_____ is responsible for this mistake?

• A. Who (Answer)
• B. Whom
• C. Whose
• D. Which

'Who' — the pronoun is the subject of 'is responsible'. Substitution test: HE is responsible → subject form → 'Who'. 'Whom' can never be a subject.

To _____ should I address the complaint letter?

• A. who
• B. whom (Answer)
• C. whose
• D. which

The preposition 'To' directly precedes the pronoun — preposition + whom is the fixed rule. Substitution: address it to HIM → 'whom'. This exact pattern ('To whom it may concern') appears regularly in SSC formal writing questions.

The officer _____ you met yesterday has been transferred.

• A. who
• B. whom (Answer)
• C. whose
• D. which

'Whom' — the pronoun is the object of 'met' in the relative clause. You met HIM → object → 'whom'. The trap is that 'The officer' before the clause looks like the subject, but inside the clause the pronoun is the object.

_____ do you think will be selected for the post?

• A. Who (Answer)
• B. Whom
• C. Whose
• D. Which

Classic parenthetical insertion trap. Remove 'do you think' → '_____ will be selected' → subject of 'will be selected' → HE will be selected → 'Who'. 'Whom' is wrong here despite looking formal. SSC tests this pattern every year.

She is the candidate _____ the panel has recommended.

• A. who
• B. whom (Answer)
• C. whose
• D. that

The panel has recommended HER → object of 'recommended' → 'whom'. While 'that' is also grammatically acceptable informally, 'whom' is the correct formal choice tested in SSC/IBPS. The relative pronoun is the object of the clause verb.

Give this award to _____ deserves it most.

• A. who
• B. whom
• C. whoever (Answer)
• D. whomever

'Whoever' — the entire clause 'whoever deserves it most' is the object of 'to'. Inside the clause, the pronoun is the subject of 'deserves' (HE deserves it → subject). When the pronoun heads a clause that acts as the object, the subject form wins inside the clause. 'Whomever' would be incorrect here.

The man _____ I spoke to was very helpful.

• A. who
• B. whom (Answer)
• C. whose
• D. which

I spoke to HIM → object of the preposition 'to' → 'whom'. The relative pronoun is the object of 'spoke to'. This is an end-positioned preposition pattern — the pronoun is still objective. Formal rewrite: 'the man to whom I spoke'.

Can you tell me _____ left this bag here?

• A. who (Answer)
• B. whom
• C. whose
• D. which

'Who' — inside the embedded clause '_____ left this bag', the pronoun is the subject of 'left'. HE left it → subject → 'who'. The verb 'tell me' does not make the pronoun an object; it is the subject of its own embedded clause. A very common SSC Fill-in-the-Blanks trap.

With _____ are you planning to travel to Shimla?

• A. who
• B. whom (Answer)
• C. whose
• D. which

Preposition 'With' directly precedes the pronoun → 'whom'. Substitution: planning to travel with HIM → 'whom'. 'With who' is informal and incorrect in formal/SSC grammar. Front-positioned preposition + whom is the most formal pattern.

He is the professor _____ lectures are most popular in the department.

• A. who
• B. whom
• C. whose (Answer)
• D. which

'Whose' — shows possession (the professor's lectures). When a relative pronoun indicates ownership or belonging, use 'whose' — the possessive form. 'Who' and 'whom' cannot show possession. 'Which' is used for things, not people. The noun 'lectures' follows the blank, confirming a possessive is needed.