16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardWho versus whom

Standard English Conventions practice question

The award went to the volunteer ____ the selection committee had nominated.

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 committee nominated the volunteer, so the pronoun is the OBJECT of 'had nominated'. The object form is 'whom'. (Test: 'the committee had nominated HIM', not 'HE'.)

Why the other answers are wrong

B. who
'who' is the subject form. Here the volunteer isn't doing the nominating — the committee is.
C. which
'which' refers to things, not people.
D. whose
'whose' shows possession, but nothing belongs to the volunteer in this clause.

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