The difference between "who" and "whom" is all about grammatical function in the sentence.
- Who is used as the subject of a verb.
- Example: Who is coming to the party?
("Who" is the subject of the verb "is coming.") - Whom is used as the object of a verb or a preposition.
- Example: Whom did you invite to the party?
("Whom" is the object of the verb "did invite.") - Example: To whom should I address this letter?
("Whom" is the object of the preposition "to.")
Quick tip:
- If you can replace the word with "he/she," use "who."
- If you can replace it with "him/her," use "whom."
Example:
- Who is calling? (You could say "He is calling.")
- Whom did you call? (You could say "I called him.")
In modern English, many native speakers use "who" even when "whom" would technically be correct, especially in informal speech. However, "whom" still sounds more formal and is grammatically preferred.
