16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardWho versus whom as object of a preposition

Standard English Conventions practice question

The archivist could not identify the soldier to ____ the unsigned letters had been addressed.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. whomCorrect
  2. B. who
  3. C. which
  4. D. whose

Answer: A. whom

The pronoun is the object of 'to', so the object form 'whom' is required.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. who
'Who' is the subject form; here the pronoun is the object of 'to'.
C. which
'Which' is not used for people.
D. whose
'Whose' is possessive and makes no sense here.

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