Understanding the Use of “Whom”, “Who”, and “Whose” in English Grammar

Ever heard the sentence, "Who goes where he fits whom goes where him fits"? This is a play on how we use question pronouns in English. This article will help you understand the correct usage of “whom,” “who,” and “whose.”

Introduction to Question Pronouns

Question pronouns in English are used to form questions, and their usage depends on the place of the pronoun within the sentence. They include I, you, he, she, who, me, you, him, her, whom, mine, my, yours, your, his, hers, whose, and more.

Subject Pronouns vs. Object Pronouns

Let's start with subject and object pronouns. I, you, he, she are subject pronouns, used as the subject of a sentence. In contrast, me, you, him, her are object pronouns, used as the object of a verb or preposition.

Examples

Subject Pronouns: He is here. He is the subject.

Object Pronouns: Who is here? Who is the object.

Subject Pronouns: The box was sent to him. him was the object, so use the object form.

Object Pronouns: The box was sent to whom? whom is the object, so use the object form.

Subject Pronouns: This book is mine. mine or my is the possessive form. Possessive pronouns are used to show possession.

Object Pronouns: Whose book is this? whose is the possessive form, used to ask about possession.

Understanding “Whose” and “Who”

Who is used to ask about people or a person in the subjective case. For example, “Who is the best cricketer at present?””

“Who is he to chastise us?” Who is the subject pronoun here.

“Whose idea was this harebrained scheme anyway?” Whose is used to show possession.

Usage of “Whom”

Whom is used when a pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition in a subordinate clause. While “whom” can be tricky, it is essential in formal writing. Consider the sentence: “This is the boy whom I called.” Here, “whom” is the object of the verb “called.”

Contractions and Confusion

Whose is sometimes confused with its homophone “who’s,” which is a contraction of “who is” or “who has.” For example, “Whose book is this?” is correct, whereas “Who’s there?” uses the contraction for “who is.”

“Who’s taken my cookie?” uses the contraction for “who is.”

Examples and Applications

Example Sentences

”Whose books are being kept in the cupboard?”

“Here is the question and follow-up question: Who is he to chastise us? Whose idea was this harebrained scheme anyway?”

Summary Table

Pronoun Usage Who Subject of the sentence or used to ask about people in the subjective case. Whom Object of the verb or preposition. Whose Shows possession and can refer to all types of possession including character or demeanor.

Advanced Usage

Famous quote and phrase: “Ask not for whom the bell tolls! It tolls for thee!”

Business letters, you might come across the phrase: “To whom it may concern.”

Final Thoughts

Mastering the use of “who,” “whom,” and “whose” is key to enhancing your writing and communication skills. Practice and attention to detail can help you use these pronouns correctly.