That and which replacing who/whom?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Annie
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Conversely, is it OK to use which or that as a relative pronoun to refer to a person? In the past, which was often used in this way. … until the 19th century, it was part of normal English to use which as a relative pronoun to refer to a person or people, but nowadays it has an archaic or even incorrect feel. Contemporary grammarians advise explicitly against it …
So does this vindicate me?

(please, please, please, please…)
 
At first I was in total agreement with your Recency Illusion, remembering a similar problem I had had with orientated :o , but then I read this!!!
Conversely, is it OK to use which or that as a relative pronoun to refer to a person? In the past, which was often used in this way. … until the 19th century, it was part of normal English to use which as a relative pronoun to refer to a person or people, but nowadays it has an archaic or even incorrect feel. Contemporary grammarians advise explicitly against it …
 
Last edited:
Oh dear. It doesn’t seem archaic to me (and certainly not incorrect) but then I ‘m archaic myself.
 
I don’t think my learning Latin will help others with their poor grammar
“Grammar” is subjective, because the rules, or ideas of what is appropriate, change over time…in many cases what we view as “poor” grammar is just grammatical form one does not particularly care for.
 
English has its links deep in British history. It developed through many sources, and cannot accurately be called Protestant.

You may find interesting and enlightening, the BBC series, “The Adventure of English” narrated by Melvyn Bragg.
The erudite presentation also shares much about the assiciated history of the development of Engish from its’ earliest until modern times, and includes the developments of American English.

Kind wishes, T
 
Last edited:
That sounds incredibly interesting to me 🙂 but we really need to tell @LittleFlower378!
 
Last edited:
For such it is, that on this day you shall be bestowed with cake 🍰

Happy are we for WHOM the cake is given unto.
 
Last edited:
Dear @Irishmom2 and @Cruciferi,
Thank you both.
I’m happy to share the above mentioned cake with you :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
 
40.png
Annie:
Oxford Dictionaries
So that and which are the relative pronouns that we use to talk about things. The main difference between who and that or which is that you should only use who to refer to a person or people – who is never used to refer to things.

Conversely, is it OK to use which or that as a relative pronoun to refer to a person? In the past, which was often used in this way. … until the 19th century, it was part of normal English to use which as a relative pronoun to refer to a person or people, but nowadays it has an archaic or even incorrect feel. Contemporary grammarians advise explicitly against it …
Explore The English Language | Lexico

For history see:
That or Which
Hey @Annie thankfully @Vico cracked it for us. Anyway thanks for pointing out the detail, I had forgotten about that grammar rule. (Last time I looked at an English grammar was decades ago…)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top