Grammar worksheet teaching the correct usage of "who" and "whom" with definitions, examples, and practice exercises.
A grammar worksheet titled "WHO vs WHOM" with explanations and exercises for using the pronouns who and whom correctly, including example sentences and fill-in-the-blank questions.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Who versus Whom Worksheet by Kelli Lovingfoss worksheets library
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Who versus Whom Worksheet by Kelli Lovingfoss worksheets library
Let's solve the grammar exercise on "Who vs Whom" and explain each answer with reasoning.
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- Use who when the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause (the "doer" of the action).
- Use whom when the pronoun is the object of the relative clause (the "receiver" of the action).
> Tip: You can test it by replacing "who" or "whom" with "he" or "him":
> - If you say "He walked in," use who.
> - If you say "Him walked in" (which sounds wrong), use whom → correct form is "Whom did you see?" → "I saw him."
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1. Do you know the girl ________ just walked in?
→ who
*Explanation:* "The girl" is the subject of "walked in." She is doing the walking. So, who (subject) is correct.
2. He was a man ________ delivered the pizza last night.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Man" is the subject of "delivered." He did the delivering. So, who.
3. An orphan is a child ________ has no parents.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Child" is the subject of "has." The child has no parents. So, who.
4. The woman ________ you called is my friend.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "You called" — "called" needs an object. "You called whom?" → "You called her." So, whom (object).
*(Note: In informal English, people often say "who," but grammatically, whom is correct here.)*
5. The woman ________ called you is my friend.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Called you" — "she called you." "She" is the subject. So, who.
6. My ESL teacher, ________ came to France in 1999, likes to ride his mountain bike.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Came to France" — "he came." Subject = "teacher." So, who.
7. Jack hired Mr. Lee, ________ you recommended.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "You recommended" — "you recommended him." Object of the verb. So, whom.
8. Einstein, ________ was born in Germany, is famous for his theory of relativity.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Was born" — Einstein is the subject. So, who.
9. Mr. Robertson hired the gardener ________ you recommended.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "You recommended" — "you recommended him." Object. So, whom.
10. Isn't that the woman ________ lives across the road from you?
→ who
*Explanation:* "Lives" — she is the subject. "She lives..." So, who.
11. Have you seen those people ________ we met on holiday?
→ whom
*Explanation:* "We met" — "we met them." Object. So, whom.
12. He finally met Paul McCartney, ________ he had always admired.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Admired" — "he admired him." Object. So, whom.
13. He decided to telephone Mrs. Jackson, ________ he had read about in the newspaper.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Read about" — "read about her." Object. So, whom.
14. He has three brothers, two of ________ are in the army.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Two of whom" is a common structure. "Two of the brothers" are in the army. "Whom" refers to the brothers (object of "of"). So, whom.
15. My favourite actor is Jack Nicholson, ________ I saw in "A Few Good Men".
→ whom
*Explanation:* "I saw" — "I saw him." Object. So, whom.
16. I am looking for a secretary ________ can use the computer very well.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Can use" — "she can use." Subject. So, who.
17. She has a son ________ is a doctor.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Is a doctor" — "he is a doctor." Subject. So, who.
18. My brother met the woman ________ I used to work for.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Work for" — "I worked for her." "Her" is the object. So, whom.
19. The woman ________ visited me in the hospital was very kind.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Visited" — "she visited." Subject. So, who.
20. His mother, ________ is 87, lives in Amsterdam.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Is 87" — "she is 87." Subject. So, who.
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1. who
2. who
3. who
4. whom
5. who
6. who
7. whom
8. who
9. whom
10. who
11. whom
12. whom
13. whom
14. whom
15. whom
16. who
17. who
18. whom
19. who
20. who
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- Who = subject (does the action)
- Whom = object (receives the action)
- When in doubt, ask: “Did they do it?” → who; “Did someone do it to them?” → whom
This exercise helps reinforce proper usage of relative pronouns in formal English. While modern usage often favors "who" even in object positions, mastering "whom" improves precision in writing.
