Confusable pair · C1
Who or whom?
Who is the subject, whom is the object. The reliable test is to answer the question with he or him: if him fits, use whom. To whom did you speak — I spoke to him. Who called — he called. In everyday speech who is now normal in both roles, but whom is still expected after a preposition and in formal writing.
Which word, and why
- who
subject — replaces he/she/they
The person who performs the action.
who called · the man who lives there
- whom
object — replaces him/her/them, and follows prepositions
The person the action is done to.
to whom · whom did you see · all of whom
Now use it
5 items from this page. Nothing is saved anywhere but your own browser.
Item 1 of 5
The candidate we interviewed on Tuesday has withdrawn.