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Grammar Helper: Who and Whom (simple version)

Posted by Jo | Filed under Writing Helper

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Who and whom are often confused. Even worse, so few people get it right, the right version sounds wrong to most of us! It doesn’t have to be hard at all.

Start by substituting he for who and him for whom.

So, let’s say you have this sentence. Who/whom are you going with? First off, put it in subject…verb order. Find the verb, going, and ask who’s going? You.

So you’ll change it to You are going with who/whom? Now, do your substitution. Which sounds right?

1. You are going with he? who
2. You are going with him? whom

The second is the obvious choice, isn’t it? So, Whom are you going with? is correct.

Let’s do one more.

Who/whom chose you as a lab partner? In this case, chose is the verb. Who chose? Well…. that’s what we want to know, right? So who/whom (whichever we choose) is the subject. Next do the substitution.

1. He chose you as a lab partner. who
2. Him chose you as a lab partner. whom

The choice is obvious again. Number one is right.

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Comments (2) | May 30, 2007

2 Responses to “Grammar Helper: Who and Whom (simple version)”

1. Kristy Says:
   May 30th, 2007 at 10:49 am

   Excellent tutorial. I have never seen/heard it explained that way but it is very clear.

   I think people struggle almost as much with who’s vs whose.

2. webmaster Says:
   May 30th, 2007 at 6:57 pm

   You know, I think you’re probably right. Thanks! That gives me an idea for a future Grammar entry.