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STUDENT LESSON SUMMARY
LESSON
15
COPYMASTER
Who, Whom, Whose, and Who’s
ACADEMIC VOCABULARY
clause:
a part of a sentence, that in itself contains a subject and a verb
dependent clause:
cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence
predicate pronoun: a pronoun that follows is, are , was, were, etc., and that
refers back to the subject
contraction:
two words joined by an apostrophe that replaces missing letters
possessive form:
or belonging
adjective form of a noun or a pronoun showing ownership
HERE’S HOW
Step 1: If the sentence is a question, rewrite it as a statement. This will
help determine the correct form of the pronoun.
Step 2: Decide if the pronoun is used as a subject or an object.
Step 3: Select the correct form according to the usage rules as follows:
• Rule 1: Use who as the subject of a sentence or a dependent clause.
Who knows the story of Mulan, a heroine of old China? (subject of a sentence)
No one knows who wrote that ballad about Mulan. (subject of a clause)
• Rule 2: Use who as a predicate pronoun. A predicate noun or predicate pronoun
Grammar 15
Copyright by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company
EXAMPLES
follows a form of the verb to be.
EXAMPLE
The heroine in that story was who?
• Rule 3: Use whom as the direct or indirect object of a verb or as the object of a
preposition.
EXAMPLES
Whom did Mulan fool? (direct object)
She told whom the secret of her identity? (indirect object)
The general to whom I spoke was clearly the leader. (object of a preposition)
• Rule 4: Use who’s as a contraction, whose as a possessive. Who’s means who is or
who has. Whose is a pronoun that shows possession or ownership.
EXAMPLES
Who’s the author of that ballad? (Who is)
Who’s got a copy of the ballad? (Who has)
Whose copy is this? (ownership)
• Rule 5: Use whoever and whomever as you would who and whom.
EXAMPLES
Invaders caused trouble for whoeverwas in their way. (subject of a clause)
They sing the ballad of Mulan to whomever they meet. (direct object of a verb)
Standards Lesson Files
Book 5: Grammar
Grade 9
133
Name
LESSON
15
Date
PRACTICE WORKSHEET A
COPYMASTER
Who, Whom, Whose, and Who’s
Directions: For each sentence, choose the correct pronoun in parentheses. Write the pronoun
in the blank to complete the sentence.
went to war disguised as a
1. The Chinese heroine (who / whom)
man was portrayed in the popular movie Mulan.
2. In the movie, Mulan’s father, (who / whom)
has fought bravely in
the past, is ordered to serve again in the army.
3. Mulan is afraid that her father, (who / whom)
she loves very
much, is now too old to go to war.
4. Mulan disguises herself and takes his place so that (whoever / whomever)
sees her will think she is a man.
5. During the war, the soldiers discover (who / whom)
Mulan
really is.
6. You may ask, “(Who / Whom)
was the real Mulan?”
7. Historians think she was a real person about (who / whom)
a
famous poem was written more than a thousand years ago.
8. The emperor offered her a reward; but Mulan, (who / whom)
9. Mulan’s identity was not discovered until comrades with (who / whom)
Grammar 15
she had fought visited her at home.
10. For (whoever / whomever)
is curious, the name Mulan means
“magnolia.”
134
Book 5: Grammar
Grade 9
Standards Lesson Files
Copyright by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company
wished to go home, accepted only a fine horse.
Name
Date
LESSON
15
PRACTICE WORKSHEET B
COPYMASTER
Who, Whom, Whose, and Who’s
A. Directions: For each sentence, choose the correct pronoun in parentheses. Write the
pronoun in the blank to complete the sentence.
doesn’t know at least something about circuses?
1. (Who / Whom)
2. Few people know much about the remarkable man for (who / whom)
the most famous circus is named.
3. P. T. Barnum’s life would interest (who / whom)
has visited
a circus.
4. Barnum, (who / whom)
was from Connecticut, moved to New
York City when he was in his early twenties.
5. His American Museum attracted many people (who / whom)
came to see such attractions as Jumbo the Giant Elephant.
6. (Whoever / Whomever)
visited the museum had a memorable
time.
(7.) Barnum’s museum was successful, but it could be seen only by whomever
could travel to New York. (8.) Who had this ingenious, imaginative showman
failed to reach? (9.) Barnum was sure that if his show could travel, it would attract
those whom were unable to get to New York. (10.) In 1871, Barnum organized
a railroad tour, whose goal was a wider market. (11.) The tour brought his show
within reach of whomever lived in towns along the route. (12.) Today, over a
century later, the circus comes to many towns, thanks to Barnum, without whom
the show might never have gone on the road.
Standards Lesson Files
Grammar 15
Copyright by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company
B. Directions: Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting any errors you find in the use
of who, whom, whose, and who’s.
Book 5: Grammar
Grade 9
135