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Key Takeaways
- Who is used for subjects performing an action, whereas Whom is used for objects receiving an action.
- Understanding the difference helps improve clarity in formal writing and speech.
- Who can replace “he” or “she,” while Whom can replace “him” or “her” in sentences.
- In questions, Who appears as the subject, but Whom appears as the object of the verb or preposition.
- Misusing Who and Whom can lead to confusion, especially in complex sentence structures.
What is Who?
Who is a pronoun used to refer to the person performing the action in a sentence. It functions as the subject of a verb, indicating who is doing something.
Subject of a sentence
When you want to identify the doer, who fits naturally in this role, like in “Who is calling?”
Because it points to the person acting, who helps clarify who is responsible for an action or state.
Replacing “he” or “she”
Who can stand in for “he” or “she” when asking questions or making statements about a person’s identity.
This pronoun makes sentences more conversational and less repetitive, such as “Who wants coffee?”
Used in relative clauses
Who introduces clauses that describe or specify the subject, like “The artist who painted this is famous.”
It connects the clause directly to the noun, giving more detail about the person involved.
In interrogative sentences
Who appears at the beginning of questions seeking to find out the identity of the doer.
It always functions as the subject when asking who is responsible or involved in an action.
What is Whom?
Whom is a pronoun used for the object of a verb or preposition, referring to the person receiving the action. It is more formal and less common in casual speech.
Object of a verb
When the person is receiving the action, whom fits correctly, as in “Whom did you see?”
This usage emphasizes the person being acted upon, not performing the action.
Object of a preposition
Whom appears after prepositions like “to,” “for,” or “with,” such as “To whom did you send the letter?”
This placement clarifies the relationship between the verb and the object of the preposition.
In formal questions
Whom is used in questions where the focus is on the recipient or the person impacted by an action.
Although less common in everyday speech, it maintains clarity in legal or official contexts.
In relative clauses
Whom introduces clauses which describe the object of the action, like “The person whom you met yesterday is my cousin.”
It links the clause to the antecedent, clarifying the role of the individual involved.
Comparison Table
Below is a comparison of the key aspects between Who and Whom:
| Aspect | Who | Whom |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Pronoun as subject | Pronoun as object |
| Question example | Who is at the door? | Whom did you call? |
| Prepositional use | Rarely used after prepositions | Common after prepositions like to, for, with |
| Formality level | Less formal, conversational | More formal, used in official contexts |
| Replacing “he” or “she” | Yes, “who” can replace these | No, “whom” replaces “him” or “her” |
| Relative clause | Introduces descriptive clauses about the subject | Introduces clauses about the object |
| Position in sentence | Typically at the beginning of questions | Appears after prepositions or in formal questions |
| Common in speech | Yes, in casual speech | Less common, in formal writing |
| Pronoun role | Subject performing action | Object receiving action |
| Usage in statements | As subject, e.g., “Who is responsible?” | As object, e.g., “The person whom I called.” |
Key Differences
- Subject versus object is clearly visible in how Who functions as the doer, while Whom is the receiver.
- Positioning in sentences revolves around Who starts questions, whereas Whom appears after prepositions or in formal questions.
- Formality level is noticeable, with Who being casual and Whom reserved for formal contexts.
- Pronoun replacement relates to how Who replaces “he” or “she,” and Whom replaces “him” or “her,” showing their roles clearly.
FAQs
Can Who be used in sentences that describe objects?
While Who primarily describes subjects, in some informal speech, it can be used loosely to refer to objects, but it’s grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Properly, Whom should be used for objects.
Is Whom becoming obsolete in everyday conversation?
Yes, in casual speech, many people skip Whom and use Who regardless of grammatical rules. However, in formal contexts, Whom remains relevant to maintain clarity and correctness.
Are there any tricks to determine whether to use Who or Whom?
A good way is to replace the pronoun with he/she or him/her. If “he” or “she” fits, use Who; if “him” or “her” fits, use Whom. This helps clarify the correct choice.
Does the usage of Who and Whom change with sentence complexity?
Yes, as sentences become more complex, the distinction becomes more important. Proper usage ensures clarity, especially in legal or professional documents.
