Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Objective vs. subjective case in subordinate clause
I am trying to determine if the following historical quote from President Abraham Lincoln, today used by the Department of Veterans Affairs in its mission statement, has a grammatical error. Here is the relevant excerpt:
"...[ L ] us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan. ..."
Technically speaking, though it sounds wrong, shouold this have been: "...to care for he who shall have borne the battle..."?
"...[ L ] us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan. ..."
Technically speaking, though it sounds wrong, shouold this have been: "...to care for he who shall have borne the battle..."?
Top answer
him is the object of the preposition for . We don't say "to care for he", but "to care for him". The fact that a relative clause follows is irrelevant.
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him is the object of the preposition for. We don't say "to care for he", but "to care for him". The fact that a relative clause follows is irrelevant. It's all grammatical.
Had it been in subject position, it would have been he, e.g., He who shall bear the battle shall receive a pension.
CJ
Had it been in subject position, it would have been he, e.g., He who shall bear the battle shall receive a pension.
CJ
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In my opinion, it's perfect.
"Him" is not the subject of the relative clause. "Who" carries that burden. And "him" is its antecedent.
"Him" is also the object of the preposition "for," and the prepositional phrase is direct object of the infinitive "to care."
It might also be possible to say that "to care for" is a compound noun.
("For him" does
"Him" is not the subject of the relative clause. "Who" carries that burden. And "him" is its antecedent.
"Him" is also the object of the preposition "for," and the prepositional phrase is direct object of the infinitive "to care."
It might also be possible to say that "to care for" is a compound noun.
("For him" does
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