Let me know if you'd like this turned into a printable worksheet!
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🔹 Key Rule Recap:
- Use who when the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause (the "doer" of the action).
- Use whom when the pronoun is the object of the relative clause (the "receiver" of the action).
> Tip: You can test it by replacing "who" or "whom" with "he" or "him":
> - If you say "He walked in," use who.
> - If you say "Him walked in" (which sounds wrong), use whom → correct form is "Whom did you see?" → "I saw him."
---
✔ Answers with Explanations:
1. Do you know the girl ________ just walked in?
→ who
*Explanation:* "The girl" is the subject of "walked in." She is doing the walking. So, who (subject) is correct.
2. He was a man ________ delivered the pizza last night.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Man" is the subject of "delivered." He did the delivering. So, who.
3. An orphan is a child ________ has no parents.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Child" is the subject of "has." The child has no parents. So, who.
4. The woman ________ you called is my friend.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "You called" — "called" needs an object. "You called whom?" → "You called her." So, whom (object).
*(Note: In informal English, people often say "who," but grammatically, whom is correct here.)*
5. The woman ________ called you is my friend.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Called you" — "she called you." "She" is the subject. So, who.
6. My ESL teacher, ________ came to France in 1999, likes to ride his mountain bike.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Came to France" — "he came." Subject = "teacher." So, who.
7. Jack hired Mr. Lee, ________ you recommended.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "You recommended" — "you recommended him." Object of the verb. So, whom.
8. Einstein, ________ was born in Germany, is famous for his theory of relativity.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Was born" — Einstein is the subject. So, who.
9. Mr. Robertson hired the gardener ________ you recommended.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "You recommended" — "you recommended him." Object. So, whom.
10. Isn't that the woman ________ lives across the road from you?
→ who
*Explanation:* "Lives" — she is the subject. "She lives..." So, who.
11. Have you seen those people ________ we met on holiday?
→ whom
*Explanation:* "We met" — "we met them." Object. So, whom.
12. He finally met Paul McCartney, ________ he had always admired.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Admired" — "he admired him." Object. So, whom.
13. He decided to telephone Mrs. Jackson, ________ he had read about in the newspaper.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Read about" — "read about her." Object. So, whom.
14. He has three brothers, two of ________ are in the army.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Two of whom" is a common structure. "Two of the brothers" are in the army. "Whom" refers to the brothers (object of "of"). So, whom.
15. My favourite actor is Jack Nicholson, ________ I saw in "A Few Good Men".
→ whom
*Explanation:* "I saw" — "I saw him." Object. So, whom.
16. I am looking for a secretary ________ can use the computer very well.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Can use" — "she can use." Subject. So, who.
17. She has a son ________ is a doctor.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Is a doctor" — "he is a doctor." Subject. So, who.
18. My brother met the woman ________ I used to work for.
→ whom
*Explanation:* "Work for" — "I worked for her." "Her" is the object. So, whom.
19. The woman ________ visited me in the hospital was very kind.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Visited" — "she visited." Subject. So, who.
20. His mother, ________ is 87, lives in Amsterdam.
→ who
*Explanation:* "Is 87" — "she is 87." Subject. So, who.
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✔ Final Answer Key:
1. who
2. who
3. who
4. whom
5. who
6. who
7. whom
8. who
9. whom
10. who
11. whom
12. whom
13. whom
14. whom
15. whom
16. who
17. who
18. whom
19. who
20. who
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📌 Summary Tips:
- Who = subject (does the action)
- Whom = object (receives the action)
- When in doubt, ask: “Did they do it?” → who; “Did someone do it to them?” → whom
This exercise helps reinforce proper usage of relative pronouns in formal English. While modern usage often favors "who" even in object positions, mastering "whom" improves precision in writing.
Let me know if you'd like this turned into a printable worksheet!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of who whom worksheet.
