Confusing words explained
“who” vs “whom” — What’s the Difference?
Who is the subject of a verb; whom is the object of a verb or preposition.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: who vs whom
Who is the subject of a verb; whom is the object of a verb or preposition.
who vs whom Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of who
A question word used to ask about the identity of a person or persons.
A question word that asks which person or what person's name.
Place 'who' at the start of a question to ask about a person's identity.
- Who is your best friend?
- Who did you see at the market yesterday?
Meaning of whom
Object form of the pronoun 'who', used when the pronoun receives the action in a sentence.
Used instead of 'who' when the person is the object, receiving an action, not doing it.
Use 'whom' after prepositions (to, for, with, from) or when the pronoun receives the action.
- To whom should I send this letter?
- The person whom I trust most is my mentor.
Usage Notes & Nuance
whom: Formal and less common in modern casual speech; many native speakers avoid using 'whom' correctly.
How to Remember the Difference
Who = like 'he' (subject). Whom = like 'him' (object).
Common Mistakes with who and whom
Mistake with who
Wrong: Who does this belong to?
Correct: Whom does this belong to?
Whom is needed as object of preposition 'to'. However, who is increasingly used in speech.
Mistake with who
Wrong: I don't know who is the teacher.
Correct: I don't know who the teacher is.
In indirect questions, move the verb after the object in standard English word order.
Mistake with whom
Wrong: Who did you go with?
Correct: Whom did you go with?
In formal writing, use 'whom' when the pronoun is the object of the preposition 'with'.
Mistake with whom
Wrong: The teacher to who I spoke was kind.
Correct: The teacher to whom I spoke was kind.
After preposition 'to', use object form 'whom', not subject form 'who'.
Practice Quiz: who or whom?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
_____ is your best friend?
Question 2
_____ did you see at the market yesterday?
Question 3
_____ among these candidates has the most relevant experience?
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About who vs whom
What’s the difference between “who” and “whom”?
Who is the subject of a verb; whom is the object of a verb or preposition.
When should I use “who”?
Place 'who' at the start of a question to ask about a person's identity.
When should I use “whom”?
Use 'whom' after prepositions (to, for, with, from) or when the pronoun receives the action.
How can I remember who vs whom?
Who = like 'he' (subject). Whom = like 'him' (object).
Is it “who” or “whom” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.