Whom - Formal Object Pronoun Exercises

Whom is the formal object form of "who," used when the relative pronoun receives the action rather than performing it. In everyday English, "who" often replaces "whom": "The person who I called" is acceptable in speech. But in formal writing, "whom" is correct: "The person whom I called." The distinction matters most in academic essays, business correspondence, and advanced English examinations where formal register is expected.

Whom is required after prepositions in formal style: "to whom," "with whom," "for whom," "about whom." "The colleague to whom I sent the report" is formal and precise; "The colleague who I sent the report to" is informal but also correct. A reliable test for choosing between "who" and "whom": substitute "he/she" or "him/her." If "him/her" fits, use "whom" — "I called him" → "whom I called." If "he/she" fits, use "who" — "he called me" → "who called me." Cambridge C1 Advanced and IELTS Academic frequently test "whom" in formal writing and sentence transformation tasks.