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Who, Whom, Semicolons, and Colons. Who and Whom. In questions, use who for subjects and whom for direct and indirect objects and for objects of a preposition. Who won the game? [ Who is the subject of the verb won ]
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Who and Whom • In questions, use who for subjects and whom for direct and indirect objects and for objects of a preposition. • Who won the game? [Who is the subject of the verb won] • Whom did you meet this morning? [Whom is the direct object of the verb did meet]
Who and Whom • When a question includes an interrupting expression,such as did you say or did you think, try omitting the expression to determine whether to use who or whom. • Who did you say called yesterday? [Ask yourself: Who called yesterday. You can then determine that who is the subject of the verb called]
Who and Whom • Use the nominative pronouns who and whoever for subjects and predicate nominatives in subordinate clauses. • The police knew who had done it. [Who is the subject of the clause who had done it] • We realized who the perpetrator was. [Who is the predicate nominative of the noun clause who the perpetrator was] • The detectives will find whoever is guilty. [Whoever is the subject of the noun clause whoever is guilty]
Who and Whom • Use the objective pronouns whom and whomever for direct and indirect objects and for objects of a preposition in subordinate clauses. • We wondered whom he had called last night. [Whom is the direct object of the verb had called in the noun clause whom he had called last night. ] • She is a person for whom I have great respect. [Whom is the object of the preposition for in the adjective clause for whom I have great respect.] • The new employee will be whomever the employer selects. [Whomever is the direct object of the verb selects in the noun clause whomever the employer selects]
Who and Whom • When speaking informally, people often use who in place of whom in sentences such as this one: Who did you call? In formal writing and speech, however, it is important to make the correct distinction between who and whom.
Colons (to introduce) • Lists • Use a colon to introduce a list, especially after a statement that uses such words as these, the following, or as follows. • To make pasta, follow these instructions: (1) boil water, (2) add pasta, (3) stir until boil, (4) cook for 15 minutes • Do not use a colon if a list immediately follows a verb or preposition. • I enjoy many different kinds of music, such as jazz, rock, and Tex-Mex.
Colons (to introduce) • 2. Illustrations or restatements • Use a colon to introduce material that illustrates, explains, or restates preceding material. • The American presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson have something in common: They both died on July 4, 1826 • Note that a complete sentence following a colon is capitalized.
Colons before quotations • Use a colon to introduce a long or formal quotation. A formal quotation is often preceded by such words as this, these, the following, or as follows. • Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice opens with the following satirical comment: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Colons (quotations) • Quotations of poetry that are longer than one line and quotations of prose that are longer than four or five lines are generally written below the introductory statement and indented on the page. • “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” contains this stanza: Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.
Other Uses • Use a colon between the hour and the minute of the precise time, between the chapter and the verse in a biblical reference, and after the salutation of a business letter. • 7:05 a.m. Dear Sir or Madam: • Proverbs 12:2-3 Member of the committee:
Semicolons to separate main clauses • Use a semicolon to separate main clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, nor, yet, and for) • Claes Oldenburg designs sculptures and monuments of familiar objects; his sculpture Hamburger with Pickle and Tomato Attached is one of his best-known works.
continued • Use a semicolon to separate main clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb (such as however, therefore, nevertheless, moreover, furthermore, and consequently) or by an expression such as for example or that is. • In general, a conjunctive adverb or expression such as in fact or for example is followed by a comma. • Oldenburg once designed a giant pair of scissors as a monument; moreover, he has made sculptures of fans and vacuum cleaners.
Semicolons and Commas • Use a semicolon to separate the items in a series when these items contain commas. • Three contemporary writers who have helped capture the African American experience are Nikki Giovanni, a poet; Alice Walker, a novelist; and August Wilson, a playwright.
Semicolons and Commas • Use a semicolon to separate two main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction when such clauses already contain several commas. • Langston Hughes, perhaps the most famous figure of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote poetry, fiction, music, and drama; but he is also remembered as a patron of the arts, a man who nurtured the careers of others.
