What is the Difference between Who and vs Whom? They are pronouns used to refer to people. “Who” is used as a subject or subject complement, indicating the person acting or being described. For example, “Who is going to the party?” or “He is the one who scored the winning goal.” On the other hand, “whom” is used as an object, particularly as the object of a verb or preposition, indicating the person that an action is being done to or the person affected. For instance, “Whom did you invite to the party?” or “This is the woman for whom the award was created.” In informal language, “who” is commonly used in both subject and object positions, while “whom” is more often used in formal writing and grammatically strict contexts.
Understanding the English in pronouns confusing words: Difference between Who and vs Whom – Definition, Comparison Chart, Examples, and Key Points.
“Who” and “whom” are both pronouns used to refer to people. However, they are used differently in sentences based on their grammatical roles.
- “Who” is used as a subject or subject complement in a sentence. It identifies the person acting or being described. For example, “Who is going to the party?” or “He is the one who scored the winning goal.” In these cases, “who” is used to ask about the subject or to identify the subject.
- On the other hand, “whom” is used as an object, particularly as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies the person to whom an action is being done or the person who is affected by the action. For instance, “Whom did you invite to the party?” or “This is the woman for whom the award was created.” In these cases, “whom” is used to ask about the object or to identify the object of a sentence.
It is worth noting that in informal language, “who” is commonly used in both subject and object positions, while “whom” is more often used in formal writing and grammatically strict contexts.
Definition of Who
“Who” is a pronoun used to refer to a person or people. It is used to ask about or identify the subject or performer of an action in a sentence. For example, “Who is going to the party?” or “Who is the new employee?” In these cases, “who” is used to inquire or specify the person or people involved.
Definition of Whom
“Whom” is a pronoun used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition in a sentence. It is used to ask about or identify the person being acted upon or affected by the action. For example, “To whom did you give the gift?” or “Whom did she invite to the event?” In these cases, “whom” is used when the person or people are the recipients or targets of the action.
Comparison Chart for the Difference between Who and vs Whom
Certainly! Here are five points of comparison highlighting the difference between “who” and “whom”:
| Comparison | Who | Whom |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Used as a subject or subject complement | Used as an object |
| Referent | Refers to the person performing an action or being described | Refers to the person that an action is being done to or the person affected |
| Examples | “Who is responsible for the project?” or “He is the one who knows the answer.” | “Whom did you ask for help?” or “To whom should I address this letter?” |
| Informality | Frequently used in informal language | More commonly used in formal writing and grammatically strict contexts |
| Grammatical Role | Subject | Object |
Remember, in less formal situations, using “who” as an object is generally accepted. However, for formal writing or when following strict grammar rules, “whom” is the appropriate choice as the object pronoun.
Examples of Differences between Who and vs Whom
Sure! Here are a few examples that demonstrate the differences between “who” and “whom”:
1 Object of the verb
- Who: Who wrote this book?
- Whom: To whom did the author dedicate the book?
In the first sentence, “who” is used to inquire about the subject, the person who authored the book. While, In the second sentence, “whom” is used as the indirect object of the verb “did dedicate,” representing the person to whom the book was dedicated.
- Who: Who won the game?
- Whom: Whom did the coach select as the captain?
In the first sentence, “who” is used to ask about the subject, the person who emerged as the winner. While, In the second sentence, “whom” is used as the object of the verb “did select,” representing the person chosen as the captain.
2 Object of the preposition
- Who: Who is going to the party?
- Whom: To whom did you give the invitation?
In the first sentence, “who” is used to ask about the subject of the sentence, the person going to the party. While, In the second sentence, “whom” is used as the object of the preposition “to,” indicating the person who received the invitation.
- Who: Who is your favorite singer?
- Whom: With whom did you go to the concert?
In the first sentence, “who” is used to ask about the subject, the person being referred to as the favorite singer. While, In the second sentence, “whom” is used as the object of the preposition “with,” signifying the person you accompanied to the concert.
- Who: Who is the CEO of the company?
- Whom: By whom were the decisions made?
In the first sentence, “who” is used to ask about the subject, the person holding the position of CEO. While, In the second sentence, “whom” is used as the object of the preposition “by,” indicating the person responsible for making the decisions.
These examples illustrate the distinct usage of “who” and “whom” based on their grammatical roles in sentences. Remember, the choice between “who” and “whom” depends on whether they function as the subject or object in the sentence.
Main key point Differences between Who and vs Whom
The main key points of difference between “who” and “whom” are:
- “Who” is used as a subject or subject complement in a sentence, while “whom” is used as an object.
- “Who” refers to the person performing an action or being described, while “whom” refers to the person that an action is being done to or the person affected.
- In informal language, “who” is commonly used in both subject and object positions, while “whom” is more often used in formal writing and grammatically strict contexts.
- “Who” is frequently used to ask about or identify the subject or performer of an action, while “whom” is used to ask about or identify the person being acted upon or affected by the action.
- In less formal situations, using “who” as an object is generally accepted, but for formal writing or when following strict grammar rules, “whom” is the appropriate choice as the object pronoun.
Bottom line
“Who” vs and “whom” are pronouns used to refer to people, but they have different grammatical roles. “Who” is used as a subject or subject complement, identifying the person acting or being described. “Whom” is used as an object, indicating the person’s action is done to or the person affected. In informal language, “who” is commonly used in both subject and object positions, while “whom” is more often used in formal writing and grammatically strict contexts. The choice between “who” and “whom” depends on whether they function as the subject or object in a sentence.
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