“Who” and “whom” are often confused in English, as they both refer to people. The distinction between the two lies in their grammatical roles in a sentence. Understanding when to use “who” versus “whom” can help improve your writing and speaking accuracy. This article will break down the differences and explain how to use each correctly.
Definition of Who
Who is a subject pronoun used to refer to the subject of a sentence or clause. The subject is the person performing the action in the sentence. “Who” can be replaced by other subject pronouns like he, she, or they.
For example:
- Who is going to the party? (He is going to the party.)
- Who called me yesterday? (She called me yesterday.)
In both cases, “who” is the subject of the sentence, performing the action.
Definition of Whom
Whom is an object pronoun used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition. The object is the person who is receiving the action or is affected by it. “Whom” can be replaced by object pronouns like him, her, or them.
For example:
- To whom did you give the book? (You gave the book to him.)
- Whom did you see at the concert? (You saw her at the concert.)
Here, “whom” is used as the object of the verb or preposition.
Core Differences
Grammatical Role
- Who: Acts as the subject of the sentence, performing the action.
- Whom: Acts as the object of the sentence, receiving the action.
Substitution Test
- Who: Can be substituted with subject pronouns like he, she, or they.
- Whom: Can be substituted with object pronouns like him, her, or them.
Common Usage
- Who: Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Whom: Primarily used in formal writing and speech, though it’s often replaced with “who” in informal settings.
After Prepositions
- Who: Cannot directly follow a preposition.
- Whom: Typically used after prepositions like to, with, for, or by.
Core Similarities
Refers to People
- Who: Both “who” and “whom” refer to people rather than objects or things.
- Whom: Both pronouns are used to ask about or describe people.
Interrogative and Relative Pronouns
- Who: Both can be used as interrogative pronouns to ask questions, or as relative pronouns to provide more information about a person in a sentence.
- Whom: Similarly used to introduce questions or clauses involving people.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Who | Whom |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical Role | Subject of the sentence | Object of the sentence |
| Substitution Test | Can be replaced with “he,” “she,” “they” | Can be replaced with “him,” “her,” “them” |
| Use After Prepositions | Cannot follow a preposition directly | Commonly follows prepositions |
| Common Usage | Frequently used in both contexts | Primarily used in formal contexts |
Pros and Cons
Who
Pros
- Easy to use in most everyday contexts.
- Flexible for both formal and informal communication.
Cons
- Can be confusing in more complex sentences where “whom” is actually correct.
Whom
Pros
- Grammatically precise, especially in formal writing.
- Clarifies the object in more complex sentences.
Cons
- Considered overly formal in casual speech.
- Often replaced by “who” in modern informal contexts.
Use Cases and Scenarios
Who
Scenario
A friend asks you about a phone call:
- Who called you last night? (Subject: “Who” is performing the action of calling.)
Whom
Scenario
In a formal email, you want to ask about the recipient of a package:
- To whom should I address the letter? (Object: “Whom” is receiving the action of addressing.)
Summary
The difference between “who” and “whom” comes down to their grammatical roles in a sentence. Who is used when referring to the subject of a sentence (the one performing the action), while whom is used for the object (the one receiving the action). A simple substitution test—replacing “who” with he/she/they and “whom” with him/her/them—can help determine the correct usage.
FAQs
Q: Can I always use “who” instead of “whom”?
A: In informal speech, many people use “who” instead of “whom,” but in formal writing, it’s important to use “whom” correctly.
Q: Is “whom” becoming outdated?
A: “Whom” is less common in casual speech today, but it remains important in formal contexts, such as academic or legal writing.
Q: How do I remember when to use “whom”?
A: Use the substitution test: if you can replace it with “him,” “her,” or “them,” then “whom” is the correct choice.
