write group
Search Write Group
Home Sitemap Free stuff What is plain English? WriteEdit Write training Quality Web Content Improved Reading Centre StyleWriter The Write Style Guide for New Zealanders Products About Write Contact us

Writing tip 13: 'Who' or 'whom'?

‘Who’ is the subject. Use ‘who’ in front of a verb — an action word.

Examples
Who ran for President?
Who went with you to the movies?
Can I ask who wants one of our brochures?


‘Whom’ is the object. Use ‘whom’ after a preposition — a connecting or linking word.

Examples
With whom did you go to the movies?
My father is the man from whom I learned everything.
You want me to give the book to whom?
To whom it may concern …


It can help to remember that ‘whom’ belongs in the same set as the other ‘m’ pronouns, ‘me’ and ‘him’.

Examples
I went to the movies with him.
I learned everything from him.
I want you to give the book to me.

Find out about our Writing workshops 

Back to the Writing tips library