When to use 'Whom': A simple explanation with Marathi Translation

WHEN TO USE 'WHOM'

Definition:

Whom is a pronoun used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition. It is more formal and often replaced by who in everyday speech, though whom remains grammatically correct.

USES OF WHOM

1. In Questions
🔮Whom is used to ask about the object of an action or preposition.

🔮Whom did you call yesterday?
(Object of did call)
तुम्ही काल कोणाला फोन केला?

🔮Whom are they inviting to the meeting?
(Object of are inviting)
त्यांनी बैठकीसाठी कोणाला आमंत्रित केले आहे?

2. After Prepositions
In formal contexts, whom is used after a preposition to clarify the object of the preposition.

🔮To whom should I address the letter?
मी हे पत्र कोणाला पाठवावे?

🔮With whom did you go to the park?
तुम्ही उद्यानात कोणासोबत गेला होता?

3. In Relative Clauses
Whom is used in formal writing to refer to a person who is the object of a relative clause.

🔮The person to whom I was speaking is my neighbor.
ज्याच्याशी मी बोलत होतो, तो माझा शेजारी आहे.

🔮The man whom they hired is very experienced.
ज्याला त्यांनी नोकरी दिली, तो खूप अनुभवी आहे.

4. In Formal Expressions
🔮Whom often appears in official or poetic language.

🔮To whom it may concern:
ज्याला लागू आहे:

🔮For whom the bell tolls (poetic phrase):
ज्याच्यासाठी घंटा वाजते.

5. In Embedded or Indirect Questions
When a question is embedded in a larger sentence, whom refers to the object of the question.

🔮Do you know whom they chose as the leader?
तुम्हाला माहित आहे का त्यांनी नेते म्हणून कोणाची निवड केली?

🔮I wonder whom we should consult about this issue.
आपण या प्रश्नाबद्दल कोणाचा सल्ला घ्यावा, असे मला वाटते.

Quick rule to identify Whom:

💠If you can replace the word with him/her, use whom.

Whom did you call? → I called him.

💠If the word refers to the doer of the action (subject), use who.

Who called you? → He called me.