Answer #1

By observation, not much people use the word “whom” in regular conversations anymore. This is because according to one novelist, “as far as I’m concerned, whom is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler” – Calvin Trillin. And who would want to sound like a butler when talking? Funny in a sense and most probably not the whole (or true) reason why “whom” is not popularly applied in speech, however it is still important to learn the proper usage of words especially when applied in writing.

So when do we use the words who and whom in a sentence? First we need to define the two. A resource said that “who” is the subject form while “whom” is the object form. Furthermore, in order to know when to use who/whom in a sentence, you may apply the “he/him test”. The test is just simple. Rule of thumb is when the word who/whom can be replaced by “him” then use the word “whom”. In contrast, when the word who/whom can be replaced by the word “he” then use the word “who”.

Example: Who/whom should I call about this? I should call him; then use “whom”

Who/whom do you think will get the high score? He will get the high score; then use “who”

At first, it may sound and look a bit tricky but as you practice using the “he/him test”, you’ll soon get the whole idea. For a more simplified he/him rule, just remember “him” and “whom” both ends with an “m” so therefore they belong together, this also goes the same with “he” and “who”.

Having said these, you can try a simple quiz in order to know whether you understand when to use who or whom in a sentence. Try the ones below. The answers are at the lower right of the questions.

1. _____ wrote this book?
2. _____ are you going to recommend?
3. She’s the actress ____ he so vividly describes in his scandalous new book.
4. It wasn’t me! I have no idea ____ left the stove on.

Answer: 1. Who, 2. Whom, 3. Whom, 4. Who

Answered By: khristine [216 ]