Are you ever confused about when to use “who,” “whom,” or “whose”? You’re not alone. These three words are often misused, and it can be difficult to remember which one to use in a given situation. However, understanding the differences between them is important for clear communication and effective writing.
In this article, we’ll explore the proper usage of “who,” “whom,” and “whose.” We’ll break down each word and provide examples to help you better understand when to use each one. By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid understanding of these commonly misused words and be able to use them correctly in your writing.
Understanding the Basics: Who, Whom, and Whose
When it comes to using who, whom, and whose, many people struggle to differentiate between them. However, understanding the basics of these pronouns is essential for effective communication. In this section, we will define each of these pronouns and provide examples of how to use them correctly.
Definition of Who
The pronoun “who” is used when referring to the subject of a sentence. In other words, it is used to refer to the person or thing that is doing the action in the sentence. For example:
- Who is going to the party tonight?
- Who wrote this book?
Definition of Whom
The pronoun “whom” is used when referring to the object of a sentence. In other words, it is used to refer to the person or thing that is receiving the action in the sentence. For example:
- To whom should I send this email?
- Whom did you ask for help?
Definition of Whose
The pronoun “whose” is used to indicate possession. It is used to ask about the owner of something or to show that something belongs to someone. For example:
- Whose car is parked outside?
- Whose phone is ringing?
WHO vs WHOM vs WHOSE
Difference between Subjects, Objects and Possessives
To understand how to use ‘who’, ‘whom’ and ‘whose’ you first have to understand the difference between subjects, objects and possessives.
The subject does the action:
- He likes football.
- She goes to university.
- They enjoy travelling.
The object receives the action:
- The employees respect him.
- I know her.
- The sailors waved to us.
Possessives tell us the person something belongs to:
- His car is new.
- I like his latest novel.
- We returned to our hotel.
When to Use Who vs Whom vs Whose
1. ‘Who’ is a subject pronoun like ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘they’. We use ‘who’ to ask which person did an action or which person is in a certain state.
- Who made the birthday cake?
- Who is in the bathroom?
- Who is going to the market this afternoon?
2. ‘Whom’ is an object pronoun like ‘him’, ‘her’ and ‘us’. We use ‘whom’ to ask which person received an action.
- Whom are going to ask to Mary’s party this evening?
- Whom did they choose as a team leader?
- Whom did he blame for the accident?
3. “Whose” is a possessive pronoun like ‘his’, and ‘our’. We use ‘whose’ to find out which person something belongs to.
- Whose bag is this?
- Whose cell phone keeps ringing?
- Whose dog is barking outside?
WHO – WHOM – WHOSE | Image
Practical Usage Guidelines: Who vs. Whom
When it comes to using “who” and “whom,” many people get confused. However, once you understand the rules, it becomes much easier to use them correctly. Here are some practical usage guidelines to help you use “who” and “whom” correctly.
When to Use Who
“Who” is used as a subject pronoun. It is used when referring to the person who is doing the action in the sentence. For example:
- Who is going to the party tonight?
- She is the one who won the award.
When to Use Whom
“Whom” is used as an object pronoun. It is used when referring to the person who is receiving the action in the sentence. For example:
- Whom did you invite to the party?
- The award was given to the person whom the judges thought was the best.
It’s important to note that “whom” is becoming less common in modern English. In many cases, it is acceptable to use “who” instead of “whom.” However, if you want to be grammatically correct, you should use “whom” when referring to the object of a sentence.
In summary, “who” is used as a subject pronoun, while “whom” is used as an object pronoun. Remembering this simple rule will help you use these pronouns correctly in your writing.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Frequent Errors with Who
One of the most common mistakes people make with “who” is using it as an object pronoun instead of “whom”. For example, “Who should I give this to?” should be “Whom should I give this to?” since “whom” is the object of the verb “give”.
Another mistake is using “who” instead of “that” when referring to a non-human subject. For example, “The book who I read last week” should be “The book that I read last week”.
Frequent Errors with Whom
One of the most common mistakes with “whom” is using it incorrectly as a subject pronoun. For example, “Whom is going to the party?” should be “Who is going to the party?” since “who” is the subject of the verb “is going”.
Another mistake is using “whom” instead of “who” in informal speech or writing. While it is technically correct to use “whom” in formal writing, it can sound overly formal or stilted in everyday conversation.
Frequent Errors with Whose
One common mistake with “whose” is using it incorrectly as a contraction for “who is” or “who has”. For example, “Whose going to the party?” should be “Who’s going to the party?” since “who’s” is a contraction of “who is”.
Another mistake is using “whose” instead of “who” or “whom” when referring to a person. For example, “Whose going to the party?” should be “Who is going to the party?” or “Whom are you inviting to the party?” depending on the context.
Remember, using “who”, “whom”, and “whose” correctly can help you communicate clearly and effectively.
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B-bad Angel
Friday 12th of August 2022
Helpful for my Lesson
Ahmed mounir
Saturday 22nd of February 2020
I passionately study this lesson.
Ahmed mounir
Saturday 22nd of February 2020
I passionately read this lesson.
JimVBrook
Sunday 19th of May 2019
Whom are going to ask to Mary’s party this evening? Should be: Whom are we/you going to ask to Mary’s party this evening? (The subject for the object pronoun has been left out.)
Colin
Saturday 20th of November 2021
And here we are 2 years later and they still haven't corrected it. :(
Dilan
Sunday 3rd of March 2019
Can we have a different set of emojis to express oursleves about the lesson. Because I find this lesson very good,but confused about what should I respond about it given the limited imojis