What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whom
Example
To whom did you give the book? [whom: pronoun]
Example
The CEO, whom I met at the conference, was very impressed with our product. [whom: relative pronoun]
that
Example
The book that I read last night was really good. [that: relative pronoun]
Example
I need the pen that you borrowed from me. [that: pronoun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
That is more commonly used than whom in everyday language. That is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while whom is less common and typically used in formal writing or speech.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between whom and that?
Whom is more formal than that and is typically used in formal writing or speech, while that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
