WHOM vs WHOSE: How to Use Whom and Whose in a Sentence

Whom and whose are two pronouns that are often used incorrectly because they can be difficult to use in sentences.

In this article, we learn the difference between whom vs whose in English and how to use them correctly.

Whom vs Whose

What is the difference between whom vs whose?

Whom and whose are pronouns that can be confusing to use in sentences because they have specific grammatical roles. Here are some key points to remember about these pronouns:

• Whom is the objective form of the pronoun “who.” It is used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition.
• Whose is the possessive form of “who.” It is used to show ownership or possession.
• Who is the subjective form of the pronoun, and is used as the subject of a verb.
• If you are unsure whether to use whom or who, try replacing the word with “he,” “she,” or “they” to see if it makes sense in the sentence. If it does, you should use whom.

How to Use Whom vs Whose

How to Use Whom

Whom is an object pronoun like “him“, “her“, “us”,… We use WHOM to ask which person receives an action.

To use whom correctly in a sentence, you can think of it as the object of a verb or preposition.

Here are some examples of “whom” used as the object of a verb:

• Whom did you see at the store?

The pronoun “whom” is the object of the verb “see.”

• Whom do you think will be elected president?

The pronoun “whom” is the object of the verb “think.”

Here are some examples of “whom” used as the object of a preposition:

• To whom did she send the book?

The pronoun “whom” is the object of the preposition “to.”

• For whom is the gift intended?

The pronoun “whom” is the object of the preposition “for.”

Remember, “whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition, not as the subject of a verb. If you are unsure whether to use “whom” or “who,” try replacing the word with “he,” “she,” or “they” to see if it makes sense in the sentence. If it does, you should use “whom.”

How to Use Whose

To use whose correctly in a sentence, you can think of it as a possessive pronoun that shows ownership or possession. Here are some examples of “whose” used to show possession:

• Whose keys are on the kitchen counter?

The pronoun “whose” shows possession of the keys.

• Whose idea was it to go on a hike?

The pronoun “whose” shows possession of the idea.

You can also use “whose” to ask about possession or ownership. For example:

• Whose car is parked in front of the house?
• Whose turn is it to do the dishes?

Remember, “whose” is used to show possession, not as the subject of a verb. If you are unsure whether to use “whose” or “who,” try replacing the word with “his,” “hers,” or “theirs” to see if it makes sense in the sentence. If it does, you should use “whose.”

In summary, whom as the object of a verb or preposition, and use whose to show possession.

Whom vs Whose in Sentences

Whom Examples

• Whom did you choose for our team leader?
• She’s the woman whom I met in Greece.
• He took out a photo of his son, whom he adores.
• I met a man with whom I used to work.
• To whom are you writing the letter?

Whose Examples

• Whose name is after yours on the list?
• Whose coat is this?
• That’s the man whose house was burned down.
• She’s an artist whose work I really admire.
• I saw a man shouting at a driver whose car was blocking the street.

Differences between Whom vs Whose | Infographic

When to Use Whom vs Whose

Last Updated on January 10, 2023