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Song Parodies -> "Who And Whom (Usage Guide)"

Original Song Title:

"Yesterday"

Original Performer:

The Beatles

Parody Song Title:

"Who And Whom (Usage Guide)"

Parody Written by:

Tommy Turtle

The Lyrics

Vol. III , along with "There, Their, They're (Usage Guide)" and "Punctuate" ... Inspired by AFW's question as to whether TT was an English major or teacher. No... wonder where he got that idea?

Answer me:
Whether you're the "do-er" or "do-ee"
It's the "do-er" we call "subject", see?
For "subject": "who"; yes, "who" is he [1]

Listen, son
Is it you on whom it's being done?
That's the "object"; use the other one:
"Whom do you trust?" (I trust you, Hon!) [2]

If... you... do the thing,
(C'mon, sing!) then you are "who"
If... it's... done to you
"Whom" is true
"Whom did she sue?" [3]

More good news:
Here's the difference 'tween "who's" and "whose"
If belongs to someone, "Whose", we use
The "who's" contraction might confuse

"Who's" ... re-...-place the "i"
On the sly; "apostrophe"
"Who... is... there?" ("Who's there?")
Who's aware?; Who can tell me?.....

Whose is this?
Say, to whom belongs this choc'late kiss? [4]
Who now understands? Don't be remiss
No more will you write these amiss

And isn't learning grammar bliss?



[1] If there is an "is" verb ("am", "are", "be", etc.), we always use the "subject" form ("May I speak with TT?" "This is he" or "Who is it?" "It is I"), but that's a "subject" for another parody, so to speak :-)

[2] The old game show, "Who do you trust?" used to make a lot of us cringe. (OK, it made only a few of us cringe.)
Questions can be tricky to parse. TTip: Put the words back into the order of a simple statement: (subject) (verb) (object).
So, "Who/whom do you trust?" becomes "You" (subject) "do trust" (verb) "who/whom".
"You do trust who/whom?" We now can see that the "who/whom" is an "object". It's the thing that is being trusted; the thing on which we are lavishing our trust. Therefore, since it's an "object", we use the "object" form, "whom".
"You do trust whom?" = "Whom do you trust?" Simple, no?

[3] Same as [2]. "She did sue whom? = "Whom did she sue?"

[4] "This chocolate kiss" (subject) "belongs" (verb) to "whom" (object, with preposition "to") = "To whom" (object, even though at the beginning, as is often true of questions) "belongs" (verb) "this chocolate kiss" (subject, "kiss", specifically, this chocolate one, not that cherry one). Questions?


© 2007 Tommy Turtle. All rights reserved. Teachers who wish to use this parody for educational purposes may display and/or print it (but not sell it), without modification and with proper credit, including a link to this page.

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Pacing: 5.0
How Funny: 5.0
Overall Rating: 5.0

Total Votes: 12

Voting Breakdown

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    Pacing How Funny Overall Rating
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 2   0
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 3   0
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 4   0
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 5   12
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User Comments

Comments are subject to review, and can be removed by the administration of the site at any time and for any reason.

Rex - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
Excellent! Now I'd like to see you tackle "less" and "fewer".
TJC - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
Very funstructive, Professor! Now, can you use these rules to parse that old "Who's on first" comedy routine for us?
AFW - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
You should have been a teacher..you certainly, have a way of making English more fun...You'se has created a grate and entertaining grammar lessun, hear....How'm I doin'. Teach?
MasonR - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
I'm going to print this out for my daughter, the 7th grader, so she can sing it to her Language Arts class!
Red Ant - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
Excellent work, TT. If you're in the mood for some more language parodies, perhaps you could do one on accept/except and affect/effect to "Respect" by Aretha Franklin or "Respect Yourself" by Madonna.
alvin - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
lol...english made fun....what's next ?..."the dangling participle" by simon and garfunkel ?
TT - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
Rex: Excellent suggestion! Will do sometime... thanks.
TJC: Depends on whose version, who's doing it, and by whom.... thanks :)
AFW: By today's standards, A+ ... promoted to next grade... thanks :)
MasonR: ...uh, and have them all hit the link and vote/comment? j/k! Hope they like it... thanks :)
Red Ant: Also excellent suggestions, and agree: sorely needed. DK any Madonna. "Respect" is one letter over, which could be handled, but TT doesn't respect TOS or AF.... will think of a suitable OS and maybe combine with Rex's idea. (Knowing TT, will probably end up another "Yesterday"... how dull.) Thanks :)

alvin:
Hello, participle, friend
You've left me dang-l-ing again
Because the cow, over the fence, throwing
Some yummy hay that we have been mow-ing... .... thanks alvin :)
MrMacphisto - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
To whom should I give 5-5-5... Who else, but TT? ;)
PMS - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
Nice to see someone so comiTTed to proper grammar.
Guy - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
TT - This is my kind of parody but what I'd like to know is who or is it whom, hmmm --- writes this stuff? Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Chose A B or C A=who B=who's C= Whose on first base? Excellent! 5's all around for who's whats his name?
TT - October 08, 2007 - Report this comment
REX: (sorry for shouting) If you see this... the "fewer/less" parody should be up tomorrow (Tuesday), I hope... great idea - thanks for the suggesiton :)

MrMacphisto, whom shoud TT thank but MM?
PMS, it's a dying cause, but thanks :)
Guy: LOL! thanks :)
John Jenkins - October 12, 2007 - Report this comment
Excellent topic, TT. Doesn't it annoy you when people who get paid big bucks to "sound intelligent" on radio or TV don't know the difference between "who" and "whom." I think the misuse of "I," "me," and "myself" is worse, but I hope this parody finds its way to some people who can benefit from its message.
TT - October 13, 2007 - Report this comment
John Jenkins, yes. No longer "journalists", they're now "entertainers" -- and illiterate ones. Thanks for v/c.

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