Grammar Rules: Who or Whom?

Many people have difficulty choosing between the frequently misused pronouns who and whom. The grammar rules below explain how to use who and whom correctly.

1. Grammar Rules: Who or Whom?- Choose the subjective pronoun who when referring to the subject of a verb.

The subject of a verb is usually a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that precedes the verb and performs some action. Therefore, the subjective pronoun who is the correct choice when referring to someone performing an action.

By way of example, consider these alternatives: "Who is repairing the car?" or "Whom is repairing the car?" These questions refer to a person performing an action; that is, the person repairing the car. Thus, the subjective pronoun who is the right choice. The pronoun who is the subject of the verb repairing.

2. Grammar Rules: Who or Whom?- Choose the objective pronoun whom when referring to the object of a verb.

The object of a verb is often a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that follows the verb and receives or is affected by some action. Thus, the objective pronoun whom is the right choice when referring to someone receiving or affected by an action.

For example, consider these alternatives: "Who did you hire?" or "Whom did you hire?" These questions refer to a person affected by an action, not a person performing an action. Therefore, the objective pronoun whom is the right choice. The pronoun whom is the object of the verb hire.

Helpful Tip:

Choose who if the questions can be answered with the subjective pronouns he or she. Alternatively, choose whom if the questions can be answered with the objective pronouns him or her.

In the first example, "Who is repairing the car?" can be answered with the subjective pronouns he or she; therefore, who is the correct choice. In the second example, "Whom did you hire?" can be answered with the objective pronouns him or her; hence, whom is the right choice.

3. Grammar Rules: Who or Whom?- Choose the objective pronoun whom when it follows a preposition.

There are approximately 150 prepositions in the English language: used most often are of, to, and in. Prepositons indicate a connection between things in a sentence.

The words after a preposition are the "object of the preposition"; therefore, the objective pronoun whom follows a preposition, not who.

In the salutation, "To Whom It May Concern," the pronoun whom is the correct choice because it follows to, a preposition. Similarly, in the sentence, "The team's wide receivers, both of whom were all-conference, received football scholarships," whom is the right choice because it follows of, a preposition.

Source(s):

White, William Allen. "Who & Whom," University of Kentucky
"Who or Whom?" Oxford Dictionaries