grammar · formal
whom (object) vs who (subject) — formal vs informal
Band 6-7speakingtask2
Use whom when the relative pronoun is the object (or after a preposition); use who when it is the subject. Whom is more formal.
Examples
“The person to whom I spoke was very helpful.”
“The person who spoke to me was helpful.”
“Whom did you invite to the conference?”
Band 8 sentence
“The committee, many of whose members are academics, will publish the report next month.”
Collocations
- to whom
- for whom
Common mistakes
The person who I gave the book to is my tutor.→The person to whom I gave the book is my tutor.
Whom is waiting outside?→Who is waiting outside?
Say it for a higher band
5who→6who (formal omitted)→7+whom
Synonyms
who (informal)
Easily confused
whom
“The man whom I met is a doctor.”
who
“The man who called is my uncle.”
Related words
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In Relative clauses
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