What's the difference between "who" and "whom"?

Question

okay, I meant their meanings. Not their spellings *glares at first answerer*.

Answer 1

"Who" and "whoever" will always be either the subject or the predicate pronoun of their own clauses.
"Whom" and "whomever" will always serve as objects.

Here is the four-step trick for getting these words straight every time:

Step 1: Isolate the clause containing the "who(ever)" or "whom(ever)."

Step 2: Ignore the part of the sentence that is NOT in the "who(ever)" or "whom(ever)" clause.

Step 3: In place of the word "who(ever)" or "whom(ever)," plug in the words "he" or "him" and see which one sounds better. (Sorry, ladies; we can't use "she" and "her" because "her" doesn't end with an "m," and the trick won't work!)

Step 4: If "he" sounds better, then choose "who(ever)." If "him" sounds better, then choose "whom(ever)." Remember that the "m" words ("him" and "whom") go together.

http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/062802.htm

Answer 2

Only one other respondent has this right. It has nothing to do with it being in an "inquiry", and they are certainly not interchangeable, except by the ignorant.

"Who" is the nominative form, which is used as the subject. "Whom" is the accusative and dative form, which is used as a direct or indirect object or as the object of a prepositional phrase. When the "who" is the main subject of the sentence (or independent clause), it is "who"; when it is another part of the sentence, especially when after a preposition, it is "whom".

Answer 3

In simple terms, "who" is used in a sentence like the words "he" or "she." "Whom" is used like the words "him" or "her." Only difference is, it's a question form.

So how do you know when to use which? Take the sentence "Who ate the chicken?" Well, "He ate the chicken." In this case, using the word "who" is correct. But, "Who did the chicken eat?" Would you answer "The chicken ate he?" No, you would say "The chicken ate him." So the right way to ask the question is "Whom did the chicken eat?"

By the way, this is for FORMAL grammar in academic papers and such. In informal situations, if you use "whom" you'll sound like a big snob.

Answer 4

In simple terms "who" is on the giving end and "whom" is on the receiving end of whatever action is being discussed. You would say, "Who gave the candy to whom?" or "To whom were you speaking?"

Answer 5

"Who" is the subject form: Who did this? Who would like to go get some ice cream?

"Whom" is the object form: You did that to whom? Whom do you like in the pool of pages in Congress?

Answer 6

Rules for determining who vs. whom in traditional usage
To determine whether who or whom should be used in a sentence, at least according to traditional usage, many people may find it easier to recast the sentence in non-interrogative form using a personal pronoun and determine whether they would use he or she (subjects) or him or her (direct and indirect objects) instead of who or whom. For example in determining:

* Who did you call? versus Whom did you call?
See link below

Answer 7

Who is for the subjects and whom is for object.

Answer 8

Who are you? and whom do you like?

Answer 9

Whom has an "m" on the end of it and who does not.

Answer 10

you use who when you are asking something. "Who did this!?"
you use whom when you are inquiring something of someone. (noun) " whom did you go to the ball with?"