who is used as 1) as a subject, and 2) as a predicate nominative.

a) Who called today?
b) Who gave you the ticket?

Usage

In speech, whom is not used often, therefore, one could say, “It was he to who you spoke.”

In writing, however, one still observes the distinction between “who” or “whom, thus, in prose one would write, “It was he to whom you spoke.” The use of who or whom in a subordinate clause is determined by the pronoun’s function in the clause. Whom is used as the object of the preposition or object of the verb.

a) To whom are you speaking? (of the prep. to)
b) He is the person whom you hit. (whom is the object of the verb hit)

Note – Who + a subject = predicate noun.

a) I don’t know who that is.

Note – Who + a verb = subject.

a) I don’t know who gave you the black eye.
b) Whom did you speak to?
c) Whom did you thank?
d) You did thank whom?
e) Whom have you blessed with your prophecy?

When “who” is used as a predicate nominative, you must have a form of the verb “to be” before “who” can be used. Who must mean the same thing as the word to which it refers.

a) I don’t know who that is…
b) I don’t know who is…

Note – I and Me incomplete construction if one completed the sentence.

a) He likes John more than me.
b) He likes John more than I.

Abstract - “Mr. Stuffy was a fat man.”
Specific - “Mr. Stuffy weighed 400 pounds.”
Concrete - “Mr. Stuffy squeezed into the small car.”

Avoid double comparison when all possible.

More - Kinder (er, est)
Most - Beautiful (est)
Most - Kind
Most - Kinder

Note - Make sure your comparisons are clear and not obvious having double meaning.

a) She likes him more than Eliza.
b) She likes him more than she likes Eliza.

Positive – small
Comparative – smaller
Superlative – smallest

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