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Grammar pairs

Who vs Whom

What is the difference between who and whom?

Who is the subject (who called?) and whom is the object (whom did you call?). In everyday English, who is fine for both.

Who vs Whom at a glance

  • who

    /huː/ · pronoun

    Used for a person who is the subject, the one doing the action.

    • Who left the door open?
    • The woman who lives next door is a nurse.
    “who” in the vocabulary guide
  • whom

    /huːm/ · pronoun

    A formal word for a person who is the object, the one receiving the action.

    • To whom should I send the invoice?
    • The manager, whom I met yesterday, was very helpful.
    “whom” in the vocabulary guide

How to remember it

Answer the question with he or him. If the answer is he, use who. If it's him, use whom: both whom and him end in m.

Good to know

Always use whom directly after a preposition: "with whom", "to whom", "for whom". In normal speech people avoid this by moving the preposition to the end and using who: "Who did you go with?" This is correct and natural; whom sounds formal.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Whom is coming to dinner tonight?

    Right: Who is coming to dinner tonight?

  • Wrong: To who it may concern.

    Right: To whom it may concern.

Quick quiz

  1. 1. wants another slice of pizza?

  2. 2.The person to I spoke gave me the wrong number.

  3. 3.I have a friend speaks five languages.

Pick the right word for each gap.

Often confused too