Use who when the word is the subject of a verb, the person who does something. Use whom when it is the object of a verb or comes after a preposition. A quick test: if he or she fits in its place, use who; if him or her fits, use whom.
So who decides which word is right in a certain situation? Is it teachers, professors, or scholars? Usually, the form that most experts prefer becomes the accepted one. This article explains the rules for who and whom and why they matter.
The debate goes on
Some words are easy to use and cause no real problems. Others can cause nightmares when you try to make sure you are using the right one.
English often causes debates about correct spelling and grammar, and who versus whom is one of them: there is an ongoing debate about which to use and when. As with many grammar rules, some teachers and professors lean one way, and others lean the other way. Still, there are rules that most experts agree on, and these are easy to follow.
Have you ever wondered who decides what's right or wrong in English grammar?
Who or whom?
The best-known way to decide between who and whom is a simple test.
The he or him test: when in doubt, replace the word with he or him (or she or her). If he or she fits, the right word is who. If him or her fits, the right word is whom.
- Who called you? (He called you.)
- Whom did you call? (You called him.)
- To whom should I send the report? (Send it to her.)
In formal grammar, who belongs in the subject position of a sentence. Whom belongs in the object position and after a preposition. Because who is the subject of a verb, it is a subject pronoun (in the nominative case). Because whom is the object of a verb or of a preposition, it is an object pronoun (in the objective case).
In everyday speech, however, people rarely use whom, because it sounds too formal. Most people use who in all situations when they speak.
Examples:
- Who do you think won the debate last night? (Correct in any style: who is the subject of won.)
- Who do you wish to speak to first during the meeting? (Informal. Formal English would say "Whom do you wish to speak to first?" or "To whom do you wish to speak first?")
Who and whom as relative pronouns
Another way to look at these two words is to remember that they are also relative pronouns. This means they link one clause to another. The same rule applies inside the clause.
Examples:
- The woman whom you saw yesterday is here today. (You saw her.)
- The kids, who had been doing so well during the day, began to misbehave in the evening. (They had been doing well.)
- The women to whom the money was supposed to go never saw a penny of it, according to the papers. (The money was supposed to go to them.)
The same test works for whoever and whomever. Here is another grammar topic you may want to know more about: thou and thee.
In summary
The rules above settle most cases of who or whom. Still, the people who follow them most strictly are those who express themselves very formally. In casual speech, who is common in both positions. In formal writing, use whom for the object, and always directly after a preposition.