When to Use Who or Whom: Rules, Tricks & Examples
Understanding the difference between "who" and "whom" is important for clear English writing and speaking. This grammar rule often appears in school exams, competitive tests, and daily life. Learning correct usage helps avoid mistakes, improves formal writing, and builds professional English skills.
| Word | Type | Usual Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Subject Pronoun | Performs the action | Who is calling? |
| Whom | Object Pronoun | Receives the action | To whom should I speak? |
Difference Between Who and Whom
The difference between "who" and "whom" is simple: "who" is used as the subject of a sentence, while "whom" is used as the object. For example, "Who called you?" and "To whom did you speak?" follow this rule. Mastering this difference is key for exams and formal writing.
Who: Meaning and Usage
"Who" is a subject pronoun. It refers to the person doing the action in a sentence or clause. Use "who" when you could replace it with "he", "she", or "they". This is common in questions, statements, and relative clauses.
- Who is coming to class?
- Who finished the homework?
- She is the student who won the prize.
Whom: Meaning and Usage
"Whom" is an object pronoun. It refers to the person receiving the action or linked by a preposition. Use "whom" when you could replace it with "him", "her", or "them". "Whom" often appears in formal writing and polite questions.
- Whom did you see at the library?
- To whom should I send the letter?
- The teacher praised the student whom everyone likes.
Tricks to Remember Who vs Whom
A quick way to choose between "who" and "whom" is the "he/him" test. Replace the pronoun: if “he” fits, use "who"; if “him” fits, use "whom". Also, remember "whom" ends with "m", just like "him".
| Replace with | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| He/She/They | Who | Who is at the door? (He is at the door.) |
| Him/Her/Them | Whom | Whom did you meet? (You met him.) |
Common Grammar Errors: Who vs Whom
Students often mix "who" and "whom", leading to awkward or incorrect sentences. Read the sentence below and notice the mistake, followed by the corrected form.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Whom is coming to play? | Who is coming to play? |
| Who did you give the book to? | Whom did you give the book to? |
| For who is this present? | For whom is this present? |
Who and Whom in Relative Clauses
Both "who" and "whom" can be used as relative pronouns to join clauses. "Who" joins clauses where the pronoun is the subject; "whom" is used when it is the object.
- She is the girl who sings.
- He is the boy whom everyone respects.
Practice Exercises: Who or Whom?
Test your understanding. Fill in the blanks with "who" or "whom". Then, check your answers below.
- ______ do you want to invite?
- ______ left their bag here?
- To ______ are you speaking?
- She is the person ______ helped me.
- ______ did you see at the movie?
Answers: 1. Whom, 2. Who, 3. Whom, 4. Who, 5. Whom
Relative Pronouns Table
| Pronoun | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Subject (person) | Who is your friend? |
| Whom | Object (person) | Whom did you call? |
| Whose | Possession (person) | Whose book is this? |
| Which | Subject or Object (thing) | Which is yours? |
| That | People or things (subject/object) | This is the bag that I bought. |
Who vs Whom Summary Table
| Who | Whom | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Subject | Object |
| Test | He/She/They | Him/Her/Them |
| Example | Who opened the door? | Whom did you meet? |
| Typical Use | Questions, relative clauses | Questions (with prepositions), formal writing |
Knowing when to use "who" and "whom" in English helps you write, speak, and do well in exams. These rules are useful for formal letters, essays, and everyday conversation. With practice, choosing the right pronoun becomes easy. Learn more about English grammar topics on Vedantu for better skills and confidence.
FAQs on Difference Between Who and Whom in English Grammar
1. What is the difference between who and whom in English?
Who and whom are both interrogative pronouns, but they have distinct grammatical roles. Who is used as the subject of a verb (performs the action), while whom is used as the object of a verb or preposition (receives the action).
2. How do I know when to use "who" or "whom" in a sentence?
Use the he/him trick: If you can replace the word with "he," use "who." If you can replace it with "him," use "whom." For example: "Who called?" (He called). "To whom did you speak?" (To him you spoke).
3. Can you give examples of sentences using "whom" correctly?
Here are some examples of correct whom usage:
- Whom did you invite to the party?
- With whom did you discuss this issue?
- From whom did you receive this information?
4. Are there any tricks to remember which to use: who or whom?
Remember that who is for subjects (like he and she) and whom is for objects (like him and her). You can substitute to check. Also, whom often follows a preposition (to, for, with, etc.).
5. What are some exercises to practice who vs whom?
Practice using who and whom in sentences. Try creating your own examples, or search online for 'who vs whom exercises' to find quizzes and worksheets. This active practice will significantly strengthen your understanding of subject and object pronouns. Focus on relative pronouns as well.
6. Who vs whom example sentences?
Here's a simple comparison:
- Who is going to the party? (Subject)
- To whom should I address the letter? (Object of the preposition 'to')
7. When to use some of whom?
Use "some of whom" when referring to a part of a group as the object. For example, "There were twenty people at the meeting, some of whom I knew." Here, 'some of whom' acts as the object, receiving the action of 'I knew'. The phrase involves a relative pronoun.
8. How do you explain whom?
Whom is the objective case of the pronoun 'who'. It's used as the object of a verb or preposition. Think of it as the equivalent of 'him' or 'her'. It's less commonly used in informal English but remains crucial in formal writing and grammar.
9. Difference between who and whom in a sentence?
The key difference lies in their grammatical function. Who is the subject (performs the action), and whom is the object (receives the action) of a verb or preposition. For example: "Who wrote the letter?" vs. "To whom was the letter addressed?"
10. Difference between who and whom and whose?
Who and whom refer to people; whose shows possession. Who is the subject, whom is the object, and whose indicates belonging. For instance: "Who owns the car?" "To whom does the car belong?" "Whose car is this?"
