“Who” is a subjective pronoun (like “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and ......“Who” is a subjective pronoun (like “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they”).

“Who” is a subjective pronoun (like “he,”

“she,” “it,” “we,” and “they”).

• Use “who” when the pronoun is the subject

(the person or thing executing the action) of

the clause/sentence.

“Whom” is an objective pronoun (like

“him,” “her,” “it,” “us,” and “them”).

• Use “whom” when the pronoun is the object

(the person or thing upon whom/which the

action is being executed) of the

clause/sentence.

When in doubt, substitute “he” or “she”

(other subjective pronouns) for “who.”

• Example: Who loves you? (He loves you.)

The above works, obviously, but…

• Example: Who are you asking to prom? (You

are asking she to prom.)

... this second example not so much. “Who” should

be “whom” in the prom example.

You can do a similar substitution exercise

for “whom.” Just use the objective

pronouns “him” or “her.”

• Example: I consulted an attorney whom I

met in New York. (I consulted him.)

“That” is a restrictive pronoun, meaning that it’s essential to the noun to which it refers. When you say “that,” what follows is a clear and specific example of the idea you’re talking/writing about. • Example: I don’t trust fruits and vegetables

that are grown in Tennessee. Here, I’m referring to ALL fruits or vegetables

grown in Tennessee. In other words, I only trust fruits or vegetables from other states.

“Which” introduces a relative clause,

allowing for qualifiers that may not be

essential to the meaning of the

clause/sentence.

• Example: I recommend you eat only organic

fruits and vegetables, which are available in

area grocery stores.

In this case, you don’t have to go to a specific store

to buy organic fruits and veggies.

“Lay” is a transitive verb, which means it

needs a direct subject and one or more

direct objects. (A person or thing

executing the action and people or

things upon whom/which the action is

being executed).

• Example: I lay the pencil on the table.

“Lie” in an intransitive verb, which means

that it needs no object.

• Example: The Andes Mountains lie between

Argentina and Chile.

• Example: I’m going to lie down.

Present Past Past

Participle

Lie Lay (have) Lain

Lay Laid (have) Laid

“Affect” is almost always (99%) of the

time, a verb meaning “to cause.”

• Example: Facebook affects people’s

attention spans.

“Effect” is almost always a noun

describing a result or outcome.

• Example: Facebook’s effects can also be

positive.

Exceptions: “Effect” is sometimes used

as an intransitive verb meaning to bring

about or make happen.

• Example: Closing down my Facebook

account effected the improvement of my time

management habits.