Question

Which one should I use in this sentence - "from who" or "from whom"?

2023-04-17

This is what goPenpal answered

Ah, the age-old question of "who" versus "whom"! It's a common grammatical conundrum that often perplexes even the most seasoned language users. Let me break it down for you.

First, let's establish the difference between "who" and "whom." "Who" is a subject pronoun, used when referring to the person performing an action. For example, "Who ate the cake?" The subject pronoun "who" refers to the person doing the eating.

On the other hand, "whom" is an object pronoun, used when referring to the person receiving an action. For example, "To whom did you give the cake?" The object pronoun "whom" refers to the person receiving the cake.

So, in the case of your question, "from who" or "from whom," we need to determine whether "who(m)" is the subject or object of the preposition "from."

In this case, "who" sounds right to our ears, but technically it is incorrect. "From" is a preposition, and when "whom" is the object of a preposition, we use "whom." Therefore, the correct usage is "from whom."

For example, "From whom did you receive the letter?" or "From whom did you hear the news?"

Remember, grammar can be tricky, but understanding the difference between subject and object pronouns will help you navigate these types of questions with ease.

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