Who vs Whom
What's the difference?
"Whom" trips people up because it feels formal and old-fashioned — but there's a simple test that gets it right every time.
Quick answer
Use who for the subject (the one doing the action) and whom for the object (the one receiving it). If you can answer with "him," use whom.
Compared side by side
(pronoun) the subject — the person doing the action.
- “Who called you?”
- “She's the one who won the prize.”
- “Who is coming to dinner?”
(pronoun) the object — the person receiving the action.
- “Whom did you call?”
- “To whom should I address this?”
- “He's the candidate whom everyone supports.”
How to remember it
Answer the question with he or him. "He called" → who. "Called him" → whom. Whom and him both end in M.
Frequently asked
Is "whom" becoming old-fashioned?
In casual speech, many people use "who" everywhere. But "whom" is still expected in formal writing, especially right after a preposition — "to whom," "for whom."
What's the quickest test?
Rephrase the answer with he/him. If the answer would use "him," the question needs "whom." If it would use "he," use "who."