Using Relative Pronouns: Who and Whom

When we use relative pronouns, like who and whom, we’re adding extra information about a person in the sentence. These pronouns connect the extra information (called a relative clause) to the rest of the sentence.

What Are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns link a noun or pronoun to extra details. Who and whom are used when the extra information is about people.

  • Who is used when talking about the subject of the sentence (the person doing something).
  • Whom is used when talking about the object of the sentence (the person receiving the action).

How to Choose Between “Who” and “Whom”

To figure out whether to use who or whom, you can replace the clause with personal pronouns like “he,” “she,” or “they” (for who) or “him,” “her,” or “them” (for whom).

  • If you would use he/she/they, use who.
  • If you would use him/her/them, use whom.

Examples:

  1. Who (used for the subject)
    “The student who won the competition was very happy.”
  • Here, “who” refers to “the student,” who is the one doing the action of winning. You could say, “He won the competition.”
  1. Whom (used for the object)
    “The student whom the teacher praised was very proud.”
  • In this sentence, “whom” is used because “the student” is receiving the action (being praised). You could say, “The teacher praised him.”

Extra Examples:

  • Who (subject)
    “The girl who lives next door is my friend.”
  • “Who” is correct because the girl is the subject (she lives next door).
  • Whom (object)
    “The boy whom you met yesterday is my brother.”
  • “Whom” is correct because the boy is the object of the action (you met him).

Test Yourself:

  1. “The woman _ helped me was very kind.”
  • This would be who because the woman is the one helping (she helped me).
  1. “The person _ I saw at the shop was my teacher.”
  • This would be whom because the person is the object (I saw him/her at the shop).

Quick Tip:

If you’re not sure which to use, try rephrasing the sentence with “he/him” or “she/her.” If the sentence works with “he” or “she,” use who. If it works with “him” or “her,” use whom.

Would you like to try a few examples yourself?

Easy Difficulty (20 Questions)

Here are 20 questions on the topic of using relative pronouns who and whom for Key Stage 3 students:

  1. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The boy _ won the race is my friend.”
  2. Fill in the blank: “The teacher _ I spoke to yesterday is new to the school.”
  3. Which is correct: “The woman _ called you is my aunt” or “The woman _ called you is my aunt”? Explain why.
  4. Fill in the blank: “The student _ the teacher praised was very happy.”
  5. Is it “The artist _ painted this picture is famous” or “The artist _ painted this picture is famous”? Why?
  6. Rewrite the sentence using the correct relative pronoun: “The man (you met him yesterday) is my uncle.”
  7. Choose the correct form: “The friend _ I visited last week is coming to my party.”
  8. Is it correct to say, “The doctor _ you recommended was excellent”? Explain.
  9. Fill in the blank: “The woman _ car was stolen is very upset.”
  10. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The boy _ I was talking about is over there.”
  11. Why is “whom” used in this sentence: “The teacher _ I asked for help was very kind”?
  12. Fill in the blank: “This is the person _ told me the story.”
  13. Is the following sentence correct? “The person _ you spoke to is the manager.” Why or why not?
  14. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The girl _ house is next to mine is my best friend.”
  15. Explain why “whom” is used in this sentence: “The person _ you emailed has not replied yet.”
  16. Fill in the blank: “The boy _ bike was stolen is looking for it.”
  17. Rewrite this sentence with the correct relative pronoun: “The singer (you saw her on TV) is very famous.”
  18. Is it correct to say: “The girl _ you met yesterday is my sister”? Why?
  19. Fill in the blank: “The teacher _ we like the most is retiring.”
  20. Choose the correct form: “The man _ I gave the book to was very grateful.”

Medium Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. Fill in the blank: “The athlete _ broke the record is from my town.”
  2. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The actor _ I admire most is in that movie.”
  3. Rewrite the sentence with the correct pronoun: “The man (we saw him at the park) is a famous author.”
  4. Fill in the blank: “The lady _ you gave the letter to is my aunt.”
  5. Choose the correct form: “The student _ forgot their homework apologized to the teacher.”
  6. Is the sentence correct? “The boy _ I borrowed the pen from is my friend.” Why?
  7. Fill in the blank: “The girl _ the principal congratulated was very proud.”
  8. Rewrite the sentence: “The person (you met him at the party) is my cousin.”
  9. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The person _ helped me was very kind.”
  10. Fill in the blank: “The boy _ I saw at the concert is my neighbor.”
  11. Is it correct to say: “The girl _ parents you met is in my class”? Explain why or why not.
  12. Choose the correct form: “The manager _ I spoke to was very helpful.”
  13. Fill in the blank: “The man _ car was parked outside is a famous singer.”
  14. Rewrite the sentence with the correct pronoun: “The teacher (you talked to her yesterday) gave us extra homework.”
  15. Fill in the blank: “The friend _ you called yesterday is coming over later.”
  16. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The boy _ dog is barking is outside.”
  17. Is the sentence correct? “The person _ we were waiting for has arrived.” Why or why not?
  18. Choose the correct form: “The artist _ work was displayed at the gallery is very talented.”
  19. Fill in the blank: “The teacher _ classroom we are in is very kind.”
  20. Rewrite the sentence: “The student (you gave him the award) is very hardworking.”

High Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. Fill in the blank: “The scientist _ theories revolutionized physics was awarded the Nobel Prize.”
  2. Rewrite the sentence: “The person (I lent my book to him) has not returned it.”
  3. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The person _ you believe can solve the problem is unavailable.”
  4. Fill in the blank: “The diplomat _ policies were criticized by the media refused to comment.”
  5. Is the sentence correct? “The teacher _ lecture you attended is very experienced.” Why or why not?
  6. Choose the correct form: “The colleague _ I discussed the issue with has left the company.”
  7. Rewrite the sentence: “The man (we saw him during the meeting) asked an interesting question.”
  8. Fill in the blank: “The woman _ advice you followed is an expert in the field.”
  9. Is it correct to say: “The director _ you spoke to will be at the conference”? Explain why.
  10. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The student _ the teacher scolded for cheating failed the test.”
  11. Fill in the blank: “The novelist _ I admire most has just released a new book.”
  12. Rewrite the sentence: “The musician (you heard him perform) is very famous.”
  13. Choose the correct form: “The person _ letter you read is waiting outside.”
  14. Is the sentence correct? “The professor _ theory we are studying has won multiple awards.” Explain why.
  15. Fill in the blank: “The athlete _ you were discussing earlier broke the world record.”
  16. Rewrite the sentence: “The politician (they criticized him in the debate) defended his policies.”
  17. Choose the correct relative pronoun: “The engineer _ project won first place will be speaking at the event.”
  18. Fill in the blank: “The lawyer _ case was highly publicized is retiring.”
  19. Choose the correct form: “The person _ you thought would attend the meeting did not show up.”
  20. Is the sentence correct? “The child _ book you borrowed is looking for it.” Why or why not?