When do you use each word, what is the rule and can you give examples for the rules? Thanks.
2006-09-10 16:38:15 · 10 answers · asked by FaerieWhings 7 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You use who when the person is the subject of the verb, i.e. the one directly performing the action: Mrs. Cook is the teacher who taught me the most.
You use whom when the person is the object of a preposition, i.e. the one receiving the action or reference: Mrs. Cook is the teacher from whom I learned the most.
It's a tricky one to explain -- this article may make better sense to you:
2006-09-10 16:53:43 · answer #1 · answered by Peggy M 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who is a subject pronoun. Who threw the ball? Bill threw the ball.
Whom is an object pronoun. Bill threw the ball to whom? Bill threw the ball to her.
Using "whom" is certainly not outdated at all and is very correct English, if used properly.
Think of "whom" when you can add a preposition in front: by whom, from whom, of whom, and so forth.
2006-09-11 09:18:21 · answer #2 · answered by writer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here ill make it easier.
Who is asking what the subject is.
Whom is the unknown subject. Whom usually has a word before it like To or With
Who are you? not, Whom are you?
To whom am i speaking to? not, to who am i speaking to?
2006-09-11 00:39:17 · answer #3 · answered by >???<Chinita>???< 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Who" is when the word substituted is the subject of the sentence, and "whom" is when the substituted word is an object.
The man who is going to the store is tall.
Steve is the man whom I met yesterday.
"whom" is rarely used in modern English, and almost never in conversationsal English. Note also that it is almost never necessary to use "whom" outside of questions, for example:
For whom did you buy that apple?
2006-09-10 23:54:50 · answer #4 · answered by Qwyrx 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
WHO ARE YOU? TO WHOM AM I TALKING TO? I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULE IS.
2006-09-10 23:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by tinkerbell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is the subject or the predicate nominative it is "who."
If it is the direct object it is "whom."
Who just knocked on the door? (subject)
It was who that just wrecked the car? (predicate nominative)
You spoke to whom on the phone? (direct object)
2006-09-10 23:47:21 · answer #6 · answered by DontPanic 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's one that always escaped me! I don't like 'whom' because I'm never sure when to use it, and it just sounds pretentious!
2006-09-10 23:40:50 · answer #7 · answered by a kinder, gentler me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is your momma?
With whom might I be speaking to?
Who is here today?
2006-09-10 23:40:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Who" is a subject; "whom" is an object.
With whom...to whom...Whom do you mean...
Who is speaking...who did that...who are you...
But, in modern vernacular, "whom" is outdated; "who" is used in all cases.
2006-09-10 23:45:09 · answer #9 · answered by mahgri 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
to answer who: he, she
to answer whom: him, her
2006-09-10 23:47:27 · answer #10 · answered by lili 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