whom
Object case pronoun
Whom is the objective form of who.
You should always use it after a preposition, where an objective form is expected: With whom did you attend the reception? The package doesn’t show for whom it’s intended.
When whom is removed from the preposition that governs it, technically you should still use whom, although today speakers and writers are less particular about this than in the past and many people find it acceptable to say, e.g., Who did you attend the reception with and The package doesn’t show who it’s intended for.
When who is the object of a verb, many speakers today do not use whom: They said there would be an arrest but they didn’t say who.
Intended mail recipient
- recipientOne who receives something
- beneficiaryDesignated asset receiver
- targetObject of pursuit
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
receiver · person · individual · party · someone · anyone · everyone · no one
Noun's grammatical replacement
- relativeConnected by blood
- clauseProvision in agreement
- antecedentSomething that precedes
- accusativeCase for direct objects
dative · objective · case · syntax · preposition · object · indirect object · direct object
Interrogative for selection
Strict observance of convention
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
- properSocially appropriate
- correctFree from error
- educatedHaving received formal instruction
literary · written · traditional · prescriptive · standard · elegance · refinement · precision
addressee
Intended mail recipient
- recipientOne who receives something
- beneficiaryDesignated asset receiver
- targetObject of pursuit
audience · receiver · person · individual · party · someone · anyone · everyone · no one · those
pronoun
Noun's grammatical replacement
- relativeConnected by blood
- clauseProvision in agreement
- antecedentSomething that precedes
accusative · dative · objective · case · syntax · preposition · object · indirect object · direct object · inflection
which
Interrogative for selection
formality
Strict observance of convention
educated · literary · written · traditional · prescriptive · standard · elegance · refinement · precision
- pronounsI, me, him, he, my
- formal wordshereby, herein, thereof, thereby, whereby
- subordinationsubordinate clause, dependent clause, subordination, relative clause, noun clause
- questionsquestion, inquiry, questions, query, interrogatives
- question wordswhat, when, where, which, why
- The Whoperson, people, someone, anyone, everyone
- who caresDismissive indifference expression
- who are youRequest for identification
- who knowsExpression of uncertainty
- guess whoPlayful identity challenge
- everybody who's anyoneAll notable or influential people
- who's thereKnock response query