Who vs. whom: Differences, uses, and examples

Key takeaways:

  • Who is a subject pronounSubject pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence, meaning they perform the action of the verb. used when referring to the doer of an action (e.g., "Who is calling?").

  • Whom is an object pronounObject pronouns are used as the object of a verb or preposition, meaning they receive the action of the verb or show the recipient of the action. used when referring to the receiver of an action (e.g., "To whom should I address the letter?").

Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs

Deciding between who and whom can feel tricky, but it’s actually straightforward once you understand their roles in a sentence. The difference between who and whom can be confusing, but mastering their use is key to proper grammar. Who is used as a subject, while whom functions as an object in a sentence.

Who is like "she", and whom is like "her"
Who is like "she", and whom is like "her"

When to use who

Who is used as a subject in a sentence—it performs the action.

Examples of who

  • "Who is knocking at the door?"
    (Here, who is the subject performing the action of knocking.)

  • "Who wrote this book?"
    (Who is the subject performing the action of writing.)

When to use whom

"Whom" is used as an object in a sentence—it receives the action.

Examples of whom

  • "To whom was the invitation sent?"
    (Here, "whom" is the object of the preposition "to.")

  • "Whom did you meet at the party?"
    ("Whom" is the object receiving the action of meeting.)

Quick test

Choose the correct word (who or whom) for each sentence:

  1. ___ is calling my name?

  1. To ___ should this letter be sent?

  1. ___ wrote the book we’re discussing?

  1. ___ did you meet at the conference?

Common mistakes

Here are some frequent errors and how to avoid them:

Using whom as a subject:

  • Incorrect: “Whom is coming to the meeting?”
  • Correct: “Who is coming to the meeting?”

Using who as an object:

  • Incorrect: “To who should I give this package?”
  • Correct: “To whom should I give this package?”

Who vs. Whom

Word

Role

Function

Examples

Who

Subject Pronoun

Refers to the doer of the action

"Who is speaking?"

Whom

Object Pronoun

Refers to the receiver of the action

"To whom should I address the letter?"

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between who and whom ensures your writing remains polished and grammatically correct. Always remember the he/him test to determine the correct usage. With practice, you'll confidently master these pronouns in no time!

Test your understanding: who vs. whom

Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between who vs. whom:

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

___ will take responsibility for this project?

Who

With ___ are you going to the event?

Whom

___ do you believe is the best candidate?

To ___ did you lend your notes?

___ can solve this problem effectively?

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Frequently asked questions

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Do people still use "whom"?

While whom is less common in everyday conversation, it’s still considered grammatically correct and is often used in formal writing and speech.

Should I say who or whom?

The choice between who and whom depends on the grammatical role it plays in the sentence.

Use who when it’s the subject of a verb or clause. This means it’s performing the action.

  • Example: “Who is going to the store?” (Who is the one going?)

Use whom when it’s the object of a verb or preposition. This means it’s receiving the action.

  • Example: “To whom did you give the book?” (You gave the book to whom?)

Who vs. whom example sentences?

Who (subject of the sentence):

  • Who is coming to the party?
  • Who wrote this book?

Whom (object of the verb or preposition):

  • Whom did you call last night?
  • To whom should I address the letter?

Tip: If you can replace it with he/she, use who. If you can replace it with him/her, use whom.

Whose vs. whom examples?

  • Whose (possessive form):

    • Whose book is this?
    • I wonder whose shoes these are.

  • Whom (object of a verb or preposition):

    • To whom did you send the letter?
    • Whom did you invite to the party?

What is a 5-sentence example for whom?

  1. To whom did you give the gift?
  2. I have a friend whom I trust deeply.
  3. Whom should I ask for help?
  4. He is the person with whom I worked on the project.
  5. The teacher, to whom I spoke yesterday, is very kind.

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