Discuss the use of 'who' and 'whom' in relative clauses.

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Discuss the use of 'who' and 'whom' in relative clauses.

In English grammar, relative clauses are used to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are introduced by relative pronouns, such as 'who' and 'whom', among others. The use of 'who' and 'whom' in relative clauses depends on their function within the clause.

1. 'Who' as a subject:
When 'who' is used as the subject of a relative clause, it refers to people. For example:
- The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
In this sentence, 'who' is the subject of the relative clause "who lives next door." It refers to the woman and introduces additional information about her.

2. 'Whom' as an object:
'Whom' is used as the object of a verb or preposition in a relative clause. It also refers to people. For example:
- The man whom I met yesterday is my new boss.
Here, 'whom' is the object of the verb 'met' in the relative clause "whom I met yesterday." It refers to the man and provides more information about him.

3. 'Who' as an object:
Although traditionally 'whom' is used as the object pronoun, in modern English, 'who' is often used instead, especially in informal contexts. For example:
- The teacher who I spoke to was very helpful.
In this sentence, 'who' is the object of the verb 'spoke to' in the relative clause "who I spoke to." It refers to the teacher and gives additional information about them.

It is important to note that 'whom' is more formal and is typically used in more formal writing or when the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition. However, in everyday conversation and informal writing, 'who' is commonly used in both subject and object positions.

In summary, 'who' is used as the subject of a relative clause, while 'whom' is used as the object. However, in modern English, 'who' is often used as the object pronoun in informal contexts. The choice between 'who' and 'whom' depends on the function they serve within the relative clause and the level of formality in the context.