Difference Between Who and Whom

Difference Between Who and Whom – “Who” and “whom” are both pronouns used in English, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Here is a detailed table outlining their differences:

Aspect	Who	Whom
Part of Speech	Subject pronoun	Object pronoun
Usage	Used as the subject of a sentence or clause	Used as the object of a sentence or preposition
Position in Sentence	Usually at the beginning of a clause	Usually follows a preposition or a verb
Examples	– “Who is going to the party?”	– “To whom did you give the book?”
	– “Who wants to join us?”	– “Whom are you inviting?”
Related Questions	Can be answered with “he” or “she”	Can be answered with “him” or “her”
Substitute Words	He, she	Him, her
Grammar Tip	If you can replace the pronoun with “he” or “she,” use “who”	If you can replace the pronoun with “him” or “her,” use “whom”
Common Phrases	– “Who is there?”	– “To whom it may concern”

Difference Between Who and Whom Detailed Explanations

Part of Speech:
- Who: Functions as a subject pronoun. It is used when the pronoun is the subject of a sentence or clause.
- Whom: Functions as an object pronoun. It is used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Usage:
- Who:
  - Used to refer to the subject of a sentence or clause.
  - Example: “Who made this cake?”
- Whom:
  - Used to refer to the object of a sentence or clause.
  - Example: “Whom did you see at the concert?”
Position in Sentence:
- Who: Often found at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
  - Example: “Who is responsible for this?”
- Whom: Usually follows a preposition or a verb.
  - Example: “With whom are you going?”
Examples:
- Who:
  - “Who called you yesterday?”
  - “Who is your favorite author?”
- Whom:
  - “Whom should I contact for more information?”
  - “To whom did you address the letter?”
Related Questions:
- Who: Questions using “who” can typically be answered with “he” or “she.”
  - Example: “Who is coming to dinner?” “She is.”
- Whom: Questions using “whom” can typically be answered with “him” or “her.”
  - Example: “Whom did you invite?” “I invited him.”
Substitute Words:
- Who: Can be substituted with “he” or “she.”
  - Example: “Who is there?” “He is there.”
- Whom: Can be substituted with “him” or “her.”
  - Example: “Whom did you call?” “I called him.”
Grammar Tip:
- Who: If you can replace the pronoun with “he” or “she,” then “who” is the correct choice.
  - Example: “Who wants ice cream?” “He wants ice cream.”
- Whom: If you can replace the pronoun with “him” or “her,” then “whom” is the correct choice.
  - Example: “To whom are you speaking?” “I am speaking to him.”
Common Phrases:
- Who:
  - “Who is it?”
  - “Who are you?”
- Whom:
  - “To whom it may concern”
  - “For whom the bell tolls”

Tips for Remembering the Differences

Who: Think of “who” as aligning with “he” or “she” as the subject of a sentence.
Whom: Think of “whom” as aligning with “him” or “her” as the object of a sentence or preposition.

Understanding these differences will help you use “who” and “whom” correctly in your writing and speech, ensuring your sentences are grammatically correct and clear.