Who vs Whom
Mastering the difference between these pronoun cases
Summary
"Who" is used as a subject pronoun (the person doing the action)."Whom" is used as an object pronoun (the person receiving the action). While both refer to people, "who" acts as the subject, and "whom" acts as the object in a sentence.
✅ Correct Usage
- • Who is coming to the party?
- • To whom should I send the letter?
- • Who wrote this book?
- • With whom are you traveling?
❌ Incorrect Usage
- • Whom is coming to the party?
- • To who should I send the letter?
- • Whom wrote this book?
- • With who are you traveling?
Definitions
Who (Subject Pronoun)
Used when the person is doing the action:
- • Subject: "Who is calling?"
- • Doer: "Who wrote the letter?"
- • Performer: "Who made dinner?"
- • Active: "Who is speaking?"
Whom (Object Pronoun)
Used when the person is receiving the action:
- • Object: "To whom did you speak?"
- • Receiver: "For whom is this gift?"
- • Target: "With whom are you meeting?"
- • Passive: "By whom was this written?"
Examples in Context
Using "Who"
"Who is responsible for this project?"
"I know who stole the cookies."
"Who wants to go first?"
Using "Whom"
"To whom should I address this letter?"
"For whom are you buying this gift?"
"With whom did you discuss this?"
Memory Tricks
- • Who = He/She (subject pronouns)
- • Whom = Him/Her (object pronouns)
- • Who = Subject (both start with "wh")
- • Whom = Object (both end with "m")
Related Words
Similar to Who:
he, she, they, I, you, we
Similar to Whom:
him, her, them, me, you, us
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use "who" and "whom" interchangeably?
A: No, they have different grammatical functions and should not be used interchangeably. "Who" is used as a subject (the person doing the action), while "whom" is used as an object (the person receiving the action). Using them incorrectly will make your sentence grammatically incorrect.
When should I use "who"?
A: Use "who" when the person is the subject of the sentence or clause - meaning they are doing the action. Examples include "Who is calling?" "Who wrote this?" or "I know who did it." Think of it as replacing "he" or "she" in the sentence.
When should I use "whom"?
A: Use "whom" when the person is the object of the sentence or clause - meaning they are receiving the action. Examples include "To whom should I speak?" "For whom is this gift?" or "With whom are you meeting?" Think of it as replacing "him" or "her" in the sentence.
Can you give me a sentence using both words correctly?
A: "Who knows to whom I should send this package?" Notice that "who" is the subject (doing the knowing), while "whom" is the object (receiving the sending action).
Is it okay to just use "who" all the time?
A: While many people use "who" in place of "whom" in casual conversation, using the correct pronoun shows better grammar and is expected in formal writing. In professional or academic contexts, using "whom" correctly demonstrates attention to detail and proper English usage.