Introduction / Context:
This is an error-spotting question that tests knowledge of relative pronouns, especially the difference between “who” and “whom” in complex sentences. In competitive English exams, recognising the grammatical role of the relative pronoun within the clause is very important. The sentence contains an embedded clause after “I think”, and the learner must decide whether “who” or “whom” is appropriate in formal standard English.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Complete sentence: “This is the sportsperson whom I think has won the much coveted prize.”
- Part (A): “This is the sportsperson”
- Part (B): “whom I think has won”
- Part (C): “the much coveted prize.”
- Part (D): “No error”
- We follow standard formal English usage as required in exams.
Concept / Approach:
The key grammar concept is that “who” is used as a subject and “whom” as an object. To choose between them, we must look at the clause where the pronoun functions. In the sentence “This is the sportsperson who I think has won…”, the clause inside is “who has won”. Here, the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb “has won”. Even though “I think” is inserted, the underlying structure is “This is the sportsperson who has won the prize, I think.” Therefore the subject form “who” is required, not the object form “whom”.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Isolate the main clause: “This is the sportsperson …” which is grammatically correct.
Step 2: Examine the relative clause: “whom I think has won the much coveted prize.” Ignore “I think” momentarily to see the core structure.
Step 3: Rewrite mentally as “This is the sportsperson who has won the much coveted prize, I think.” Here, “who” is clearly the subject of “has won”.
Step 4: Since the pronoun functions as subject, the correct relative pronoun is “who”, not “whom”.
Step 5: Therefore the error lies in part (B), which incorrectly uses “whom”. The corrected sentence is: “This is the sportsperson who I think has won the much coveted prize.”
Verification / Alternative check:
Check part (A): “This is the sportsperson” is a normal demonstrative + noun phrase construction. No error.
Check part (C): “the much coveted prize” is a correct noun phrase: article + intensifier + participle + noun.
Only part (B) contains the wrong form of the relative pronoun, confirming that (B) is the only erroneous segment.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Contains only the subject and complement “This is the sportsperson”. The structure is correct.
Option C: The phrase “the much coveted prize” is appropriate and idiomatic, with correct adjective order.
Option D: “No error” is wrong because we have clearly identified the misuse of “whom” in part (B).
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners think that “whom” always sounds more formal and therefore more correct, so they overuse it even where “who” is required.
The inserted phrase “I think” confuses the analysis, because candidates may treat “whom” as the object of “think”. In fact, the real object of “think” is the entire clause, and the pronoun remains subject of “has won”.
Another common mistake is not reconstructing the underlying clause and therefore missing the subject–verb relationship.
Final Answer:
The error is in part B. The sentence should read: “This is the sportsperson who I think has won the much coveted prize.”
Discussion & Comments