ACT Grammar Lesson Who vs. Whom

(does the action) WHOM = OBJECT (receives the action) The main idea: WHO = SUBJECT (does the action) WHOM = OBJECT (receives the action)

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? The subject DOES something in the sentence or clause. The object has something done TO THEM/IT in the sentence or clause.

Subject vs. Object I stepped on a worm. “I” is the subject. “A worm” is the object. Grandma loves you. “Grandma” is the subject. “You” are the object. (You are the object of her affection  )

WHO = SUBJECT (does the action) WHOM = OBJECT (receives the action) WHO came to class late? (“Who” is doing the action.) The first prize goes to the runner WHO earns the most points. (“Who” is doing the earning.) WHOM did you ask to drive? (“You” are the subject; the driver is in the objective form) The tutor WHOM I was assigned to was supportive. (I was assigned, so “I” is the subject; the tutor is in the “objective” form).

A trick – substitute “him” for “whom” and “he” for “who” WHO came to class late? (He came to class late) The first prize goes to the runner WHO earns the most points. (He earns the most points.) WHOM did you ask to drive? (I asked him. *answer the question) The tutor WHOM I was assigned to was supportive. (I was assigned to him)

Make sure you check to see if WHO is the subject. The speech pathologist reported a particularly difficult session with a patient WHO she knew suffered from a stroke. WHO suffered from the stroke. (It is still in the subjective form, or “he suffered from the stroke.”)

In questions, ask the same question: subject or object? WHO was responsible for writing that text? Subject = who “He was responsible.” WHOM did the Republican Party nominate in 2012? Subject = Rep. Party “The Rep. Party nominated him.”

ONE exception to the rule… INFINITIVE PHRASES: I don’t know WHOM to believe! Whom is the subject of the infinitive phrase, but the tricks still work: Ask yourself, who is doing the believing? The answer is “I”, so you would still use “whom” in the sentence. Or “I don’t believe him.”

WHO/WHOM do I love?

ANSWER: WHOM do I love?

We all know WHO/WHOM pulled the fire alarm.

We all know WHO pulled the fire alarm. Answer: We all know WHO pulled the fire alarm.

Jamie is the one WHO/WHOM wants to go.

Jamie is the one WHO wants to go. Answer: Jamie is the one WHO wants to go.

This is the man WHO/WHOM I told you about.

This is the man WHOM I told you about. Answer: This is the man WHOM I told you about.