Who vs. whom

Definition

The terms 'who' and 'whom' are pronouns used to refer to people, with 'who' serving as the subject of a verb and 'whom' functioning as the object of a verb or preposition. Understanding the distinction between these two words helps in crafting clear and grammatically correct sentences, making it essential in the realm of commonly confused words and phrases.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 'Who' is used when referring to the subject of a clause or sentence, while 'whom' is used for the object.
2. A simple trick to determine which to use is to substitute with 'he' for 'who' and 'him' for 'whom'; if 'him' fits, then use 'whom'.
3. 'Whom' is often considered more formal or outdated in everyday speech, leading many to use 'who' instead.
4. 'Who' can also function as an interrogative pronoun when asking questions about people.
5. In some contexts, especially informal writing or conversation, using 'who' instead of 'whom' is widely accepted, although not always grammatically correct.

Review Questions

• How do you decide whether to use 'who' or 'whom' in a sentence?
  • To determine whether to use 'who' or 'whom', identify the role the pronoun plays in the sentence. If the pronoun is the subject performing the action, use 'who'. If it is the object receiving the action, use 'whom'. A helpful tip is to replace the pronoun with either 'he' or 'him'; if 'him' fits correctly, then you should use 'whom'.
• Discuss how using 'who' instead of 'whom' affects the formality of your writing.
  • 'Who' is often perceived as less formal than 'whom'. In casual conversation or informal writing, using 'who' is widely accepted and may even sound more natural. However, in formal writing, using 'whom' demonstrates a greater command of grammar and can lend an air of professionalism. Writers should consider their audience and context when deciding which pronoun to use.
• Evaluate the impact of language evolution on the usage of ‘who’ and ‘whom’ in modern English.
  • The evolution of language has led to a shift in how ‘who’ and ‘whom’ are used in modern English. Many speakers now prefer using ‘who’ in both subject and object positions due to its simplicity and ease of use, reflecting a trend toward informality in communication. This shift raises questions about grammatical precision versus conversational fluency; while traditional grammar rules advocate for ‘whom’ in specific contexts, widespread usage patterns indicate a growing acceptance of ‘who’ as versatile. This change illustrates how living languages adapt over time based on common usage among speakers.

Related terms

Subject Pronoun: 'Subject pronouns' are pronouns that act as the subject of a sentence, performing the action of the verb. Examples include 'I', 'you', 'he', 'she', 'it', 'we', and 'they'.

Object Pronoun: 'Object pronouns' are pronouns that serve as the object of a verb or preposition, receiving the action. Examples include 'me', 'you', 'him', 'her', 'it', 'us', and 'them'.

Interrogative Pronoun: 'Interrogative pronouns' are used to ask questions about people or things. Examples include 'who', 'whom', 'whose', 'what', and 'which'.