Relative pronouns also have an object case. In this pattern, the pronoun functions as the “object” in the sentence that follows, and its most important feature is that it can be omitted.
Basic Rules
An object-case relative pronoun is a pattern in which the pronoun becomes the object of the sentence that follows. In “The boy whom I met yesterday is my friend.（The boy I met yesterday is my friend）,” whom functions as the object in “I met _.”
Form: Antecedent + who(m)/which/that + subject + verb + ...
Usage:
- Person → whom (who is also possible in spoken English) / that
- Thing → which / that
In conversation, whom is not often used; it is common to use who, that, or omit the pronoun. In written English, whom is formal.
An object-case relative pronoun can be omitted. “The boy I met yesterday is my friend.” ← It is okay to omit whom. This is the most important feature of the object case.
The book which I bought yesterday is interesting.（The book I bought yesterday is interesting）
The book I bought yesterday is interesting.（which is omitted; same meaning）
The man (whom) I met at the party is a doctor.（The man I met at the party is a doctor）
This is the song that everyone loves.（This is the song everyone loves）
Points to Remember
① How to distinguish subject case from object case: If a verb comes immediately after the relative pronoun, it is subject case. If a subject + verb comes immediately after it, it is object case.
- The girl who plays tennis is my sister. ← who + verb plays → subject case
- The girl I met yesterday is my friend. ← relative pronoun + subject I + verb met → object case
② Rule for omission: An object-case pronoun can be omitted (this is an important point that definitely appears in junior high school). A subject-case pronoun cannot be omitted.
③ Preposition + relative pronoun: There is also an object case with a preposition, as in “The chair on which I am sitting is comfortable.” (junior high school year 3 and high school). In junior high school, it is okay to leave the preposition at the end: “The chair (which) I am sitting on is comfortable.”
④ Practice combining two sentences (object case):
- This is the book. + I bought it yesterday. → This is the book (which/that) I bought yesterday.
- The boy is Tom. + I met him at school. → The boy (whom/that) I met at school is Tom.
- Object case: relative pronoun + subject + verb
- Person → whom (who is also possible) / that; thing → which / that
- An object-case pronoun can be omitted (most important)
- Distinguish subject and object case by the word order immediately after the pronoun
- The preposition may remain at the end
Practice
- Write “This is the book I read yesterday” in English using a relative pronoun (do not omit it).
- Write “The person she likes is Tom” in English (use whom).
- Combine the two sentences into one (omit the relative pronoun): This is the picture. + Tom painted it.