In the English language, the words "who" and "whom" are relative pronouns that are used to refer to people. While they both mean "the person that," they are used in different grammatical contexts.
In general, "who" is used when the pronoun is the subject of a verb, while "whom" is used when it is the object of a verb or preposition.
To help you understand when to use "who" or "whom," let's look at some specific examples.
When to Use Who or Whom
Here are eight important points to remember when using "who" or "whom" in English:
- Subject: Use "who" for the subject of a verb.
- Object: Use "whom" for the object of a verb or preposition.
- Question: Use "who" in questions.
- Nonrestrictive Clause: Use "who" in nonrestrictive clauses.
- Restrictive Clause: Use "whom" in restrictive clauses.
- Appositive: Use "whom" after an appositive.
- Formal Writing: Use "whom" in formal writing.
- Informal Writing: Use "who" in informal writing.
These rules may seem complex at first, but with practice, you'll be able to use "who" and "whom" correctly.
Subject: Use "who" for the subject of a verb.
When the relative pronoun is the subject of a verb, use "who." The subject of a verb is the person, place, or thing that is performing the action of the verb. For example:
- Who is going to the party?
- Who ate all the cookies?
- Who is the best player on the team?
In each of these sentences, "who" is the subject of the verb. It is the person or thing that is performing the action of the verb.
Here are some more examples of how to use "who" as the subject of a verb:
- Who is the author of this book?
- Who discovered America?
- Who is the president of the United States?
As you can see, "who" is always used when the relative pronoun is the subject of a verb.
Remember: When the relative pronoun is the subject of a verb, always use "who."
Object: Use "whom" for the object of a verb or preposition.
When the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition, use "whom." The object of a verb is the person, place, or thing that is receiving the action of the verb. The object of a preposition is the person, place, or thing that is being referred to by the preposition. For example:
- I saw whom at the party?
- Whom did you give the book to?
- The person whom I spoke to was very helpful.
- The company for whom I work is very large.
In each of these sentences, "whom" is the object of a verb or preposition. It is the person or thing that is receiving the action of the verb or being referred to by the preposition.
Here are some more examples of how to use "whom" as the object of a verb or preposition:
- To whom should I address the letter?
- Whom did the teacher ask to answer the question?
- The person whom I admire most is my mother.
As you can see, "whom" is always used when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Remember: When the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition, always use "whom."
Question: Use "who" in questions.
When asking a question, always use "who" for the subject of the verb, even if the verb is in the passive voice. For example:
- Who is going to the party?
- Who was invited to the wedding?
- Who is the best player on the team?
- Who discovered America?
In each of these questions, "who" is the subject of the verb, even though the verb "is going" in the first question is in the passive voice.
Remember: When asking a question, always use "who" for the subject of the verb.
Nonrestrictive Clause: Use "who" in nonrestrictive clauses.
A nonrestrictive clause is a clause that provides additional information about a noun or pronoun, but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Nonrestrictive clauses are usually set off by commas. For example:
- My sister, who is a doctor, lives in New York.
- The man, who was wearing a red hat, was walking down the street.
- The book, which I bought yesterday, is very interesting.
In each of these sentences, the nonrestrictive clause is set off by commas. The relative pronoun "who" is used in each of the nonrestrictive clauses.
Here are some more examples of how to use "who" in nonrestrictive clauses:
- My friend, who is very intelligent, got a perfect score on the SAT.
- The company, which is based in California, is very successful.
- The movie, which won an Oscar, was very popular.
As you can see, "who" is always used in nonrestrictive clauses.
Remember: When using a nonrestrictive clause, always use "who" for the relative pronoun.
Restrictive Clause: Use "whom" in restrictive clauses.
A restrictive clause is a clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Restrictive clauses are not set off by commas. For example:
- The student who studies hard will get good grades.
- The book that I bought yesterday is very interesting.
- The company that is based in California is very successful.
In each of these sentences, the restrictive clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence. The relative pronoun "who" or "that" is used in each of the restrictive clauses.
Here are some more examples of how to use "whom" in restrictive clauses:
- The person whom I spoke to was very helpful.
- The company for whom I work is very large.
- The movie which won an Oscar was very popular.
As you can see, "whom" is used in restrictive clauses when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Remember: When using a restrictive clause, use "whom" for the relative pronoun when it is the object of a verb or preposition.
Appositive: Use "whom" after an appositive.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or explains another noun or noun phrase. Appositives are usually set off by commas. For example:
- John Smith, the president of the company, gave a speech.
- The book, a New York Times bestseller, was very popular.
- The company, a Fortune 500 company, is very successful.
In each of these sentences, the appositive is set off by commas. The relative pronoun "who" or "whom" is used after the appositive.
Here are some more examples of how to use "whom" after an appositive:
- The person, whom I spoke to, was very helpful.
- The company, for whom I work, is very large.
- The movie, which won an Oscar, was very popular.
As you can see, "whom" is used after an appositive when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Remember: When using an appositive, use "whom" after the appositive when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Formal Writing: Use "whom" in formal writing.
