Which for human (again!)

[vkhu]

Yeah, I know we discussed this once but I came across another case of "which" being used for human and I haven't the slightest clue as to why was that possible. Here it is:

"It seems to me that Edward is not the man which he used to be"

It was in another book this time, still published by cambridge press.

 

[Barb_D]

There is absolutely NO need to use profanity, even masked, in your question, unless you're actually asking about that word. Please edit your post to ask your question in a civilized manner.

 

[vkhu]

There is absolutely NO need to use profanity, even masked, in your question, unless you're actually asking about that word. Please edit your post to ask your question in a civilized manner.

Sorry. It was on a test which I scored badly at and I lost my temper. It won't happen again.

 

[TheParser]

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


(1) One expert says:

"This distinction between relative who and which is comparatively recent. Shakespeare and the Bible often have which referring to persons:

Our father which art in Heaven."

(2) This expert also says that in a sentence such as yours, we cannot use who:

I am not the man I was when you knew me first.

Remembering the sweet little girl that she used to be.

(The expert does not mention "which" in that kind of sentence. In 2012, it appears that you need to use "that" or no relative in that kind of sentence: I am not the man (that) I used to be. Sadly!

Source: Essentials of English Grammar by Otto Jespersen (published in 1933). I have a 1964 reprint published by the University of Alabama Press. Pages 195, 363.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would use "that". If your book said "which", it's wrong IMO.

 

[susiedq]

Would it help if you could see that it means:

It seems to me that Edward is not the (kind of) man which he used to be"

 

[bhaisahab]

Would it help if you could see that it means:

It seems to me that Edward is not the (kind of) man which he used to be"

No, I can't see any way that "which" could be correct in that sentence.