Let’s crack the code for who and whom. It is easier than you might imagine. In addition, I will give you the technique for learning when to use <span>whoever </span>vs. whomever. The following are informal methods rather than rules; however, they really work!
<span>Rule: Use <span>who </span>when you could replace it with he.</span>
Example: Who/whom is standing by the gate?
We would say, “He is standing by the gate.” So <span>who </span>is correct.
Example: Gail wished she knew who/whom won.
<span>Gail wished </span>is a subject and verb pair (also called a clause). <span>She knew </span>is another subject and verb pair (clause). Who/whom won, the third clause, is the one we care about here. We would say, “He won.” So <span>who </span>is correct.
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Rule:</span> Use <span>whom </span>when you could replace it with him.
Example: To who/whom am I speaking?
Let’s turn the question into a sentence to make it easier: I am speaking to who/whom. We would say, “I am speaking to him.” Therefore, <span>whom </span>is correct.
Example: Hank wanted to know who/whom they trusted.
<span>Hank wanted to know </span>is a clause. That leaves who/whom they trusted. Again, let’s turn the question into a sentence: Who/whom did they trust? We would say, “They trusted him.” Therefore, <span>whom </span>is correct.
Now, wouldn’t it be nice to know when to use <span>whoever </span>and <span>whomever </span>with confidence? Then see our grammar tips <span>Whoever vs. </span><span>Whomever </span>and <span>Whoever Would Use Whomever.</span>
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<span>So therefore your answer is Whom</span>
