Who vs Whom Quick & Easy Tips

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

Tidesignit