Questions
M5 Grammar: Follow along in your books.
Who vs. Whom
A simple guide for English learners.
A Simple Trick: He vs. Him
An easy way to decide between who and whom is to answer the question using "he/she" or "him/her".
- If the answer is he or she, use who.
- If the answer is him or her, use whom.
Example 1:
"___ is coming to the party?"
Answer: "He is coming." → So, you use who.
Example 2:
"For ___ did you buy this gift?"
Answer: "I bought it for him." → So, you use whom.
When Will I See "Whom"?
In modern English, using "whom" is becoming much less common. It often sounds very formal or even a little old-fashioned. However, you will still see it used correctly in a couple of situations.
1. After a Preposition
The most common time you will see "whom" is right after a preposition (คำบุพบท). Prepositions are words like to, for, with, from, and about.
Example: "That is the person to whom I gave the letter."
In normal conversation, most people would say: "That's the person I gave the letter to."
2. In Formal Writing or on Tests
You might find "whom" in very formal writing, like in a business letter or an academic paper. English tests (like the TOEIC or TOEFL) also check if you know the rule.
Example: "Whom did you contact for the information?"
In everyday English, you would hear: "Who did you contact for the information?"
Practice (Part 1)
Why is "whom" used in these sentences?
1. The manager with whom I spoke was very kind.
Correct! The word "with" is a preposition, so "whom" is used.
2. Whom did the committee choose for the job?
Correct! This is a formal question, like you might see on a test or in a business meeting.
3. This is a list of people to whom we need to send invitations.
Correct! "To" is a preposition, which comes right before "whom".
Practice (Part 2)
Choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. ___ is at the door?
Correct! The answer would be "He is at the door." So, we use who.
2. To ___ should I send the email?
Correct! The answer would be "Send it to him." So, we use whom.
3. ___ do you think will win the race?
Correct! This is tricky. The answer is "I think she will win." So, we use who.
4. This is the friend with ___ I went to Thailand.
Correct! You could say "I went with her." Also, "with" is a preposition. So, we use whom.
5. ___ did you call?
Correct! The answer would be "I called him." So, whom is technically correct for formal writing. However, in modern English, almost everyone would say "Who did you call?"
