Grammar question: who vs. whom?

[WhaWhaWha]

And it started so well. But you completely recast the sentence when you inserted "he" and "him":
I have a good idea of who he is as a person.
I have a good idea of whom him is as a person.

It is, as Yippee stated, the entire phrase (or clause or whatever) which is answering the "what" question: I have a good idea of what? Of who he is as a person.

Or, I have a good idea of what? Of who I am as a person. Thus: I have a good idea of who I am as a person.

And I'm so glad that Gen agreed, 'cuz she knows her stuff pretty well and I'd hate to have to be on the other side of the discussion from her.

So close...

You are in fact correct. I recast the sentence. Had to do it, otherwise the substitution makes no sense. Once I had the correct pronoun ("him"), I reverted back to the original sentence knowing 'whom' was correct.

"I have a good idea of whom I am as a person" is correct

 

[Anynym]

So close...

You are in fact correct. I recast the sentence. Had to do it, otherwise the substitution makes no sense. Once I had the correct pronoun ("him"), I reverted back to the original sentence knowing 'whom' was correct.

"I have a good idea of whom I am as a person" is correct

No.

"I have a good idea of who I am as a person" is correct. The "he/him" rule-of-thumb cannot be applied if you've changed the underlying sentence structure, which you did.

"I have a good idea of whom he speaks." ("I have a good idea whom he speaks of" would end the sentence improperly.)

That's the form you're thinking of, and the instance where "whom" is correct. I have a good idea of what? Of whom he speaks. Or, Of whom? Of whom he speaks.

But the original was "who I am as a person", where the entire phrase acts singularly: the phrase is built around "I am" (the sense of self), with "as a person" modifying that, and "who" leading into that phrase "I am as a person".

 

[Pencap]

Would either of these be considered a horrible mistake on a piece of formal writing (ie: cover letter for professional job, personal statement for grad school, etc, article for a trade publication?).

It seems like this answer is not an obvious one, and can stump some pretty well-educated people.

P

 

[yippie]

I just copied Yippee's answer. It's his fault

Then I hope you never see me jumping off a bridge.

I complement Gen on her spelling.

 

[genintoronto]

Would either of these be considered a horrible mistake on a piece of formal writing (ie: cover letter for professional job, personal statement for grad school, etc, article for a trade publication?).

It seems like this answer is not an obvious one, and can stump some pretty well-educated people.

P

I don't think that your letter will be send to the trash for it, if that's what you worry about.

 

[yippie]

Yes and the funny part is that those who use 'whom' in an attempt to sound upper-class often sound like fools because they almost always use it incorrectly. It always makes me laugh...

And as we've discussed in person, people like you who pronounce the 'T' in 'often' have always impressed me.

 

[genintoronto]

Then I hope you never see me jumping off a bridge.

I complement Gen on her spelling.

I think you mean compliment this time.

Com·ple·ment
Pronunciation: \ˈkäm-plə-mənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin complementum, from complēre to fill up, complete, from com- + plēre to fill — more at full.
Date: 14th century
1 a : something that fills up, completes, or makes perfect b : the quantity, number, or assortment required to make a thing complete <the usual complement of eyes and ears — Francis Parkman>; especially : the whole force or personnel of a ship c : one of two mutually completing parts : counterpart;
[...]
4 : an added word or expression by which a predication is made complete (as president in “they elected him president” and beautiful in “he thought her beautiful”).

Com·pli·ment
Pronunciation: \ˈkäm-plə-mənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to be courteous.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comply
Date: 1598
1 a : an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration; especially : an admiring remark b : formal and respectful recognition

 

[vanessafoxx647]

Use 'who'

'Whom' is more like you are speaking of others(plural) where 'who' is steered more towards a single subject, it's more general(singular)

Example: Who is she? Who are these people? (asking for a general answer)
Whom am I speaking with? Whom do you trust? (asking for one or the other)

Hope that helps

 

[Anynym]

I think you mean compliment this time.

Maybe he means that you complete him. (In which case, "complement" would be apropos.)