ACT English: Use Who vs. Whom Correctly

Who is a subject pronoun (like he/she). Whom is an object pronoun (like him/her). Test: Replace who/whom with he/him or she/her. If he/she fits, use who. If him/her fits, use whom. Example: "Who solved the problem?" → "He solved the problem" ✓, so use who. Example: "Give the prize to whom?" → "Give the prize to him" ✓, so use whom. This substitution test works 100% of the time; trust it completely.

Another way to think: In formal sentences, who introduces a clause where the person is the subject of a verb. Whom introduces a clause where the person is the object of a verb or preposition. For most ACT English tests, the substitution test is faster.

Error 1: "He is the player who the coach selected." Wrong. Test: "the coach selected him," not "the coach selected he." So: whom. Correct: "...whom the coach selected." Error 2: "She asked who was calling." Correct. Test: "He was calling," so who fits. Error 3: "For who are you voting?" Wrong. Test: "For him are you voting?" No. "You are voting for him." So: whom. Before you answer a who/whom question on the test, spend 5 seconds applying the substitution test.

This tiny pause catches errors immediately and is worth the time investment.

(1) "Who did you call?" (2) "She knows the teacher who wrote the book." (3) "To who did you send the email?" (4) "The student who I met was friendly." (5) "For whom are these gifts?" For each, apply the substitution test and correct if needed. Answers: (1) whom (You called him). (2) correct (He wrote the book). (3) whom (You sent it to him). (4) whom (I met him). (5) correct (These are for him).

If you corrected all five using the substitution test, you've mastered this skill. Drill any you missed until the test becomes automatic.

Who/whom questions appear on many ACT English tests. They're either correct or incorrect with no gray area. Learn the substitution test and you'll answer every who/whom question correctly, gaining reliable points.

Spend 10 minutes learning and drilling this skill. It's worth 1 point per test, guaranteed.