Who vs. Whom
Let’s crack the code for who and whom. It is easier than you might imagine. In addition, I will give you the technique for learning when to use whoever vs. whomever. The following are informal methods rather than rules; however, they really work!
Rule: Use who when you could replace it with he.
Example: Who/whom is standing by the gate?
We would say, “He is standing by the gate.” So who is correct.
Example: Gail wished she knew who/whom won.
Gail wished is a subject and verb pair (also called a clause). She knew is another subject and verb pair (clause). Who/whom won, the third clause, is the one we care about here. We would say, “He won.” So who is correct.
Rule: Use whom when you could replace it with him.
Example: To who/whom am I speaking?
Let’s turn the question into a sentence to make it easier: I am speaking to who/whom. We would say, “I am speaking to him.” Therefore, whom is correct.
Example: Hank wanted to know on who/whom the prank was pulled.
Hank wanted to know is a clause. That leaves on who/whom the prank was pulled. Again, let’s turn the question into a sentence: The prank was pulled on who/whom. We would say, “The prank was pulled on him.” Therefore, whom is correct.
Now, wouldn’t it be nice to know when to use whoever and whomever with confidence? Once again, I’ll give you techniques that work.
Rule: Use ever on the end of who or whom when who or whom fits into both clauses.
Example: Give it to ________ asks for it first.
We could say, “Give it to him.” But we could also say, “He asks for it first.” In other words, who/whom fits into both clauses. That tells us to use ever on the end of who or whom. Now, is the correct answer whoever or whomever ?
Rule: When you have a he/him combination, use whoever. When you have a him/him combination, use whomever.
In the example above, we had a he/him combination. So the answer is this: Give it to whoever asks for it first.
Example: We will hire _________ you recommend.
We could say, “We will hire him.” But we could also say, “You recommend him.” Again, who/whom fits into both clauses. That tells us to use ever. This time we have a him/him combination. So the answer is this: We will hire whomever you recommend.
Pop Quiz
1. Who/Whom should I ask to the dance?
2. Cedric hasn’t decided who/whom should be appointed yet.
3. I’m looking for an assistant on who/whom I can depend.
Answers to Pop Quiz
1. Whom should I ask to the dance?
2. Cedric hasn’t decided who should be appointed yet.
3. I’m looking for an assistant on whom I can depend.
Posted on Monday, May 1st, 2006 at 3:46 pm
17 Responses to “Who vs. Whom”
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can you tell me which to use in the following sentence (who vs whom)?
“Every Wednesday, Enid still brings soup to homeless people, including those (who, whom) she meets on the boardwalk.”
Thanks.
Eric
Use “whom” because you would say, “She meets HIM on the boardwalk.”
Can you tell me which to use in the following sentence?
He interviewed several candidates who/whom he thought had the experience and qualifications he required.
Thank you.
Here is how to break this sentence down:
He interviewed several candidates.
he thought
______ had the experience and qualifications
he required
The blank could be replaced by “he” so “who” is the answer.
Thank you!!
Someone asks, “To whom was she talking”?
Response:
1) I am to whom she was talking.
2) I am whom she was talking to.
3) She was talking to me.
If 3 is the only answer, and wouldn’t 1 or 2 work?
Number 3 is the most natural-sounding choice.
I’m using the he/him substitution to try to explain who/whom to my English class, and I’m noping it will be helpful.
I’m hitting a little trouble with a situation like: Who/whom is that present for? “Who is that present for” sounds much more natural, but the substitution would be “That present is for him.” I know that in the original question, the who/whom is technically the object of the preposition “for,” even though it’s at the end of the sentence (my research says that’s okay, I think), but “Whom is that present for” sounds really strange.
The correct usage is “Whom is the present for?” Perhaps it would sound more natural to you if you simply reword the sentence. If the sentence read “That present is for whom?” it does not sound as awkward. The word “whom” is a commonly misused word, so it is not surprising that you consider it strange sounding.
Having a real hard time with I vs me! I have a third grader and I was giving him the wrong answers!!! Yikes….Help
I think you’ll find that choosing between the subject pronoun I and the object pronoun me will be much clearer once you know the rules. You can find the rules in the Pronouns section on my website. A previous newsletter on “I vs. Me” is in the Grammar Blog section. Also, you can test your understanding by taking a Free Online Quiz on pronouns.
Correct? or maybe I’m the one with a problem . . .
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Many thanks!
Whom is correct. Of whom is a prepositional phrase which modifies the pronoun many. Whom is the object of the preposition, so the object form is used.
I saw a Bumper Sticker that did not appear to be correct. It was a dog paw that read “Who rescued who?” The intent is obvious. But if I reword the sentence, “His dog rescued him”, Who rescued whom appears more accurate. Am I correct in my thinking?
You are correct. Bumper stickers are not always reliable sources of proper grammar.
Which one is the correct form? It is a title of a book (not a question)
“Whom is this book addressed to”
“Who this book is addressed to”
In our blog “Who vs. Whom” the rule states, “Use whom when you could replace it with him.” You would say, “This book is addressed to him,” therefore, use the word whom. Even though you say that this is the title of a book, “Whom is this book addressed to?” is indeed a question, and I recommend the use of a question mark.
Whom is this Book Addressed to? OR
To Whom is this Book Addressed?