When to use "who" vs. "whom", English Grammar

The use of "who" and "whom" is a common grammar issue that many people struggle with. While both words are pronouns, they are used in different ways to refer to people. In general, "who" is used as a subject pronoun, while "whom" is used as an object pronoun. However, there are some specific rules that govern when to use each word.

When to use "who" vs. "whom", English Grammar

Here are the main rules for using "who" and "whom":

Use "who" as a subject pronoun:

"Who" is used when referring to the subject of a sentence, meaning the person who is doing the action. 

For example:

• Who ate the last cookie?
• Who is coming to the party tonight?

In these examples, "who" is used to refer to the person who is performing the action in the sentence.

Use "whom" as an object pronoun:

"Whom" is used when referring to the object of a sentence, meaning the person who is receiving the action. 

For example:

• Whom did you invite to the party?
• To whom did you send the email?

In these examples, "whom" is used to refer to the person who is receiving the action in the sentence.

Use "whom" after prepositions:

"Whom" is used after prepositions such as "to," "for," "with," and "by." 

For example:

• To whom did you give the gift?
• With whom are you going to the concert?

In these examples, "whom" is used after the preposition to indicate the person who is the object of the preposition.

Use "who" in informal speech:

In informal speech, "who" is often used instead of "whom," particularly when the object is not a personal pronoun. 

For example:

• Who should I talk to about the project?

In this example, "who" is used instead of "whom" because the object is not a personal pronoun.

In summary, "who" is used as a subject pronoun, while "whom" is used as an object pronoun or after prepositions. While the rules for using "who" and "whom" can be complicated, following these basic guidelines will help you to use them correctly in your writing and speech.