Definitions
- Used as a subject pronoun to refer to a person or people. - Asking for the identity of a person or people. - Used in relative clauses to describe a person or people.
- Used as an object pronoun to refer to a person or people. - Asking about the object of a verb or preposition. - Used in formal writing or speech.
List of Similarities
- 1Both who and whom are pronouns used to refer to people.
- 2Both can be used in questions to ask about a person's identity or role.
- 3Both are part of the same family of interrogative pronouns.
What is the difference?
- 1Function: Who is used as a subject pronoun, while whom is used as an object pronoun.
- 2Formality: Whom is more formal than who and is typically used in formal writing or speech.
- 3Usage: Who is more commonly used in everyday language, while whom is less common and often replaced by who in informal contexts.
- 4Position: Who comes before the verb in a sentence, while whom comes after a preposition or verb.
- 5Clarity: Using whom can help avoid ambiguity in sentences where the object of a verb or preposition needs to be clear.
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Remember this!
Who and whom are both pronouns used to refer to people, but they have different functions and levels of formality. Who is used as a subject pronoun and is more commonly used in everyday language, while whom is used as an object pronoun and is more formal. Using whom can help avoid ambiguity in sentences where the object of a verb or preposition needs to be clear.
