Who Subject of Verb

The word who can only be used when it is the subject of a verb. That
might sound confusing, but it just means it is like the
words I, he, she, we, and they. Just like who, each of these words can
only be the subject of a verb. The difference with who is that some
people are unsure when to use who and whom. Well, confusing that pair
SUBJECT OF A VERB?
is no different from confusing these pairs: I/me, he/him, she/her,
and they/them.
Verbs are doing words (e.g., to
dance, to sit, to fly,to think) (See
Examples:
lesson Verbs.)

Who paid for the meal?

The subject of a verb is the person or
(Who is the subject of the verb to pay.)
thing that is doing the action.
I have not seen the man who lives in the hut by the beach for a
week.

Peter flies to Moscow on

(Who is the subject of the verb to live.)
Tuesdays.
I wonder who is in charge.
(Peter is the subject of the verb to
(Who is the subject of the verb to be; i.e., who is.)
fly.)
Sarah gave the tickets to who?

Helen's boss drinks like a

(Sarah is the subject of to give, but who is not the subject of any verb.
fish during the day.
Therefore, you cannot use who. It should be whom. This is like
(Helen's boss is the subject of the
saying Sarah gave the tickets to he. )
verb to drink.)
Do you know the boy who rang the bell?

WHO = HE (A NEAT TRICK)

Substitute who with the word he. If
that part of the sentence still makes
sense, then who is almost certainly
correct. (These are from the examples
to the left.)

should be who (subject of the verb existed)

(TV listing in magazine)

Who paid for the meal?

He paid for the meal. (<
sounds ok. Therefore:Who paid for
the meal? is correct.)

I have not seen the

man who lives in the hut by the
beach for a week.
...he lives in the hut... (<
sounds ok. Therefore:who is
correct.)

should be who (subject of will notify)

(notice in office)

I wonder who is in
charge.
...he is in charge.(< sounds
ok. Therefore: whois correct.)

Don't Get it? Use Who

Sarah gave the tickets

If you are unsure which to use, use who. Firstly, it is much more
to
who?
common than whom. Secondly, the use of whom is considered by
...to he? (< does not sound
many to be on its last legs in English. (Of course, Grammar Monster
ok. Therefore: whois wrong.)
does not condone this practice, but if you don't have time to learn the
difference, this advice will do for now. Of note, the
pairings you/you and it/it make no distinction between being the
Who and he are always the subjects of
subject of a verb or not, and who looks like it's heading in that
verbs. They are said to be in
direction too.)
the subjective case. This is why the
trick works.
Example:
o

WHO = THEY
Who are you going to believe, me or your own
In order to perform this trick for
eyes?
(Groucho Marx quote)
(This quote by Groucho Marx is incorrect. It should start Whom are plurals, you will have to
substitute who with the word they.
you going to believe. However, as whom sounds a bit contrived,
we'll let Groucho off this time.)

Whom Is Never the Subject of a Verb

Whom is never the subject of a verb. (Who, on the other hand, is

always the subject of a verb.)
Examples:
o

You sat by whom all night?

(In this example, whomis not the subject of any verb. You is the
subject of to sit.)
She is a wistful recluse whom lives near the river.

I met the people who were

on the plane.
...they were on the plane.
(< sounds ok. Therefore: who is
correct.)
WHOM = HIM (A NEAT TRICK)
Substitute whom with the word him. If
that part of the sentence still makes
sense, then whom is almost certainly