Who to use when referencing people in English: a quick guide

Who, Whom, That, Which: A Simple Guide to People in English

Ever notice how a tiny word can change the whole feel of a sentence? In everyday talk, we toss around pronouns like a natural habit. But on the English section of the Accuplacer, those little words carry a bit more weight. Here’s a focused look at one of the trickier topics: which relative pronoun is used to refer specifically to people? The answer is simple: who.

Let me explain what that means in real sentences and why it matters not just for a test, but for clear everyday writing too.

Who versus the rest: what each one does

Think of relative pronouns as little signposts that connect extra information to a noun. They help us say, “Here’s the person I’m talking about, and here’s a detail about that person.” Four common signposts show up in English: who, whom, that, and which. Each has its favorite job:

• Who: used for people, as the subject of a verb in the relative clause. It’s the “doer” of the action inside the extra information.

Example: The teacher who inspires her students is highly respected.

Here, the clause who inspires her students tells us which teacher we’re talking about, and who is doing the inspiring.

• Whom: used for people when the relative pronoun is the object of a verb or a preposition in the relative clause. It’s the “receiver” in the action.

Example: The student whom the mentor praises received extra recognition.

In this sentence, whom is the object of praises.

• That: can refer to people or things in restrictive clauses (the essential information). It’s common for things, and sometimes used for people in casual writing, but many prefer who for people in formal style.

Example: The author that won the award is new on the scene.

Here, that refers to a person or a thing depending on context, but many would choose who when the reference is a person.

• Which: used mainly for things or animals, and sometimes for adding nonrestrictive (non-essential) information. It’s handy for clarifications.

Example: The book which sits on the table belongs to me.

You’ll often see which in sentences that add a nonessential detail.

The key distinction, plainly spoken: who is specifically for people in the role of the subject. If the person is doing the action in the relative clause, who is the right choice. If the person is the object—the one receiving the action—whom is the correct form (though in casual speech you’ll hear “who” much more often). For things and animals, that and which do the job in various combinations.

Examples that illustrate the idea

• The plumber who fixed the leak did a great job.

Who = subject of the verb fixed.

• The person whom I called left a message.

Whom = object of the verb called (I called whom? I called a person).

• The concert that we attended last night was fantastic.

That = referring to a thing (the concert); this is a common usage in everyday speech.

• The painting, which hangs in the hall, was bought last year.

Which = nonessential detail; it adds extra information about the painting.

• The friend to whom I sent the invitation never replied.

Whom after a preposition (to whom) is the traditional, more formal form.

A practical view: why this matters for the Accuplacer English section

On reading and language tasks, you’ll encounter sentences where you must decide which pronoun fits best. It’s less about memorizing a long list and more about understanding function: who is the actor, whom is the receiver, and which is the right tag for nonhuman nouns. The goal is clarity. If the pronoun makes the sentence awkward or its role unclear, you’ll want to adjust it.

In real life, this matters beyond tests—emails, reports, or even a quick note to a friend. If you want your message to land with precision, choosing the right relative pronoun helps your reader follow your meaning without stumbling over grammar. It’s not just about rules; it’s about making your ideas feel natural and easy to read.

A few quick, friendly rules to carry with you

• Check the role inside the relative clause. If the clause has a subject performing an action, you’re likely looking at who. If the pronoun is the object of the action, consider whom.

• For people, who is your go-to. It’s the safest bet in most situations, especially in formal writing.

• For things and animals, that or which usually works. If you’re adding nonessential information, which is a tidy choice.

• After a preposition (to, for, with, about, etc.), whom or which can be the right fit. In casual speech, you’ll hear who more often, but the formal taste still prefers whom in many contexts.

• In very formal writing, you’ll hear “to whom it may concern” or “with whom I spoke.” These show a careful, traditional edge.

A gentle digression that helps the point land

You’ve probably bumped into phrases like “the person who I spoke with” or “the student that completed the assignment.” The former feels smooth and natural; the latter, while acceptable, can feel a touch heavy, especially if you’re aiming for a clean, concise line. The choice often comes down to rhythm. Reading aloud can help you sense when a sentence drags. If a clause with who feels lighter and more real to you, that’s a good cue to choose who. If you’re writing something a bit more formal, the hesitation to use whom can be a signal to switch to whom in a more polished version.

Another tiny tangent: where this shows up outside tests

Relative pronouns show up in many places—news articles, fiction, and even the way we describe people in professional bios. A biography might read, “The scientist who developed the method received a prize.” A piece of feature writing might add a bit more detail with “The chef to whom diners often refer is known for his precise technique.” In daily life, you’ll notice these pronouns pop up in conversations, captions, and social posts. The more you hear and read, the more natural it feels to pick the right word on the spot.

Common mistakes to avoid (and how to spot them)

• Using who when whom is required inside a prepositional phrase after a preposition. If you can move the preposition to the front, you’ll often see whom come up as the object of that preposition: “the person to whom I spoke” instead of “the person who I spoke to.”

• Confusing that with who when referring to people in formal writing. If you’re aiming for a clean, professional tone, who is the safer choice for people.

• Treating that as a universal replacement for who. That works for things, and it can sneak in for people in casual speech, but it can dull clarity in precise writing.

A little practice, without turning it into a grind

If you’re looking to sharpen this instinct, try a small, friendly exercise in your day-to-day reading. Take a paragraph you enjoy—maybe a short essay, a news piece, or a blog you like—and underline the relative pronouns. Ask yourself:

• Is this pronoun referring to a person or a thing?

• Is the pronoun the subject or the object in the relative clause?

• Would who or whom or that or which feel more natural if you rewrote the sentence?

You’ll get quicker at spotting the pattern, and you’ll notice how much smoother sentences read when the pronoun choice fits the function.

Bringing it all together

So, the answer to which relative pronoun is used to refer specifically to people is who. It’s the most natural, widely accepted choice for the subject of a sentence in a relative clause. Whom has its place as the object form, though in everyday English you’ll hear who used more often. That and which fill the gaps for things and animals, with that sometimes crossing into people in casual speech. The big payoff isn’t just about cramming a rule into memory; it’s about making written and spoken English more precise, more readable, and more human.

If you’re curious to go a little deeper, you can explore style guides—but here’s the practical takeaway: when you’re talking about a person doing something in a sentence, reach for who. When the person is the recipient of an action, whom is the right tool in formal writing. For things, that or which takes the stage. And in everyday life, letting the sentence breathe with the simplest, clearest choice often feels best.

A final thought to carry with you

Language is lived, not just learned. Pronouns are tiny signposts on a big map of communication. They guide your reader through your thoughts with a clean, confident click of meaning. So next time you read a sentence about a person, pause for a beat and ask: does this pronoun point to the person as the actor, or to the person as the object? If the answer is “actor,” you’ve likely found who. If the answer is “object,” whom.

If you’d like to keep exploring, there are plenty of accessible grammar guides and readable explanations out there. Look for resources that connect rules to real sentences you actually encounter in books, articles, and everyday writing. The more you see these signs in action, the more natural the answers become—and the more confident you’ll feel when you encounter them in any text.