relative clause

Status
Not open for further replies.

lindadanca

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
Hello,

1)It is me who wants to talk to you.

2)It is me who want to talk to you.

3)It is you who wants to talk to her.

4)It is you who want to talk to her.

5)That man is me who wants to talk to you.

6)That man is me who want to talk to you.

7)It is I who is tired.

8)It is I who am tired.

Which are correct?

Thank you...
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hello,



7)It is I who is tired.

8)It is I who am tired.

Which are correct?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) As I understand it, the really correct answer is:

It is I who is tired. That is: It (who is tired) is I.

BUT over the years, native speakers have decided that "who" belongs to

"I." Therefore, the correct answer nowadays is:

It is I who am tired. "Who am tired" is now analyzed as an adjective

clause modifying "I."
 
Last edited:

lindadanca

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
Thank you but I want to ensure of that.
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Thank you but I want to ensure of that.


Yes, you are correct: you should not accept an answer from a non-teacher such as I

until a teacher answers you.
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Thank you but I want to ensure of that.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Do you know a book entitled Practical English Grammar by Michael Swan?

(a) Many of us learners find it very helpful.

(2) I found the answers in his book. (Remember: these are his answers, not mine!)

(3) VERY FORMAL (perfect English)

It is I who need your help. ("Need" matches "I." NOT: "needs.")

(4) VERY INFORMAL (the way many native speakers say it)

It is me that needs your help.

(5) Therefore, I think that we can safely say the correct answers are:

It is I who am tired.

It is me that is tired.

 

birdeen's call

VIP Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
It is I who am tired.

It is me that is tired.
According to my experience

It's me who's tired.

is more common than either of the above. Does Swan mention the "who is" possiblity?
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
According to my experience

It's me who's tired.

is more common than either of the above. Does Swan mention the "who is" possiblity?


***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I don't think that he does, but I am not sure.

(2) I, too, prefer "who," but I wanted to limit my answer to what an expert

like Mr. Swan said. The OP wanted an expert's opinion.

(3) If you find a reliable source that confirms the possibility of both

pronouns ("that" and "who"), please let us learners know.


THANK YOU
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
According to my experience

It's me who's tired.

is more common than either of the above. Does Swan mention the "who is" possiblity?


***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I assume that we are talking about so-called cleft sentences:

Sue: I am tired.

Joe: Did you say Billy is tired?

Sue: No, I didn't. I said that it is I who am tired.

(2) Here is something I found from an expert at another helpline (published

in 2006):

It is me who/that does the washing every day. = I am the person who/that does ....

(3) I also read someone's opinion that even the great Professor Quirk does not

address the matter of "who" vs. "that."

(4) I did, however, read an amusing comment from one non-expert. His reasoning

is something like this:

(a) Perfect English is: It is I who am tired.

(b) Informal English is: It is me ____ is tired.

(a) His comment was that if you are going to be informal, why not go all the way?

That is, use "that" in the space. At least, you're being consistent!!!
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
According to my experience

It's me who's tired.

is more common than either of the above. Does Swan mention the "who is" possiblity?


***** NOT A TEACHER *****

UPDATE:

(1) I have exciting news!!!

(2) I found this in an earlier book (1973) that Professor Quirk co-authored with

Professor Greenbaum:

But 3rd person concord prevails (in informal English) where the objective case

pronoun me is used: It's me who's to blame.

(A Concise Grammar of Contemporary English, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.)
 

birdeen's call

VIP Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
***** NOT A TEACHER *****

UPDATE:

(1) I have exciting news!!!

(2) I found this in an earlier book (1973) that Professor Quirk co-authored with

Professor Greenbaum:

But 3rd person concord prevails (in informal English) where the objective case

pronoun me is used: It's me who's to blame.

(A Concise Grammar of Contemporary English, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.)
It's good to have Professors Quirk and Greenbaum on your side! :)
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
According to my experience

It's me who's tired.

is more common than either of the above. Does Swan mention the "who is" possiblity?

Who is common in BrE.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top