When is it appropriate to use the word "Whom" as opposed to the word "Who"?

Answer 1

Of "whom" are you speaking?

Answer 2

This is actually a complicated question.

According to the rule books, you are supposed to decide about the who/whom thing based on whether the word is a subject or an object of the sentence. "Who" goes in subject position, and "whom" in object position. It's a little more difficult because these are always used in questions. One good trick is to turn it into a sentence, and see whether he/she or him/her works better. If he/she works, use "who". If him/her works, use "whom".

Examples:
I don't know who/whom you called last night.
-> I don't know you called he last night. (sounds weird)
-> I don't know you called him last night. (works better)
so choose "whom"

Who/Whom shall I say is calling?
-> I shall say he is calling. (sounds good)
-> I shall say him is calling. (nope)
so choose "who"

However, these days basically no one is a native speaker of a dialect of American English that uses "whom". The fact that you are asking this question, for example, demonstrates that your mental grammar system doesn't really know how to use this word; it's external to your mental knowledge of English. As a result of this, the meaning of "whom" has been changing. It is no longer only used as an indication of object status, but is often used as an indication of formality of the situation. This is why you often hear VERY educated people using "whom" in subject position. They are using it to indicate the formality of the context.

Therefore, I make the following recommendations:
In casual conversation, always use "who". "Whom" will sound too stuffy and not like you are speaking a dialect that your conversation partner knows.
In formal situations, you can probably also get away with "who" almost all the time. Very few people will notice.
If you are writing for an audience that REQUIRES you to use this distinction, learn the subject/object rule. Remember, even educated people who use "whom" sometimes use it incorrectly according to the rule. So I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Answer 3

For example, if you don't know who you are sending a letter to you can use To whom it might concern.
If you are asking a question you will say Who did this or Who stole the bracelet.
or whoever wants to answer this - asking a question
or whomever needs a pencil let me know - asking a question but not sure to whom (the particular person)
whom is a word that is disappearing little by little

Answer 4

An easy way I remember is this - Ask the question or replace the who/whom with a pronoun (him/her/he/she). If you would use him or her, then the appropriate word is whom. If you would use he/she, the appropriate word is whom. And you are much more likely to remember when to use him/her or he/she. That's how I remember the correct usage.

Answer 5

This question might better go in some language category. "Who" is nominative case, as is "he"; if the sentences parses with "he", then it will parse with "who". Ex.: Who went to the movies? He went to the movies.

"Whom" is objective case, as is "him". Same deal as above; ex: John went to the movies with him. John went to the movies with whom?

But grammatical education is slipping in this country, and it appears that "whom" may go the way of the dodo,.to be replaced by "who", protests of the grammarians notwithstanding.

Answer 6

think of it as a pronoun....I know it's not but humor me...

Who are you talking to? (incorrect but used often)
You are talking to whom? (better)

Who is defined as the nominative, normally (the subject)
Whom is defined as the predicate, normally (direct object)
if you wished to use the word whom, try to use it with the preposition to....like to whom.

To whom are you talking? (actually proper, but never used)

Answer 7

Use "whom" to replace the direct object of a sentence. "Who" refers to the subject. The direct object is the person or thing that is directly affected by the action of the verb. So, use whom whenever him, her, them, me, or us could be substituted as the object of the verb.

Whom did you see today? (You did see her today.)
To whom were you talking? (You were talking to him.)
Whom were you talking about? (You were talking to him.)
Whom did you say you wanted to see? (You said you wanted to see her.)

Answer 8

An easy way to remember is by using "he" and "him." Who goes with he and whom goes with him.

For example, WHO is standing over there? HE is. For WHOM are you making that? I'm making it for HIM.

Answer 9

I believe that "who" is used when it is the subject, and "whom" is used when it it an object.

"Who was there?"

"To whom are you referring to?"

Answer 10

Yeah indirect object.
So
Who called you?
but
To whom did you mail the letter?