who
- whom
Who and whom are pronouns.
asking for information
You use who when you are asking about someone's identity. Who can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.
Who invited you?
Who are you?
Be careful
When who is the object of a verb or preposition, it is followed by an auxiliary verb, the subject, and then the main verb. When who is the object of a preposition, the preposition must go at the end of the clause. Don't use a preposition in front of who.
When who is the object of a verb or preposition, it is followed by an auxiliary verb, the subject, and then the main verb. When who is the object of a preposition, the preposition must go at the end of the clause. Don't use a preposition in front of who.
Who are you going to invite?
Who did you dance with?
Whom is a formal word which is sometimes used instead of ‘who’. Whom can only be the object of a verb or preposition.
Whom shall we call?
By whom are they elected?
Be careful
When whom is the object of a preposition, the preposition must go in front of whom. Don't use it at the end of a clause. Don't say, for example ‘Whom are they elected by?’
When whom is the object of a preposition, the preposition must go in front of whom. Don't use it at the end of a clause. Don't say, for example ‘Whom are they elected by?’
used in reported clauses
Who is often used in reported clauses.
She didn't know who I was.
We have to find out who did this.
used in relative clauses
Who and whom are used in both defining and non-defining relative clauses.
He's the man who I saw last night.
Joe, who was always early, was there already.
The writer was Philip Pullman, for whom I have great respect.
In relative clauses, you can use either who or which after a collective noun such as family, committee, or group. After who you usually use a plural verb. After which you use a singular verb.
It is important to have a family who love you.
He is a member of a group which does a lot of charitable work.
Be careful
When who is the subject of a non-defining clause, don't use another pronoun after it. Don't say, for example, ‘He told his mother, who she was very shocked’. Say ‘He told his mother, who was very shocked’.
When who is the subject of a non-defining clause, don't use another pronoun after it. Don't say, for example, ‘He told his mother, who she was very shocked’. Say ‘He told his mother, who was very shocked’.