “whom”, as both end in "m". If you’d answer with “he” or “she”, use “who”.
So, to wrap up: "from whom" is grammatically accurate, but it's worth bearing in mind that its usage may signal a high degree of formality or careful attention to the rules of English grammar. However, now you've got the knowledge to decide which to use based on your context!
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