Who cares about the Who cares about the difference between difference between WHO and WHOM?WHO and WHOM?

Those to whom grammar Those to whom grammar matters, as well as those who matters, as well as those who

care about ACT scores!care about ACT scores!

WhomWhom►Let’s face it. This word is a problem!Let’s face it. This word is a problem!►Few use it correctly.Few use it correctly.►Many who KNOW the difference Many who KNOW the difference

between who and whom don’t use it between who and whom don’t use it because it sounds “stuffy” or too because it sounds “stuffy” or too scholarly.scholarly.

►Whom are you calling, dear?Whom are you calling, dear?

Who still cares about WHOM?Who still cares about WHOM?

►The makers of the ACTThe makers of the ACT►English teachers….like Ms. Signorino English teachers….like Ms. Signorino ►People who wish to sound credible People who wish to sound credible

when speaking in professional when speaking in professional settings.settings.

►Show-offsShow-offs►Michael cares!►So should you!So should you!

WHOWHO

►Who is a SUBJECT pronoun.Who is a SUBJECT pronoun.► It can ONLY be used in the SUBJECT It can ONLY be used in the SUBJECT

spot in a sentence.spot in a sentence.►Who is coming to dinner?Who is coming to dinner?► Notice that “who” can be replaced by Notice that “who” can be replaced by

another subject pronoun….like “he”another subject pronoun….like “he”

ExamplesExamples

► It was Thomas Jefferson who was the It was Thomas Jefferson who was the third president of the United States.third president of the United States.

►Say to yourself..”he was president” Say to yourself..”he was president” He is a subject pronoun. You would He is a subject pronoun. You would never (I hope) say “Him was never (I hope) say “Him was president”president”

►Who called so late last night?Who called so late last night?►Who is the subject doing the callingWho is the subject doing the calling

Well…what about whom Well…what about whom then?then?

►WHOM is always, always, always the WHOM is always, always, always the OBJECT OBJECT

►OBJECT of the sentence or OBJECT of a OBJECT of the sentence or OBJECT of a prepositionpreposition

►Remember OBJECTS receive the action Remember OBJECTS receive the action of the sentence.of the sentence.

Ok, show me some objects!Ok, show me some objects!

►My sister called her boyfriend to tell My sister called her boyfriend to tell him she loved him? him she loved him?

►““boyfriend” is an object because he is boyfriend” is an object because he is not the caller, but the one being not the caller, but the one being called. He is receiving the action. called. He is receiving the action.

►Your sister called WHOM?Your sister called WHOM?

More sentences with WHOMMore sentences with WHOM

►Whom are you calling a wimp?Whom are you calling a wimp?►Whom do you sit near in Ms. Whom do you sit near in Ms.

Lormeau’s fabulous English class?Lormeau’s fabulous English class?►Whom are you texting?Whom are you texting?► I would like to dedicate this lesson to I would like to dedicate this lesson to

whomever loves WHOM as much as I whomever loves WHOM as much as I do!do!

►Whom can we turn to for help?Whom can we turn to for help?

Your TurnYour Turn

► Jones is the guy (who/ whom) I went to Jones is the guy (who/ whom) I went to a concert with last week.a concert with last week.

►(Who/Whom) is that masked man?(Who/Whom) is that masked man?► I always buy candy from (whoever/ I always buy candy from (whoever/

whomever) asks me first.whomever) asks me first.►Ask (whoever/ whomever) read that Ask (whoever/ whomever) read that

book to answer the question.book to answer the question.