Affect vs effect

The quick and easy trick in distinguishing the proper usage of the words who and whom requires one to ask a simple question. The answer will provide you with the clue as to the appropriate from of the pronoun to be used. The technique is called the He/Him Method.

He/Him Method Steps

1. Read the sentence out loud. If you can answer or replace the clause of the sentence with “he/she”, then you use the word who.
2. If you can answer or replace the clause of the sentence with “him/her” then you use the word whom.
3. To summarize:

• He/She = Who
• Him/Her = Whom

Examples

• Who/whom wrote that textbook?
  • Answer: He/she wrote that textbook, therefore who is the correct answer.
• Who/whom do you admire?
  • Answer: I admire him/her, therefore whom is the correct answer.
• Who/Whom hurt you?
  • Answer: He/she hurt me, therefore who is the correct answer.
• We all can see who/whom is responsible.
  • Answer: He/she pulled that prank, therefore who is the correct answer.
• We want to know on who/whom the responsibility lies.
  • Answer: The responsibility lies on him/her, therefore whom is the correct answer