Who or whom? These often cause confusion. It’s easier to remember which are subject pronouns and which are object pronouns.

Subject pronouns Who/Whoever (think he/she) Subject pronouns do the action.

Object pronouns Whom/Whomever (think him, her) Object pronouns receive the action of the verb.

Having trouble? Don’t know when to use a subject or an object pronoun? Substitute he and him. If the subject pronoun works in the sentence, use who or whoever. If the object pronoun works better, then use whom or whomever.

Example (Who, Whom) is that child? Choices: Him is that child. He is that child. Therefore: Who is that child.

Rearranging to make sense In order to make this shortcut work for you, you may have to rearrange the subject and verb in a question. (Who, Whom) are you calling? You are calling he? You are calling him? Whom are you calling?

One last example Rearrange: The coach picks (whoever, whomever) Incorrect: the coach picks he Correct: the coach picks him I’m sure that whomever the coach picks will help our team.

One last thought … Cannot remember which is a subject pronoun and which is an object pronoun? Because he/she ends in a vowel, you know it goes with who/whoever (subject pronoun). Because him/her ends in a consonant, you know it goes with whom/whomever (object pronoun).

White Board Practice 1. Who/Whom owns the sailboat over there? 2. To who/whom did you throw the ball? 3. Who/Whom did Miguel marry? 4. Who/Whom was the stranger with the ten-gallon hat?

White Board Practice 5. For who/whom did you knit the sweater? 6. Who/Whom is the author of the book about Jackie Robinson? 7. Who/Whom did Josh choose as his subject. 8. By who/whom was this work painted.

Continued Practice Page 190 of the Holt Handbook.