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Standard English ConventionsHardWho versus whom as subject of a clause

Standard English Conventions practice question

The scholarship goes to the student ____ the committee believes will benefit most from a year abroad.

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

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

Answer: A. who

The pronoun is the subject of 'will benefit' (the committee believes [she] will benefit), so 'who'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. whom
'Whom' is an object form, but here the pronoun is the subject of 'will benefit'.
C. which
'Which' is not used for people.
D. whose
'Whose' is possessive and makes no sense here.

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