Use relative pronouns: who and whom
Key Notes:
1. What are “Who” and “Whom”?
- “Who” and “whom” are relative pronouns used to refer to people. They help connect a clause to a noun or pronoun, providing additional information.
2. When to Use “Who”
- “Who” is used as the subject of a relative clause. It refers to the person doing the action.
Examples:
- The teacher who is teaching us is very knowledgeable.
- (Here, “who” refers to “the teacher,” the subject of the clause.)
- The artist who painted this picture is famous.
- (In this case, “who” refers to “the artist,” who is performing the action of painting.)
3. When to Use “Whom”
- “Whom” is used as the object of a relative clause. It refers to the person receiving the action or being affected by it.
- Note: “Whom” is more formal and often used in writing.
Examples:
- The woman whom I met yesterday is my neighbor.
- (Here, “whom” refers to “the woman,” who is the object of the verb “met.”)
- I have a friend whom you should meet.
- (In this case, “whom” is the object of the verb “meet.”)
4. Simplified Rule to Remember
- Use “who” when you can replace it with he or she.
- Use “whom” when you can replace it with him or her.
5. Examples to Illustrate the Difference
- Who:
- The doctor who helped me was very kind.
- (Replace “who” with “he”: The doctor was kind.)
- Whom:
- The doctor whom I thanked is on vacation.
- (Replace “whom” with “him”: I thanked the doctor.)
6. Key Points to Remember
- “Who” is used for subjects; “whom” is used for objects.
- While “whom” is correct in formal writing, many people use “who” in everyday conversation.
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