Grammarians, please help!

[snagglepuss]

I am translating a text into English and I have a grammatical question. Which of the following is correct?

A) I have only one daughter who I cherish dearly.
B) I have only one daughter whom I cherish dearly.

I know that:
1) 'Who' is a nominative pronoun, 'whom' is an objective pronoun.
2) 'Who' can usually be replaced with 'he' (another nominative pronoun).
3) 'Whom' can usually be replaced with 'him' (another objective pronoun).
4) 'Who' is used as a relative pronoun to introduce a clause when the antecedent is a person.

Since the subject is actually one daughter, we can say, My one daughter, who I cherish dearly, is also my only daughter. This would support answer (A).

But, we can also say, I cherish him dearly. This would support answer (B).

I still think the answer is (A) because of (4) -- one daughter is the antecedent, I think -- but I'm not sure. Any thoughts or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Thanks for your help.

 

[john937]

Since the subject is actually one daughter, we can say, My one daughter, who I cherish dearly, is also my only daughter. This would support answer (A).

The subject of your thought may be the one daughter, but technically in this sentence the subject is "I" the verb is "have" and the object is "daughter". which makes my answer "B" whom.

To use it in a nomnitive case would be "I, who cherish her, have only one daughter", pretty awkward construction.

 

[snagglepuss]

thanks.

I agree that my daughter is the object of the sentence. I meant only that it is the subject of the relative clause. But I still think the answer is (A) because of rule (4): a relative pronoun to introduce a clause when the antecedent is a person. the antecedent is daughter, which is a person. I guess I'm wondering if anyone can quote from a grammar or a style manual that says whom can also be used as an antecedent in this context.

 

[john937]

Who/Whom http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/who.html

 

[snagglepuss]

I see. I'm glad I asked. Thanks!

 

[john937]

AAh this is better. http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/whoVwhom.html


Rule. Use the he/him method to decide which word is correct.

he = who
him = whom

Examples Who/Whom wrote the letter?
He wrote the letter. Therefore, who is correct.

For who/whom should I vote?
Should I vote for him? Therefore, whom is correct.

We all know who/whom pulled that prank.
This sentence contains two clauses: We all know and who/whom pulled that prank. We are interested in the second clause because it contains the who/whom. He pulled that prank. Therefore, who is correct.


I guess in your case its
"I have one daughter, I cherish her dearly"

 

[snagglepuss]

Perfect! That makes it really clear. The exercises link from that page helped a lot, too.

 

[john937]

Is this the only thread today that came to clear cut resolution ?

 

[snagglepuss]

Hee hee. I guess grammar just doesn't inspire the same emotion as armpit licking, politics, or the many other polemical topics which grace this board.

 

[smallmovesal]

*cues family feud* good answer ryan, good answer!

 

[samoth]

That's a WTF moment, seeing the last poster of a thread as Smalls, lol.



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