In this article, we will explore the rules for using “who” and “whom” in English writing. We will provide examples and tips to help writers understand when to use each word correctly. Whether you are a native English speaker or learning English as a second language, understanding the difference between who vs. whom is an important aspect of writing in English.
Who vs. Whom
Definition of Who
“Who” is a pronoun that is used to refer to the subject of a sentence. In other words, it is used to identify the person who is performing the action in a sentence. For example, “Who ate all the cookies?” In this sentence, “who” is used to identify the person who ate the cookies.
Definition of Whom
“Whom” is a pronoun that is used to refer to the object of a sentence. It is used to identify the person who is receiving the action in a sentence. For example, “Whom did you give the cookies to?” In this sentence, “whom” is used to identify the person who received the cookies.
It is important to note that “whom” is often used after prepositions, such as “to,” “from,” and “with.” For example, “To whom did you give the cookies?” In this sentence, “to” is the preposition, and “whom” is used to identify the person who received the cookies.
Examples
Here are some examples to help illustrate the difference between who vs. whom:
- Who is going to the party? (subject)
- Whom did you invite to the party? (object)
- Who is the best candidate for the job? (subject)
- To whom should I address the letter? (object of the preposition “to”)
- Who is that girl standing over there? (subject)
- Whom did you see at the movie theater? (object)
How to Use Whom vs. Who
When to Use Who
The pronoun “who” is used as a subjective case pronoun. It is used to refer to the subject of a sentence. The subjective case pronoun “who” is used when the pronoun is the subject of a clause or sentence. It is used to refer to people, animals, or things that are performing the action of the verb.
Examples:
- Who is coming to the party tonight?
- Who is the best candidate for the job?
- Who ate all the cookies?
- Who is responsible for the mess in the kitchen?
- Who is the captain of the team?
In these examples, “who” is used as the subject of the sentence. It is used to refer to the person or thing that is performing the action of the verb.
When to Use Whom
“Whom” is an object pronoun used in the objective case. It is used when referring to the object of a verb or a preposition. In other words, “whom” is used to refer to the person or people who are receiving the action of the verb.
Examples:
Here are some examples of how to correctly use whom in sentences:
- To whom did you give the book?
- Whom should I invite to the party?
- With whom are you going to the concert?
- Whom did the teacher choose to answer the question?
In each of these examples, “whom” is used to refer to the person or people who are receiving the action of the verb. It is important to note that “whom” is only used in the objective case and not the subjective case.
Using Who vs. Whom in Sentences
When writing or speaking in English, it is important to use the correct pronoun to refer to people. The two most commonly used pronouns for this purpose are “who” and “whom.” While they may seem interchangeable, they have different grammatical functions and should be used appropriately.
Subject of a sentence:
- Who is coming to the party tonight?
- Who made this delicious cake?
Object of a verb:
- Whom did you invite to the party?
- Whom should I ask for help?
Object of a preposition:
- To whom did you give the gift?
- From whom did you receive the letter?
Relative clauses:
- The woman who is wearing a red dress is my sister.
- The man whom I met at the conference is a renowned scientist.
In general, “who” is used as the subject of a sentence or clause, while “whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
When using a preposition at the beginning of a sentence or clause, “whom” is always the correct choice. For example:
- To whom it may concern
- With whom are you going to the concert?
It is also important to note that in informal speech, “who” is often used in place of “whom.” While this may be acceptable in some situations, it is still important to understand the correct usage of these pronouns in formal writing and speech.
In addition, relative clauses can be a bit tricky when it comes to deciding whether to use “who” or “whom.” In a relative clause, “who” is used to refer to the subject of the clause, while “whom” is used to refer to the object of the clause. For example:
- The woman who I met at the party is a doctor. (I met her)
- The man whom I gave the book to is my neighbor. (I gave the book to him)
Interrogative Pronouns
Who is used as a subject of a sentence or clause, while whom is used as an object. Use who when referring to the person performing the action of a verb, and use whom when referring to the person receiving the action of a verb.
When who or whom is used after a preposition, it is always whom. For example, “To whom did you give the book?” In informal speech, it is also common to end a sentence with a preposition, in which case “Who did you give the book to?” would also be acceptable.
Here are some examples of how to use who vs. whom correctly:
- Who is coming to the party? (subject)
- Whom did you invite to the party? (object)
- Who is the best candidate for the job? (subject)
- To whom should I address the letter? (object after preposition)
- Who is responsible for this mess? (subject)
- Whom did you blame for the accident? (object)
Quiz and Practice
Identifying Subjects and Objects
Before we dive into the exercises, let’s review how to identify subjects and objects in a sentence. The subject is the person or thing that performs the action in the sentence, while the object is the person or thing that receives the action.
For example, in the sentence “She gave him a book,” “She” is the subject because she is performing the action of giving, while “him” is the object because he is receiving the book.
Who vs. Whom Exercises
Now that we have reviewed the basics of identifying subjects and objects, let’s practice using “who” and “whom” correctly in sentences.
- ___________ should I invite to the party? (who/whom)
- The teacher asked ___________ to answer the question. (who/whom)
- ___________ do you think will win the game? (who/whom)
- The manager hired the candidate ___________ had the most experience. (who/whom)
- The company gave the promotion to ___________ they thought was most qualified. (who/whom)
Answers: 1. who 2. whom 3. who 4. who 5. whom
Last Updated on December 5, 2025
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where we should use Whom?
We use “whom” when referring to the object of a verb or preposition, not the subject. A simple trick is to try replacing it with “him” or “her”—if that sounds right, then “whom” is likely correct. Example:
To whom did you speak? (You spoke to him → “whom” is correct.)
The person whom I met was very kind. (I met him → “whom” is correct.)
Thanks for learning with us—keep the great questions coming! 😊