Lesson 4
personality and character
[wptb id=9129]
Using “it” as an empty object or as an empty subject
We can use it as an ‘empty’ subject or as an ‘empty’ object. It is ‘empty’ because it doesn’t refer to anything in particular.
It+when:
I love it when I get phone calls on my birthday.
I like it when you call me sweetheart
It bothers me when people lie to me
It really upsets me when my friends arrive late.
I can’t stand it when people aren’t honest with me.
Request with Modals + “IF” clauses
Less formal
Can I borrow your pen?
Could you please lend me a tie?
More formal
Do you mind if I use your headphones?
Would it be OK if I use your landline?
Would you mind If I borrowed your laptop?
Would you mind letting me borrow your screwdriver?
I wonder if I could borrow $25.
I was wondering if you’d mind lending me your car.
Urban personalities
[wptb id=9178]
Relative pronoun
Relative pronouns as subjects
I like people who/that are sincere.
I really like a person who/that is direct.
Relative pronouns as objects
I’d prefer someone [ who/that ] I can dance with.
Without “who/that”: I’d prefer someone I can dance with.
My friend is someone [ who/that ] I can talk to.
Without “who/that”: My friend is someone I can talk to.
Who whom whose
Who Definition
Who is a subject pronoun, meaning it is used in a sentence or clause as a subject. As you remember, the subject of a sentence is the one doing the action. In the sentences below, Harvey and they are the subjects. Harvey played racquetball with Jay. They met at the gym on Sunday. Who has the meaning of what or which person(s) when it’s in its interrogative (questioning) form.
You will often find who is used as a question like this:
- Who is coming for dinner tonight?
- Who are you?
- Who was with you yesterday?
But the interrogative form of who is not always used as a direct question:
- We must find out who they are.
- I will decide what to do when we know who has made the team.
Notice that in the above examples, the sentences would still make sense ifwho was replaced with what person or which person/which persons. Who can also be used as a relative clause, often used to refer back to someone in a sentence, or to refer to a group of people or animals.
- My mother, who was a tall woman, was a brilliant bridge player.
- The current generation is one who knows nothing of American history.
- The dogs who wag their tails are usually friendly.
Whom Definition
Whom is an object pronoun, defined as the objective case of who. As we have seen above, who acts as the subject of the sentence, whereas whom acts as the object of the sentence. In the sentence used above about Harvey and Jay playing racquetball, Jay is the object. Harvey played racquetball with Jay.
Notice that whom never acts as the subject of the sentence in these examples:
- Sara met two men in the airport, one of whom she has known since childhood in the village.
- The coach picked Alexander, whom he believed to be the best goalie on the team.
- Whom should I speak with about setting up the dance?
You can see from the examples above that the sentences would make sense if a) you replaced whom with an object pronoun: him, me, us, her or them, or b) if you answered the question and the answer is an object pronoun.
- Sara met two men in the airport, one of them she has known since childhood in the village.
- The coach picked Alexander, as he believed him (Alexander) to be the best goalie on the team.
- You should speak with me/her/him/them/us?
Whose Definition
Whose is a possessive pronoun, which has three different functions:
As the possessive case of who (used as an adjective).
- The coach chose someone whose record is strong.
- I told the teacher whose fault it was.
As the possessive case of which (used as an adjective).
- We spoke to the man whose name escaped me.
- A snake whose skin sheds annually.
The one or ones belonging to a person or persons.
- Whose car is parked in the driveway?
- Whose ticket is this?
- Whose coat were you wearing?