Who and whom are pronouns that often create confusion in English grammar. Both words refer to people, but they have different roles in a sentence. Simply put, “who” is used as a subject pronoun, while “whom” is used as an object pronoun. The key difference lies in their positions within a sentence: “Who” is used when referring to the subject performing the action, and “Whom” is used when referring to the object receiving the action. Let’s explore more about who vs whom.
Basic Definitions of Who:
- “Who” is a pronoun used to refer to the subject of a sentence or clause.
- It is used when asking about the person who is performing an action or when referring to the person doing something.
- Example: Who is going to the party? (Here, “who” refers to the subject or the person performing the action of going to the party.)
Basic Definitions of Whom:
- “Whom” is a pronoun used to refer to the object of a verb or a preposition.
- It is used when asking about the person who is receiving the action or when referring to the person being acted upon.
- Example: To whom did you give the book? (Here, “whom” refers to the object or the person receiving the action of giving the book.)
Who vs Whom
Here’s a table highlighting the main differences between “who” and “whom”:
| Who | Whom | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Subject pronoun | Object pronoun |
| Usage | Used when referring to the subject of a sentence or clause, the person performing the action | Used when referring to the object of a verb or a preposition, the person being acted upon |
| Example | Who is going to the party? (Subject) | To whom did you give the book? (Object) |
| Position in Sentence | Used at the beginning or middle of a sentence | Used after a preposition or as an object at the end of a sentence |
| Replacement | Can be replaced with he/she/they | Can be replaced with him/her/them |
When to Use “Who”:
“Who” is used when referring to the subject of a sentence or clause, specifically the person performing the action. Here are a few simple guidelines to help you understand when to use “who”:
1. Subject of the Sentence: Use “who” when the person being referred to is the subject of the sentence.
Example: Who is knocking on the door? (The person knocking is the subject of the sentence.)
2. Asking Questions: Use “who” when asking about the person performing an action.
Example: Who ate the last slice of pizza? (Asking about the person who performed the action of eating.)
3. Replacing with He/She/They: If you can substitute “who” with “he,” “she,” or “they” in the sentence, then you are using it correctly as a subject pronoun.
Example: Sarah is the one who won the race. (Sarah won the race. She won the race.)
When to Use “Whom”:
“Whom” is used when referring to the object of a verb or a preposition, specifically the person being acted upon. Here are a few simple guidelines to help you understand when to use “whom”:
1. Object of the Verb: Use “whom” when the person being referred to is the object of a verb.
Example: I saw the girl whom I met yesterday. (The girl is the object of the verb “met.”)
2. Object of the Preposition: Use “whom” when the person being referred to is the object of a preposition.
Example: To whom did you give the gift? (The person receiving the gift is the object of the preposition “to.”)
3. Replacing with Him/Her/Them: If you can substitute “whom” with “him,” “her,” or “them” in the sentence, then you are using it correctly as an object pronoun.
Example: The teacher praised the students whom she admired. (The teacher praised them. She admired them.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid when using “Who” and “Whom”:
1. Using “Who” Instead of “Whom”:
Incorrect: Who did you give the book to?
Correct: Whom did you give the book to?
Explanation: In this sentence, “whom” is the correct choice because it functions as the object of the preposition “to.”
2. Using “Whom” Instead of “Who”:
Incorrect: To whom is knocking on the door?
Correct: Who is knocking on the door?
Explanation: “Who” is used as the subject of the sentence, not the object of the preposition “to.”
3. Incorrect Placement of “Who” or “Whom”:
Incorrect: The girl whom won the race is my friend.
Correct: The girl who won the race is my friend.
Explanation: “Who” should be placed immediately after the noun it refers to, in this case, “girl.”
4. Ambiguous Sentences and Resolving Confusion:
Incorrect: I met a person whom is very talented.
Correct: I met a person who is very talented.
Explanation: In this sentence, “who” is the correct choice because it refers to the subject of the verb “is.” Using “whom” in this context can lead to confusion.
Who vs Whom Exercises
Exercise 1:
1. ______ is coming to the party tonight?
Answer: Who
2. To ______ did you lend your pen?
Answer: whom
3. ______ ate all the cookies?
Answer: Who
4. With ______ did you go to the movies?
Answer: whom
5. ______ is responsible for this mess?
Answer: Who
6. To ______ should I address this letter?
Answer: whom
7. ______ is the winner of the singing competition?
Answer: Who
8. ______ did you invite to the wedding?
Answer: Whom
9. ______ is going on a trip to Europe?
Answer: Who
10. From ______ did you receive that lovely gift?
Answer: whom
11. ______ is the author of this book?
Answer: Who
12. ______ did you meet at the conference?
Answer: Whom
13. ______ will be the next captain of the team?
Answer: Who
14. ______ did they choose as the lead actor in the play?
Answer: Whom
15. ______ is your best friend?
Answer: Who
16. ______ did you ask for help with your homework?
Answer: Whom
17. ______ is the principal of the school?
Answer: Who
18. ______ did they appoint as the project manager?
Answer: Whom
19. ______ should I talk to about the payment?
Answer: whom
20. ______ is going to fix the broken window?
Answer: Who
21. ______ did you see at the art exhibition?
Answer: Whom
22. ______ told you about the party?
Answer: Who
23. To ______ should I address my concerns?
Answer: whom
Also read:
Some online resources:
- When to Use “Who” vs. “Whom” – grammarly.com
- Grammar 101: How to use who and whom correctly? – ielts.idp.com
- How to Use Who vs. Whom – Merriam-Webster
