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Noun Phrases
Written: Conversation:
Someone whom you know told me all about what happened. Someone that you know told me all about what happened.
However, we do not use that instead of who or whom if the antecedent is a proper noun. For example, we would say this: My Aunt Mary, whom you saw at the reception, asked about you. rather than this: X My Aunt Mary, that you saw at the reception, asked about you. However, if we used the common noun aunt, then we would be likely to use that in conversation: The aunt that you saw at the reception asked about you.
Exercise 4.8 All of the following sentences are written in an informal, conversational style. Rewrite the sentences in a more formal style by changing that to who and whom where appropriate. If no change is necessary, write OK above that. who
The person that normally schedules the deliveries is not here today. 1. We certainly owe the staff that worked on the project a big thanks. 2. It was all the proof that we needed. 3. We deserve the politicians that we elect to office. 4. Most Americans think the people that live in Texas are a little strange. 5. The few pedestrians that we saw out were all dressed in heavy jackets. 6. We have no accurate record of all the sales that we made in July. 7. The crowds that had filled the streets earlier had all disappeared. 8. We almost never heard the children that she was taking care of. 9. The committee arranged meetings with all the candidates that they wanted to interview. 10. I phoned all the people that were on my list. 11. The members that wanted to renew had to fill out a registration form.