The difference between who and whom
"Who" and "whom" are both relative pronouns used to refer to persons or sometimes to animals with a name. The main difference between them lies in their use as subjects or objects in a sentence:
1. **Who**:
"Who" is used as a subject pronoun. It is used to ask about the subject of a verb or when the pronoun is the one doing the action in the relative clause. You can think of it as a replacement for the subject pronouns "he," "she," "it," or "they."
Example as a question:
- Who is going to the party? ("Who" is the subject doing the action of "going.")
Example as a relative pronoun in a clause:
- The person who called you is on the line. ("Who" refers to the subject "person" who is doing the action "called.")
2. **Whom**:
"Whom" is used as an object pronoun. It is used to ask about the object of a verb or a preposition or when the pronoun is the one receiving the action in the relative clause. You can think of it as a replacement for the object pronouns "him," "her," "it," or "them."
Example as a question:
- Whom did you invite to the party? (The person you invited is the object of the action "invite.")
Example as a relative pronoun in a clause:
- The person whom you met yesterday is my friend. ("Whom" refers to the object "person" who received the action "met.")
Here's a quick tip to remember the difference: If you can replace "who" or "whom" with "he" or "she," use "who." If "him" or "her" makes more sense, then use "whom."
However, in modern English, especially in informal communication, "whom" is used less frequently, and "who" often replaces it. Some people might consider strict adherence to using "whom" as formal or pedantic, but in formal writing and speech, using "whom" correctly can demonstrate a mastery of standard language conventions.