When it comes to using the pronouns “who” and “whom” correctly in written English, many people struggle to know when to use one over the other. While “who” is typically used as the subject of a sentence, “whom” is typically used as the object. To determine whether you should use “who” or “whom,” you need to consider the role of the word in the sentence.
The best way to figure out when to use “who” or “whom” is to substitute “he/she” or “him/her,” respectively. If the sentence sounds correct with “he/she,” then use “who.” If the sentence sounds correct with “him/her,” then use “whom.”
For example, if you are trying to decide whether to use “who” or “whom” in the sentence, “This is the person who/whom I saw yesterday,” you can try substituting “he/she” or “him/her.” The sentence, “This is the person he/she saw yesterday,” does not make sense; therefore, you should use “whom.”
Another way to determine when to use “who” or “whom” is to consider whether or not the word is followed by a verb. If it is, then use “who.” If not, then use “whom.” For example, in the sentence, “The woman who/whom I talked to was very helpful,” you should use “who” because the word is followed by a verb (“talked”).
Finally, it is important to note that “who” and “whom” are rarely used in everyday conversation. For example, many would simply say “the person I talked to” rather than “the person I talked to.” As a result, you should focus on using “who” and “whom” correctly when writing rather than when speaking.
By following these simple rules, you can easily determine when to use “who” or “whom” when writing. While some exceptions exist to these rules, they should provide a good starting point for understanding when to use each word.
