Easy way to understand difference between WHOM and WHO
WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE VERB. The subject performs the action:
Who ate the last piece of pizza? who = subject ate = verb The students who failed the test will need extra help. the students / who = subject failed = verb WHOM IS THE OBJECT OF THE VERB. The object receives the action:
Bob gave the money to whom? Bob = subject gave = verb money = direct object whom = indirect object Whom is always used after a PREPOSITION.
My three brothers, one of whom is a doctor, live in New York. (of = preposition) With whom did you go to the movies? (with = preposition) That’s the employee at whom I yelled. (at = preposition) I no longer speak to the person from whom I got this gift. (from = preposition) BIG EXCEPTION IN SPOKEN ENGLISH! In spoken English, we often use “who” not “whom,” and end sentences with prepositions… even when it is technically incorrect:
Who did Bob give the money to? Who did you go to the movies with? That’s the employee who I yelled at. I no longer speak to the person who I got this gift from.
