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Eric, I think your problem with these sentences is that number 1 is a noun
clause and number 2 is a relative clause.   The who(m)  in 1 is a
subordinate conjunction as well as the object of SAW.  The who(m) in 2 is
simply a relative pronoun in a restrictive relative clause.  Since it
functins as the object of SAW, you can delete it.  I hope this explanation
helps.
 
Max Morenberg
English Departmen
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
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>hi,
>        Could someone help me out here with this grammar lesson. I teach
>English
>as a second language:
>
>in the following two sentences:
>
>"I don't know who(m) I saw last night".
>
>"I like the girl who(m) i saw last night.
>
>ok, the above two, to my feeble understanding, both contain relative
>clauses which are,
>1-defining
>2-and both have the relative pronoun as object
>
>therefore they should, in both cases, be capable of being omitted. Doesn't
>seem to work with sentence one.
>ok, so it looks like, in sentence one, that the relative clause is the
>object of the verb itself (know), but still, isn't it a relative clause
the
>object of the verb "saw" being "who(m)??
>
>thanks,   eric
 
Eric, I think your problem with these sentences is that number 1 is a noun
clause and number 2 is a relative clause.   The who(m)  in 1 is a
subordinate conjunction as well as the object of SAW.  The who(m) in 2 is
simply a relative pronoun in a restrictive relative clause.  Since it
functins as the object of SAW, you can delete it.  I hope this explanation
helps.
 
Max Morenberg
English Departmen
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
[log in to unmask]