Who vs Whom
Who vs Whom
Diffen › English Language › Grammar
Who and Whom are often confused. One way to resolve the confusion on using who vs. whom is to remember that who is always used for the subject and whom for the object.
In particular, there are two scenarios that lead to a confusion between who and whom: when introducing a question, and when introducing a dependent clause.
Contents
1 Who vs Whom when introducing a question
2 Who vs whom when introducing a dependent clause
3 More Examples
4 Video explaining the differences
5 Related Articles
EDIT Who vs Whom when introducing a question
The rule that who should be used for the subject and whom for the object also extends to scenarios when the word is being used in a question. When the answer to the question begins with a subjective pronoun or noun, use who. For example, Who was the journalist who threw a shoe at George Bush? (The answer would be Muntadar al-Zeidi was the Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at him. In the answer, Muntadar al-Zeidi is the subject so the usage of who is correct.)
On the other hand, if the answer is an objective pronoun (or noun), use whom. For example, Whom did you support in the presidential election? (The answer would be I supported Ron Paul. In the answer, Ron Paul is the object and so the usage of whom is correct.)
Who vs whom when introducing a dependent clause
The rule that who should be used for the subject and whom for the object also extends to scenarios when the word is being used to introduce a dependent clause. When the pronoun is the subject of the dependent clause being introduced, use who. When the pronoun is the object, use whom. For example,
She is the only person in the town who stood up against injustice.
The winner of the Man Booker prize was not the author whom I expected.
EDIT More Examples
Research has shown that women who get pregnant when teenagers earn substantially less money over their lifetime than those for whom pregnancy does not occur
Diffen › English Language › Grammar
Who and Whom are often confused. One way to resolve the confusion on using who vs. whom is to remember that who is always used for the subject and whom for the object.
In particular, there are two scenarios that lead to a confusion between who and whom: when introducing a question, and when introducing a dependent clause.
Contents
1 Who vs Whom when introducing a question
2 Who vs whom when introducing a dependent clause
3 More Examples
4 Video explaining the differences
5 Related Articles
EDIT Who vs Whom when introducing a question
The rule that who should be used for the subject and whom for the object also extends to scenarios when the word is being used in a question. When the answer to the question begins with a subjective pronoun or noun, use who. For example, Who was the journalist who threw a shoe at George Bush? (The answer would be Muntadar al-Zeidi was the Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at him. In the answer, Muntadar al-Zeidi is the subject so the usage of who is correct.)
On the other hand, if the answer is an objective pronoun (or noun), use whom. For example, Whom did you support in the presidential election? (The answer would be I supported Ron Paul. In the answer, Ron Paul is the object and so the usage of whom is correct.)
Who vs whom when introducing a dependent clause
The rule that who should be used for the subject and whom for the object also extends to scenarios when the word is being used to introduce a dependent clause. When the pronoun is the subject of the dependent clause being introduced, use who. When the pronoun is the object, use whom. For example,
She is the only person in the town who stood up against injustice.
The winner of the Man Booker prize was not the author whom I expected.
EDIT More Examples
Research has shown that women who get pregnant when teenagers earn substantially less money over their lifetime than those for whom pregnancy does not occur