English Grammar

Who - whom

Merlin

User since 2020
Posts: 3

8 Sept. 2020

In one lesson the following example was given:

Bruno: Excuse me, Polly, but I found a half-eaten pizza from two weeks ago lying on the floor in the break room. I want to know whose pizza that is, and I want to know now.
Polly: Very well, sir. I'll find out who it belongs to and have it cleaned up within the hour.

In the answer from Polly I wonder about the answer with "who". Shouldn't it be "whom"?
So:
Very well, Sir. I'll find out whom it belongs to and have it cleaned up within the hour.

Any ideas?

2 comments

Pierre Pechercondou
User since 2018
Posts: 14
17 Sept. 2020

Hi, Merlin
No, the phrase " I'll find out who it belongs" is correct.
If you want to use whom :
I will find out the one to whom it belongs
Hi, Merlin No, the phrase " I'll find out who it belongs" is correct. If you want to use whom : I will find out the one to whom it belongs
Merlin
User since 2020
Posts: 3
19 Sept. 2020

Hi Pierre,
thanks for your answer. But still I don't understand why who is correct.
I checked in several grammar books and what I found is the same as my understanding is... which may be wrong :-).
"Who" is the subject of a clause while "whom" is the object of a clause.
And in the example "who" is used as the object and not the subject. Or am I making a translation error?
Hi Pierre, thanks for your answer. But still I don't understand why who is correct. I checked in several grammar books and what I found is the same as my understanding is... which may be wrong :-). "Who" is the subject of a clause while "whom" is the object of a clause. And in the example "who" is used as the object and not the subject. Or am I making a translation error?

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