The ultimate pronoun showdown: Who vs Whom vs Whose. Master the difference.
WHO vs WHOM vs WHOSE – These words often confuse a lot of people, and to avoid this, here are some things to remember.
Common and important in the English language are “who,” “whom,” and “whose.” However, they often confuse people, and a lot of people have committed to mixing them up, whether in speaking or writing. Even seasoned academics can struggle with using these words correctly, particularly in distinguishing between “who” and “whom.” They may seem alike, but each serves a specific purpose in a sentence.
“Who” is a subject pronoun (like I, he, she, we, and they), while “whom” is an object pronoun (like me, him, her, us, and them).
Remember:
- Who = he/she (subject or does the action)
- Whom = him/her (object or receives the action)
- Whose = his/her (possession or shows ownership)
Examples:
- Who baked the cake?
- To whom did you bake the cake?
- Whose cake is this inside the refrigerator?
Read more where these three are used smoothly in one single sentence:
- Who is the new teacher whose lessons everyone enjoys, and whom the students respect greatly?
- That’s the artist who painted the mural, the same person whom the mayor honored, and whose work is now displayed in the city hall.
- He’s the singer who performed at the concert, whom many fans waited hours to see, and whose album just went platinum.
| When to use who? | When to use whom? | When to use whose? |
| Use it if you are referring to the person or people performing an action. This is a subject pronoun, which means this is used in a sentence or clause as a subject. Sample sentences: Who are you? The student who topped the exam received a medal. Do you know who is cooking in the kitchen? Who is calling? Who was with you yesterday? | Use it if you are referring to the person or people being affected by an action. Sample sentences: To whom was the letter addressed? With whom are you going to the prom? She is someone whom I trust completely. He is the only person whom I’ve loved since childhood. Whom did you call for help last night? | Use it if you are to indicate possession. Sample sentences: Whose car is parked in the driveway? This is a snake whose skin sheds annually. I told the teacher whose fault it was. Whose phone is this? Whose handwriting is on the board? |