Whom

Definition

Whom is a pronoun used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition. It is often used in formal contexts and is considered the objective form of the pronoun 'who'. Understanding its proper use can clarify sentence structure and improve clarity in communication.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Whom is typically used in formal writing and speech, while who is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
2. When determining whether to use whom or who, you can rephrase the sentence to see if it can be replaced with 'he' (use who) or 'him' (use whom).
3. In questions, whom often appears after a preposition, such as in 'To whom did you give the book?'
4. In informal contexts, many speakers substitute who for whom, which can lead to confusion in grammatical correctness.
5. Whom is often found in relative clauses that provide additional information about a noun, for example, 'The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle.'

Review Questions

• How do you determine when to use 'whom' versus 'who' in a sentence?
  • 'Whom' is used when referring to the object of a verb or preposition, while 'who' is used for the subject. A good trick is to rephrase the sentence: if you can replace the pronoun with 'he', then 'who' is correct; if you can replace it with 'him', then 'whom' should be used. This distinction helps maintain clarity and correctness in your writing.
• Discuss the significance of using 'whom' in formal writing compared to casual conversation.
  • 'Whom' holds more weight in formal writing and speech because it adheres to traditional grammatical rules. Using it correctly demonstrates a command of language and can enhance clarity. In contrast, casual conversation often leans towards using 'who,' which may lead to less precise communication. Recognizing the difference ensures appropriate language use based on context.
• Analyze how the misuse of 'whom' impacts written communication and reader comprehension.
  • Misusing 'whom' can create confusion and diminish the perceived professionalism of written communication. When readers encounter incorrect pronouns, it may distract them from the message and undermine their trust in the author's credibility. Properly using 'whom' clarifies relationships between subjects and objects in sentences, thus enhancing reader comprehension and maintaining clarity in conveying ideas.

Related terms

who:

Who is a pronoun used to refer to the subject of a verb, often used in questions or relative clauses.

objective case: The form of a pronoun when it acts as the object of a verb or preposition, as opposed to the subjective case, where the pronoun acts as the subject.

relative pronouns: Pronouns that introduce relative clauses and connect them to nouns, such as who, whom, whose, which, and that.