When should you use "who" and when should you use "whom" in a sentence?
There is a simple trick to knowing the difference between who and whom. All you have to do is answer your question or restate the sentence using "he" or "him". This trick also works with whoever and whomever!
he = who/whoever
him = whom/whomever
Whom
Whom is never used as the subject of a verb. It is the object form of a pronoun.
Who
Who is always used as the subject of the verb.
Examples of "who"
- Who went to the circus?
He went to the circus. Therefore, who is correct.
- We all know who won the game for the team.
He won the game for the team.
Therefore, who is correct.
- Corie knows who made the cake.
He made the cake. Therefore, who is correct.
- Whoever said that you couldn't dance?
He said that I couldn't dance.
Therefore whoever is correct.
Examples of "whom"
- For whom did you vote?
I voted for him. Therefore, whom is correct.
- With whom do you sail?
I sail with him. Therefore, whom is correct.
- Whom should I ask about the discount?
You should ask him about the discount.
- You may go with whomever you choose.
I choose to go with him. Therefore, whom is correct.
- (Who, Whom) will you invite to the party?
I will invite HIM to the party so whom should be used.
- (Whoever, Whomever) parked this car needs to move it.
She needs to move the car so whoever should be used.
- There is a fifty-dollar reward for (whoever, whomever) finds and returns my dog.
HE found my dog and returned it so WHOEVER should be used.
- (Who, Whom) is Elaine living with?
Elaine is living with HIM so WHOM should be used.
5. (Who, Whom) is that man at the end of the alley?
He is the man at the end of the alley so WHO should be used.
5a. He is the kind of person (who, whom), my father says, will always be able to multiply his money.
My father says HE will always be able to multiply his money so WHO should be used.
5b. Give the package to (whoever, whomever) the group elected.
The group elected HIM to give the package to so WHOMEVER should be used.
- To (who, whom) should I give this letter?
I should give the letter to HIM so WHOM should be used.
- The parents of that baby, (whoever, whomever) they are, shouldn’t leave it alone.
HE/SHE shouldn’t leave the baby alone so WHOEVER should be used.
- Can you tell (who, whom) she looks like?
She looks like HIM so WHOM should be used.
Join together each of the following pairs of sentences by using the relative pronouns who and whom.
1. I know a man. He has acted in a film.
. I know a man who has acted in a film.
2. The thief stole the bicycle. The thief was caught.
The thief, who stole the bicycle, was caught.
3. He is the doctor. The doctor cured me of malaria.
He is the doctor who cured me of malaria.
4. I met a boy. The boy was very handsome.
. I met a boy who was very handsome.
5. He does his best. He should be rewarded.
He, who does his best, should be rewarded.
6. He is honest. He is trusted.
He, who is honest, is trusted.
7. My grandmother has passed away. I loved my grandmother very much.
My grandmother whom I loved very much has passed away.
8. Wellington was a great general. He defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo.
Wellington, who was a great general, defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo.
9. There we met a boy. The boy had lost his way.
There we met a boy who had lost his way.
10. He is a rogue. No one trusts him.
He is a rogue whom no one trusts.
1. ___ made these delicious cookies?
She made these cookies. So WHO should be used.
2. ___ are you inviting to the party?
I am inviting HIM so WHOM should be used.
3. Did you see ___ did this?
SHE did this so WHO should be used.
4. I wonder for ___ the bell tolls?
The bell tolls for HIM so you should use WHOM.
5. She gave the money to ___?
She gave the money to HER so WHOM should be used.
6. That’s the guy around ___ all the girls gather.
All the girls gather around HIM so WHOM should be used.
7. Do you see ___ is in the car?
SHE is in the car so WHO should be used.
8. ____ did she hire for the job?
She hired HIM for the job so WHOM should be used.
9. To _____ are you referring?
I am referring to HIM so WHOM should be used.