{"id":695,"date":"2019-03-26T06:56:08","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T10:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguix.com\/blog\/?p=695"},"modified":"2020-05-18T10:17:59","modified_gmt":"2020-05-18T14:17:59","slug":"who-vs-whom-how-to-determine-which-word-to-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguix.com\/blog\/who-vs-whom-how-to-determine-which-word-to-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Who vs. Whom: How to Determine Which Word to Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are quite a lot of tough grammar topics in the English language, but the \u201cWho vs. Whom\u201d dilemma is one of the trickiest. We at Linguix.com thought it is an excellent time to break it down finally, and give you the bulletproof method of being always correct at this who\/whom thing.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subject and object<\/strong>
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The difference between who and whom originates in the nature of the subject and object of a sentence. The subject denotes someone who acts, i.e. doing something. When you refer to the subject, using who will be the correct choice.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, \u201cWho\u201d is completing actions in your sentence.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples:<\/strong>
<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Who is going to the party with me?<\/em>
<\/p>

Who is the tallest in the class?<\/em>
<\/p>

Who broke the vase?<\/em>
<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

If in your sentence the person is receiving actions denoted by the verb, here we have an object. In this case, you need to use \u201cWhom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Examples:<\/strong>
<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Whom did she shout at?
<\/p><\/p>

To whom your message was sent?
<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Need help<\/strong>? It still might be tricky to be always correct with who\/whom, even if you know the rules. Linguix.com writing assistant uses a sophisticated algorithm that can save you from this and thousands of other grammar, punctuation, and style mistakes. Install <\/em>Chrome<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Firefox<\/em><\/a> extension to eliminate errors in your writing everywhere on the web. Use <\/em>Linguix.com Premium<\/em><\/a> to catch 400+ more errors and receive AI-based recommendations. <\/em>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mnemonic<\/strong>
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is a faster way to decide between the two words. If you can substitute the actor in the sentence with he\u201d or \u201cshe\u201d and \u201chim\u201d or \u201cher.\u201d If you see that \u201che\u201d or \u201cshe\u201d perfectly fits your sentence then you need to use who. If \u201chim\u201d or \u201cher\u201d looks better than use whom.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Question<\/strong>
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another way of solving the task is by asking questions. If you are speaking about someone doing something (an object), then you can easily come up with a question with \u201cwho.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sentence: Tom is going home.<\/em>
<\/p>

Question: Who is going home?<\/em>
<\/p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And vice versa, the subject of your sentence is not performing actions, and you will use \u201cwhom\u201d in the question.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example<\/strong>:
<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sentence: The letter is delivered by a mailman. <\/em>
<\/p>

Questions: The letter is delivered by whom? \/ By whom the letter is delivered?<\/em>
<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The M-rule<\/strong>
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s go deeper and simplify everything even further. You can figure out what word to use by looking for just one letter. It is M.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is how it works: if you’ve answered the question mentioned above with \u201cHim,\u201d then use \u201cWhom\u201d \u2013 they both end with M!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you answered \u201cHe\u201d \u2013 you see, it ends with a vowel, then use \u201cWho\u201d \u2013 it ends with a vowel as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are quite a lot of tough grammar topics in the English language, but the \u201cWho vs. Whom\u201d dilemma is one of the trickiest. We at Linguix.com thought it is an excellent time to break it down finally, and give you the bulletproof method of being always correct at this who\/whom thing. Subject and object […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10,63],"tags":[15,14,506],"class_list":["post-695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar","category-how-to","tag-grammar","tag-how-to","tag-who-vs-whom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWho vs. Whom: How to Determine Which Word to Use - Linguix Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/linguix.com\/blog\/who-vs-whom-how-to-determine-which-word-to-use\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Who vs. Whom: How to Determine Which Word to Use\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There are quite a lot of tough grammar topics in the English language, but the \u201cWho vs. Whom\u201d dilemma is one of the trickiest. 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