In formal writing, it is generally preferred to use "whom" instead of "who" when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition. This is especially true in academic writing and legal documents. For example:
- The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.
- The company for whom I work is very large.
- The movie to which I am referring was very popular.
Using "whom" in these sentences makes the writing sound more formal and sophisticated.
Here are some more examples of how to use "whom" in formal writing:
- The individual whom I met with yesterday was very impressive.
- The organization to which I belong is very active in the community.
- The report to which I am referring is very detailed.
As you can see, using "whom" in formal writing can help to make your writing sound more professional and authoritative.
Remember: In formal writing, it is generally preferred to use "whom" instead of "who" when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Informal Writing: Use "who" in informal writing.
In informal writing, such as personal letters, emails, and text messages, it is perfectly acceptable to use "who" instead of "whom," even when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition. For example:
- The person who I spoke to was very helpful.
- The company who I work for is very large.
- The movie who I am referring to was very popular.
Using "who" in these sentences makes the writing sound more natural and conversational.
Here are some more examples of how to use "who" in informal writing:
- The person who I met with yesterday was very impressive.
- The organization who I belong to is very active in the community.
- The report who I am referring to is very detailed.
As you can see, using "who" in informal writing can help to make your writing sound more friendly and approachable.
Remember: In informal writing, it is perfectly acceptable to use "who" instead of "whom," even when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
FAQ
Do you still have questions about when to use "who"? Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that may help:
Question 1: When do I use "who"?
Answer 1: Use "who" when the relative pronoun is the subject of a verb or in a question.
Question 2: When do I use "whom"?
Answer 2: Use "whom" when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Question 3: What is a relative pronoun?
Answer 3: A relative pronoun is a word that connects a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. Common relative pronouns include "who," "whom," "which," and "that."
Question 4: What is the difference between a subject and an object?
Answer 4: The subject of a verb is the person, place, or thing that is performing the action of the verb. The object of a verb is the person, place, or thing that is receiving the action of the verb.
Question 5: Can I always use "who" in informal writing?
Answer 5: Yes, in informal writing, it is perfectly acceptable to use "who" instead of "whom," even when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Question 6: Should I use "who" or "whom" in formal writing?
Answer 6: In formal writing, it is generally preferred to use "whom" instead of "who" when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Question 7: How can I improve my usage of "who" and "whom"?
Answer 7: The best way to improve your usage of "who" and "whom" is to practice using them in your writing and speaking. You can also consult a grammar guide or online resource for more information.
Question 8: Is there a mnemonic device I can use to remember when to use "who" and "whom"?
Answer 8: Yes, you can use the mnemonic device "Who's on first?" to remember when to use "who" and "whom." If you can substitute "he" or "she" for the relative pronoun, use "who." If you can substitute "him" or "her" for the relative pronoun, use "whom."
I hope these FAQs have been helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Now that you know more about when to use "who" and "whom," here are a few tips to help you use them correctly in your writing:
Tips
Here are a few practical tips to help you use "who" and "whom" correctly in your writing:
Tip 1: Remember the subject-object rule.
Use "who" when the relative pronoun is the subject of a verb or in a question. Use "whom" when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Tip 2: Use "who" in nonrestrictive clauses.
A nonrestrictive clause is a clause that provides additional information about a noun or pronoun, but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Nonrestrictive clauses are usually set off by commas. For example:
- My sister, who is a doctor, lives in New York.
- The man, who was wearing a red hat, was walking down the street.
Tip 3: Use "whom" in restrictive clauses.
A restrictive clause is a clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Restrictive clauses are not set off by commas. For example:
- The student who studies hard will get good grades.
- The book that I bought yesterday is very interesting.
Tip 4: Use "whom" after an appositive.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or explains another noun or noun phrase. Appositives are usually set off by commas. For example:
- John Smith, the president of the company, gave a speech.
- The book, a New York Times bestseller, was very popular.
Tip 5: Use "who" in informal writing and "whom" in formal writing.
In informal writing, it is perfectly acceptable to use "who" instead of "whom," even when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition. In formal writing, it is generally preferred to use "whom" instead of "who" when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
I hope these tips have been helpful. With a little practice, you'll be able to use "who" and "whom" correctly in your writing.
Now that you know how to use "who" and "whom" correctly, you can use them confidently in your writing to make your sentences more clear and concise.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the different ways to use "who" and "whom." We learned that "who" is used when the relative pronoun is the subject of a verb or in a question, while "whom" is used when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
We also learned that "who" is used in nonrestrictive clauses, while "whom" is used in restrictive clauses. Additionally, "whom" is used after an appositive.
Finally, we learned that it is generally preferred to use "who" in informal writing and "whom" in formal writing.
I hope this article has been helpful in clarifying the differences between "who" and "whom." With a little practice, you'll be able to use them correctly in your writing.
Remember, the most important thing is to be consistent in your usage of "who" and "whom." If you are unsure which one to use, it is always better to err on the side of caution and use "whom."
Thank you for reading!