Key Takeaways
- Who are used as a subject in sentences, referring to people or animals performing actions.
- Whom functions as an object, receiving action, and is used after prepositions or in formal contexts.
- Understanding the role of each helps in constructing grammatically correct sentences in both spoken and written English.
- In modern usage, ‘whom’ is less common in casual speech but remains important in formal writing and questions.
- Proper distinction between who and whom enhances clarity and demonstrates language proficiency.
What is Who?
Who is a pronoun that refers to a person or animal that performs the action in a sentence. Although incomplete. It functions as the subject, leading the action and telling us who is doing what.
Subject Position
When a sentence centers on the person or animal acting, who is used at the start. It is the go-to choice for subjects of questions and statements.
Question Formation
In questions seeking identity, who is placed at the beginning, like in “Who called last night?” It replaces the subject in interrogative sentences.
Relative Clauses
Who introduces clauses describing people, such as “The artist who painted this is famous.” It links the description to the person.
Subject-Verb Agreement
When using who, ensure the verb matches the singular or plural form of the subject. Although incomplete. For example, “Who is responsible?” versus “Who is involved?”
What is Whom?
Whom is a pronoun used as an object of a verb or preposition, indicating the receiver of an action. Although incomplete. It is more formal and found in written language.
Object Position
Whom appears where the action is directed, like in “To whom should I address the letter?” It follows prepositions or verbs.
Question Formation
In formal questions, whom is used after prepositions or as the object, such as “Whom did you see at the event?” It emphasizes the person receiving the action.
Relative Clauses
Whom introduces clauses describing people, for example, “The man whom I met yesterday is a teacher.” It connects the description to the object.
Prepositional Usage
Whom is commonly used after prepositions, especially in formal contexts, like “With whom is you traveling?” It clarifies the object’s role in the sentence.
Comparison Table
Below is a table illustrating differences on various aspects of who and whom:
| Aspect | Who | Whom |
|---|---|---|
| Function in sentence | Subject (performs action) | Object (receives action) |
| Common in speech | Yes, informal and formal | Less common, more formal |
| Position in question | At the beginning for direct questions | After prepositions or in formal questions |
| Usage in relative clauses | Introduces describing clauses about people | Introduces clauses about recipients or objects |
| Associated prepositions | Usually not preceded by prepositions | Often follows prepositions like to, with, for |
| Verb agreement | Match with singular or plural subject | Match with singular or plural object |
| Formality | Less formal, common in speech | More formal, used in writing |
| Role in sentences | Agent of action | Recipient of action |
| Interrogative position | At sentence start (“Who is there?”) | After prepositions (“To whom?”) |
| Pronoun case | Nominative case | Objective case |
Key Differences
- Subject vs. Object is clearly visible in who acting as the doer, while whom is receiving the action.
- Formality levels revolves around who being more common in casual speech, whereas whom is reserved for formal contexts.
- Question placement is noticeable when who is placed at the start of a question, but whom follows prepositions.
- Clause introduction relates to who linking to descriptive clauses about people, while whom connects to the object or recipient in sentences.
FAQs
Can I use whom in everyday conversation?
While correct, using whom in casual speech sounds formal and might seem outdated. Although incomplete. Most speakers prefer who even in questions, unless aiming for a highly formal tone.
Are there any rules for choosing who or whom in complex sentences?
Yes, always check whether the pronoun is functioning as a subject or an object. If it’s the subject doing the action, use who; if it’s receiving the action, go with whom.
Is there a quick test to decide between who and whom?
Yes, replace the pronoun with he or him. If he fits, then who is correct. If him fits better, then whom should be used, as in “Him is coming” (incorrect) vs. “He is coming” (correct).
Does the use of whom affect the clarity of my sentence?
Using whom correctly can clarify roles in a sentence, especially in complex structures. It helps distinguish between the doer and receiver, making your meaning clear,