Difference between whom and who

[Mizuki]

what is different between whom and who? I am still confusing

[Skrej]

‘Who’ is the subjective case, ‘whom’ is the objective case.

Try substituting he/him (or she/her) in place of who/whom. If ‘he’ works, then ‘who’ will be okay. If ‘he’ doesn’t work, and you need to say ‘him’, then use ‘whom’.

Who gave it to you? (he gave it to you, subjective, so use ‘who’)
You gave it to whom? (You gave it to him, objective case, so use ‘whom’)

[Torsten]

@mizuki

what is different between whom and who? I am still confusing

Hi Mizuki,

In addition to Skreij’s answer you might want to read who vs. whom.

By the way, your message should read as follows:

What is the difference between whom and who? I’m still confused.

Regards,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: The transporter[YSaerTTEW443543]

[Molly]

@Skrej

Try substituting he/him (or she/her) in place of who/whom. If ‘he’ works, then ‘who’ will be okay. If ‘he’ doesn’t work, and you need to say ‘him’, then use ‘whom’.

Who gave it to you? (he gave it to you, subjective, so use ‘who’)
You gave it to whom? (You have it to him, objective case, so use ‘whom’)

How about here? How can we use your suggestion to find out what we should use?

To whom/who did you give it?
Who/whom did you give it to?

[MrPedantic]

1. To whom/who did you give it? To him.
2. Who/whom did you give it to? To her.

MrP

[Molly]

@MrPedantic

1. To whom/who did you give it? To him.
2. Who/whom did you give it to? To her.

MrP

?Try substituting he/him (or she/her) in place of who/whom.

A bit misleading, I’d say.

[MrPedantic]

@Molly

A bit misleading, I’d say.

Not if you reread Skrej’s original post:

Who gave it to you? (he gave it to you, subjective, so use ‘who’)
You gave it to whom? (You [g]ave it to him, objective case, so use ‘whom’)

Cf.

1. To whom/who did you give it? (You gave it to him, objective case, so use ‘whom’)
2. Who/whom did you give it to? (You gave it to her, objective case, so use ‘whom’)

MrP

[Yankee]

Here are some sample “whom” sentences that I found on this site:

• To whom does it imply that?

• For whom does it not imply that?

• By whom is it seen a stigmatised?

• Yes, authentic for whom, is the question.

• He is the man with whom I share this disease.

• I’d advise them to ask just where and when it is used, for what purposes, and by whom.

• Lesser enemy for whom? More dangerous for whom?

• Whom shouldn’t non-standard forms be accepted by?

• Perfect for whom?

• Then there are are expats about whom we could say “He’s learned more that you ever have, dear native-speaker”.

• If you use an equivalent in your own language, where, and with whom, would you use it?

The examples above illustrate the word “whom” as the object of a preposition.
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