Who and whom – when and how to use them

Learn the difference between who and whom in this English grammar lesson.

Who is a subject pronoun and whom is an object pronoun and we'll show you:
- how who and whom work
- a test to see if who or whom is correct
- when it's appropriate to use whom in formal writing
- when it's not appropriate to use whom (Whom can sound pompous)
- how we use whom in constructions with prepositions

We'll also show you lots of examples of who and whom in action.

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Twitter: @vickivideos

There you can get email updates on new videos and live classes and also download a free copy of 'Fix It', a checklist for correcting common English mistakes

[gromit]

I miss this lady, and I’m so lucky to have known her (she was a FABULOUS cook and the sweetest thing since molasses). I will never pass up the opportunity to let y’all know how sweet she was. ❤ Hope you’re well, Jay.

[robersonoliveira]

When comes to my screen of cellphone a notification from SimpleEnglishVideo, I imagine another funny lesson made by Jay and Vicki. You two are the best.

[carolinamoretto]

Thanks for your lovely videos!! It's easier to remember when it's funny and so well explained! I've been recommending your videos to my friends! You are very cute!

[ayrtonfry]

I'm a native English speaker from Australia and I learnt a surprising amount from this video. Thanks guys.

[oozyrisytb]

The chased scene 😂 please don’t stop making scenes like this one it’s more fun, interactive and easy to learned

[elizabethcaiado]

Jay and Vicky you are hilarious. What a wonderful way to learn grammar. Thanks for this lesson.

[natechevalier]

Native English speaker watching but you two are so entertaining and wholesome! Love your channel!

[nikolaiarnaudov]

It's so easy to understand when someone like you explains it. Thanks

[dfffiore]

You’re really my daily English life saver

[danlyle]

As a native English speaker, I never really understood how to use who and whom until I learnt German (surprisingly!) They have the words "wer" (who) "wen" and "wem" (whom) and unlike in English, all of these words are in common use. That meant I really had to learn all of the rules! However, in casual English (especially spoken, occasionally written when texting) I usually just use who all the time. As you mentioned, whom sounds a little outdated and to me doesn't seem right in informal contexts

[roza]

You are my favorite teachers. I really love you. Thanks a lot.

[GL-cjpf]

You guys did a good job! now I understand how to use of them. Thanks.

[Xmoipe]

I've been learning english and putting it into practice for about 17 years. Although your videos are aimed to beginners, they help me to polish those tiny imperfections we tend to leave behind in order to reach fluency. Thank you very much!

[LaMansionDelIngles]

Another wonderfully informative video from the dynamic duo.

[benw]

This is a great explanation for native speakers too. Your explanation for when to use who and whom in a question is the best I've seen -- I learned in school to treat who and whom like he and him or they and them: you use who, he, and they as subject pronouns, and whom, him, and them as object pronouns. If it would fit to substitute he or they, then you use "who/" If it would fit to say him or them, then you use "whom." But I think your example is clearer. -- I worked as a proofreader and copy editor for years. I can tell you that most native speakers drop "whom" or don't know when and how to use it. In recent years, post-2000, more and more, I see people dropping "whom" altogether in speech and writing, and using only the "who" form. We are witnessing, gradually but certainly, our language changing. I expect we'll eventually have a re-merger of British and American spelling and dialects, if we stay a globally communicating and traveling civilization long enough. -- But I wonder which plural form of "you" will win out, you guys or y'all or some other. (I'm Texan, from a big city, so I use both y'all and you guys, and in casual speech, I have been known to say y'all's as the possessive form. I am supposed to know better in formal writing and speech. But "y'all" is very embedded in Southern and Southwestern dialects, so much so that even educated people use "y'all" in most speech. "You guys" seems to be winning, though.

[lcsgs]

you guys have a really nice way to teach us, so thank you all for that. I'm looking forward to new lessons about it.
And also for more conditionals. Excellent
Great job!!

[mollietai]

1) Who did you talk to?
2) To whom did you talk?
3) Who/Whom did you meet?

[rashayousry]

There no words can describe how you have helped me by this vedio, I was so confused about using" whom", now it is perfectly clear. Many thanks.

[sabrinashells]

Thank you so much for this amazing video!!!!
You two are so ❤️

[mircoavendanovillanueva]

I appreciate so much your english lessons. In addition, they are very entertaining. The more I watch your videos the more I Iearn, thanks a lot.