16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumRelative pronouns

Standard English Conventions practice question

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Marie Curie, ____ won Nobel Prizes in two different sciences, remains a scientific icon.

  1. A. which
  2. B. whoCorrect
  3. C. whom
  4. D. that

Answer: B. who

The pronoun refers to a person (Marie Curie) and is the subject of 'won', so use 'who'. 'Which' is for things; 'whom' is for objects; 'that' isn't used in this nonrestrictive, comma-set clause.

Why the other answers are wrong

A. which
'Which' refers to things, not people, and Marie Curie is a person.
C. whom
'Whom' is for objects, but this pronoun is the subject doing the action in 'won Nobel Prizes' — that calls for 'who.'
D. that
'That' isn't used in a nonrestrictive clause set off by commas, and it's not the standard choice for referring to a person.

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