Question

.......................... shall I fear but the ones who hurt me?

• A. Whose
• B. Whom
• C. Who
• D. Which

Hint:

A simple trick to decide between who/whom: Rephrase the question as a statement. If you can replace the word with 'he' or 'she', use 'who'. If you can replace it with 'him' or 'her', use 'whom'. For this question: "I shall fear him/her." Since 'him/her' fits, 'whom' is the formal answer.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests the correct use of interrogative pronouns, specifically the difference between 'Who' and 'Whom'. The pronoun here is the object of the verb 'fear'.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Who is a subjective pronoun, used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb. (e.g., Who is coming?)
- Whom is an objective pronoun, used when the pronoun is the object of the verb or a preposition. (e.g., To whom did you speak? You fear whom?).
- Whose is a possessive pronoun.
- Which is used for choices among a limited set of options.
In the sentence "\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ shall I fear?", the pronoun is the object of the verb 'fear' (I shall fear \_\_\_\_\_). According to formal grammar rules, the objective pronoun Whom (B) is the correct choice.
Sentence: "Whom shall I fear..."
However, in modern and informal English, Who (C) is very commonly used as the object, especially at the beginning of a question.
Sentence: "Who shall I fear..."
Step 3: Final Answer:
Both options (B) and (C) are considered correct. 'Whom' is the grammatically formal choice for the object of the verb 'fear', while 'Who' is widely accepted in contemporary English.