1.146 'who' and 'whom'

'Who' and 'whom' always refer to people.

'Who' can be the subject of a relative clause.

• ...mathematicians who are concerned with very difficult problems.
• ...a man who I met recently.

In the past, 'whom' was normally used as the object of a relative clause. Nowadays, 'who' is more often used, although some careful speakers of English think that it is more correct to use 'whom'.

• There's a woman over there who I can't help noticing.
• He's the man who I saw last night.
• ...two girls whom I met in Edinburgh.

'Who' is sometimes used as the object of a preposition when the object is separated from the preposition. Some careful speakers think that it is more correct to use 'whom'.

• That's the man who I gave it to.
• ...those whom we cannot talk to.

'Whom' is almost always used when the object comes immediately after the preposition.

• ...Lord Scarman. a man for whom I have immense respect.