Understanding the meaning of certain English phrases can be challenging, especially when trying to translate them into regional languages like Marathi. One such phrase is about whom, which is often used in both formal writing and spoken English. It plays an important grammatical role, yet learners of English sometimes struggle to grasp its meaning and correct usage. This topic will explore the meaning of about whom, provide its translation in Marathi, and offer examples to help understand how to use it properly. Whether you are a language learner or someone working with bilingual communication, this guide will be helpful in making sense of this phrase.
Definition of About Whom in English
The phrase about whom is a combination of the preposition about and the pronoun whom. It is typically used in formal English when referring to the object of a preposition. This structure is used to ask or describe something regarding a person who is the object in a sentence.
Grammatical Structure
In English grammar, whom is used instead of who when the person being referred to is the object of the verb or preposition. Since about is a preposition, it should be followed by whom when referring to people.
- Correct: The woman about whom we talked is my aunt.
- Incorrect: The woman about who we talked is my aunt.
Common Usage of About Whom
The phrase is often used in formal questions or statements. For example:
- About whom are you speaking?
- He is the author about whom the topic was written.
In casual conversation, people often replace about whom with who about, but this is not grammatically ideal in formal contexts. Example:
- Informal: Who are you talking about?
- Formal: About whom are you talking?
About Whom Meaning in Marathi
In Marathi, the phrase about whom can be translated as à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¬à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤² (jyÄbaddal) followed by the appropriate personal reference. It essentially means about the person or regarding the person in a grammatical sense.
Translation Examples
- About whom are you speaking? â तà¥à¤®à¥à¤¹à¥ à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¬à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤² बà¥à¤²à¤¤ à¤à¤¹à¤¾à¤¤ तॠà¤à¥à¤£ à¤à¤¹à¥?
- He is the teacher about whom I told you. â तॠतॠशिà¤à¥à¤·à¤ à¤à¤¹à¥ à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¬à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤² मॠतà¥à¤²à¤¾ साà¤à¤ ितलठहà¥à¤¤à¤.
In Marathi sentence construction, à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¬à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤² is used as a connector that refers to a person already mentioned or implied. The structure closely mirrors the English equivalent in formal writing, although in spoken Marathi, other casual phrases may be used.
Understanding Context and Usage
Knowing when and how to use about whom depends on the context. It’s more common in formal writing, such as essays, legal documents, and academic materials. In speech, especially casual conversations, native speakers often use who about instead.
Formal vs Informal Usage
Let’s compare how about whom is used differently in formal and informal scenarios:
- Formal: The professor about whom we were speaking is an expert in literature.
- Informal: The professor we were talking about is an expert in literature.
In both examples, the meaning remains the same, but the choice of structure depends on the setting and level of formality.
Tips for Using About Whom Correctly
1. Identify the Preposition
If your sentence includes a preposition like about, for, with, to, etc., and it refers to a person, it is likely you’ll need to use whom rather than who.
2. Check the Object Position
Remember, whom is used when the person is the object of the action or preposition. A quick trick is to try replacing it with him or her. If that fits, whom is likely correct.
- You spoke about him â About whom did you speak?
3. Maintain Formal Tone When Needed
In academic, legal, or professional settings, using the correct structure such as about whom can convey a higher level of language proficiency and attention to detail.
Why It Matters in Language Learning
Understanding phrases like about whom helps in mastering English grammar, especially for students preparing for competitive exams, language proficiency tests, or academic writing. It’s also essential for translation work, particularly when working between English and Marathi, where sentence structures and grammar rules differ significantly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using who instead of whom after a preposition.
- Misplacing the preposition or avoiding it altogether in formal writing.
- Incorrectly translating the phrase into Marathi using a literal word-for-word method.
Correct usage not only strengthens grammar but also helps in better communication, both in English and Marathi.
The phrase about whom is an example of formal English that can add clarity and precision when used correctly. When translated to Marathi, it generally becomes à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¬à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤², which maintains the sense of referring to a specific person. While the phrase might feel outdated or overly formal in some situations, it is still highly relevant in academic and professional writing. Mastering its use helps language learners sound more refined and accurate in their communication. By understanding the grammatical role, correct context, and its translation in Marathi, speakers can use about whom confidently and correctly.