simple grammar question

michal   Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:48 pm GMT
Hello!

Please have a glance at the following sentence

"Jan Kowalski is a person whom I've worked with for a couple of years for the same company"

and tell me, is it grammaticaly correct?

thanks for response
Mary   Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:01 pm GMT
You have definitely used "whom" correctly and the sentence makes grammatical sense. However, the "for the same company" at the end is a little awkward. I would write:

"Jan Kowalsky has been my colleague for the past few years"

The word colleague will indicate that you worked alongside of her - that is, that she is your peer. If you are her boss, then you might write,

"Jan Kowalsky has worked for me for the past few years"
Guest   Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:04 pm GMT
Using "whom" at all is pretentious and should be avoided. Use "who" instead.
Lazar   Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:21 pm GMT
What Mary said. :-)
Guest   Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:22 pm GMT
Thanks you both for the answers, I should have explained myself more in details :)

The point is indeed whether I should use 'who' or 'whom' in that sentence.
The sentence has been taken from a formal letter, is 'whom' still pretentious for such purpose?

Thanks Mary for your suggestions
Guest   Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:26 pm GMT
<<The sentence has been taken from a formal letter, is 'whom' still pretentious for such purpose?>>

No. In writing it may be appropriate, but in speech you'd often be called pretentious for using it.
Jan Kowalski   Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:00 pm GMT
>> "Jan Kowalski is a person whom I've worked with for a couple of years for the same company" <<

It sure is awkward sounding.

It should be:
"Jan K. is a person with whom I have worked."

or:
"I worked with Jan K. for a couple of years at X company. He is a wonderful fellow, etc."

Putting in "for the same company" is awfully redundant, ne?