What is the difference between 'who' and 'whom'?

Answer 1

Originally it was a simple matter of "use 'who' when the word is the subject of the sentence (or clause), 'whom' when the word is an object".

But that's not necessarily the cae anymore.

The problem is that Modern English, unlike Old English and many other languages (including Latin) makes VERY little use of case endings to distinguish the role a noun or pronoun plays in a sentence (word order is far more critical). The only instance where we change the form according to case is several of the personal pronouns ("I/he/she/we/they" for subject, "me/him/her/us/them" for object). As for relative pronouns, "which" uses the same form for subject or object. That leaves "who-m" as the ONE that stands somewhere in the middle. Hence the confusion.

So, how do we decide when to use "who" and "whom"?

I do NOT agree on the simple "substitution" rule. It is useful for distinguishing "you and I" (subject) from "you and me" (object), and it may be "formally" correct for who/whom, but thanks to the minimizing of case forms in English, scarcely anyone actually SPEAKS that way (and if they do, they get odd looks!)

Incidentally, note here that I'm focusing mainly on IN-formal use, that is, everyday speech. And we must remember that when informal differs from formal that does NOT mean the informal use is "wrong"! (Nor is it "uneducated" or "slang".) It's simply different!

My basic rule of thumb, then, for normal, informal use, that is, outside of formal writing (where someone demands it of you!): Feel free to use "who" in ALL instances --whether as subject or object-- EXCEPT when you the word falls immediately after a preposition (where by definition it cannot be the subject). In that instance use "whom". Thus we say "TO whoM it may concern", "WITH whoM are you speaking?", "FOR whoM the bell tolls". But when the preposition is moved we say things like "who are you speaking with?". Of course, most English speakers simply avoid the preceding preposition as much as possible, since it too sounds "stuffy".

Answer 2

WHO:
1. What or which person or persons: Who left?
2. Used as a relative pronoun to introduce a clause when the antecedent is a person or persons or one to whom personality is attributed: the visitor who came yesterday; our child, who is gifted; informed sources who denied the story.
3. The person or persons that; whoever: Who believes that will believe anything.

WHOM:
The objective case of who.

Answer 3

Who is the subjective case, very much like "I", "he", "she", "we", and "they". Whom is the objective case, very much like "me", "him", "her", "us", and "them". If you can imagine switching out with pronouns of the same cash, you'll be fine.

Examples: Who is who? Whom are you talking to? (Or actually: To whom are you talking?) Who introduced whom to whom?

In modern English, "whom" is starting to fade out as it sounds similar enough with "who" that the latter is taking over. (Who are you talking to?) I don't know if this is simply evolution of the English language or not, but I try to use the proper case whenever I am conscious of it.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

You use "whom" anytime it follows a preposition. Examples include: from whom, to whom, about whom, etc.

Example: From whom did you receive that letter? or To whom it may concern...

Answer 5

the spelling? joke.. the "who" means to only one and the "whom" means for two.. take care!!

> anna <

Answer 6

"whom"....... objective case

Answer 7

GRAMMATICAL DIFFERENCE.

Answer 8

letter 'm'