If you are unsure if to say “who else” or “whom else,” you are not alone. Both expressions can appear in English, but they do not have the same grammatical role or the same level of naturalness. The key is to understand whether the pronoun is functioning as the subject or object of a verb or preposition.
In everyday modern English, “who else” is by far the more common and natural choice, especially in questions such as “Who else is coming?” and “Who else did you invite?” However, “whom else” can be grammatically appropriate when whom functions as an object, particularly in formal writing. Knowing this distinction will help you choose the right expression without relying on guesswork.
Quick Answer
“Who else” is usually the correct and natural choice in modern English. Use who when the pronoun is the subject, and whom when it is the object of a verb or preposition. For example, “Who else is coming?” uses who as the subject, while “Whom else did you invite?” uses whom as the object.
Why Do People Confuse “Who Else” and “Whom Else”?
The confusion comes from the difference between who and whom.
- Who is traditionally used for subjects.
- Whom is traditionally used for objects.
- Else means “in addition to the person or people already mentioned or considered.”
The word else does not determine whether you should use who or whom. Instead, look at the grammatical role of the pronoun.
Compare:
- Who else came to the party?
Here, who is the subject of came. - Whom else did you invite?
Here, whom is the object of invite.
However, in ordinary conversation, many native speakers use who instead of whom, even when traditional grammar would call for whom.
Who Else: Meaning and Usage
Who else means “what other person or people?”
It is extremely common in questions.
Examples
- Who else is coming to dinner?
- Who else knows about this?
- Who else wants some coffee?
- Who else can help me?
- Who else did you see at the meeting?
Notice that who else can occur even when the traditional grammatical analysis would identify the pronoun as an object:
Who else did you invite?
In formal traditional grammar, “Whom else did you invite?” is possible. But “Who else did you invite?” is much more natural in contemporary English.
Whom Else: Meaning and Usage
Whom else also means “what other person?”, but it is used when whom functions as an object.
It is more formal and less common than who else.
For example:
Whom else did you contact?
Here, whom is the object of contact.
Another example:
Whom else should I ask?
The person represented by whom is the object of ask.
When “Whom Else” Sounds Natural
“Whom else” is most likely to appear in:
- Formal writing
- Legal or academic language
- Very careful speech
- Sentences involving prepositions
- Contexts where the writer deliberately maintains the traditional who/whom distinction
For most everyday conversations, who else will sound more natural.
Who Else vs Whom Else: Comparison Table
| Expression | Traditional grammatical role | Modern usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who else | Subject | Very common | Who else is coming? |
| Who else | Object in informal/modern English | Very common | Who else did you invite? |
| Whom else | Object | Formal or less common | Whom else did you invite? |
| Whom else | Subject | Incorrect | Whom else is coming? |
The important point is that “who else” is not limited to subject positions in modern English. Modern English commonly uses who where traditional grammar would prescribe whom.
When Should You Use “Who Else”?
Use who else in most everyday situations.
1. When asking who is participating
Who else is joining us?
2. When asking about another person with knowledge
Who else knows the answer?
3. When asking about another person someone invited
Who else did you invite?
4. When asking for another possible person
Who else could solve this problem?
5. When speaking naturally
Who else wants pizza?
For general readers, students, and ESL learners, who else is the safest and most natural choice in most situations.
When Should You Use “Whom Else”?
Use whom else when you intentionally follow the traditional distinction between subject and object.
For example:
Whom else did the manager interview?
Here, whom is the object of interview.
Another example:
Whom else should we consult?
The person being consulted is the object.
You can also see whom else after a preposition:
With whom else did you speak?
This is traditionally correct because whom follows the preposition with.
However, everyday English would usually say:
Who else did you speak with?
Both versions communicate the same basic idea, but the second sounds more conversational.
10+ Examples of “Who Else” and “Whom Else”
Here are practical examples to make the distinction clearer.
Examples with “Who Else”
- Who else is coming to the party?
- Who else knows the truth?
- Who else wants to join us?
- Who else can answer this question?
- Who else lives in this house?
- Who else saw the accident?
- Who else did you meet there?
- Who else should we invite?
- Who else wants to try?
- Who else can help with this project?
Examples with “Whom Else”
- Whom else did you invite?
- Whom else should we contact?
- Whom else did the committee interview?
- Whom else are you considering for the position?
- With whom else did you discuss the issue?
In examples 11–15, whom is functioning as an object. Nevertheless, in everyday speech, who would usually be preferred.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Thinking “else” determines the pronoun
Incorrect reasoning:
“Because there is another person, I must use whom else.”
Not true.
Else has nothing to do with whether you need who or whom.
Mistake 2: Using “whom” simply because the sentence sounds formal
Whom else is coming? ❌
The subject of is coming is the person being asked about, so traditional grammar requires who.
Correct:
Who else is coming? ✅
Mistake 3: Assuming “who else” is always grammatically wrong before an object
Some learners think:
Who else did you invite? ❌
But this is extremely common and natural modern English.
Who else did you invite? ✅
Traditional formal grammar may prefer “Whom else did you invite?”, but modern English widely uses who here.
Mistake 4: Using “whom” in normal conversation unnecessarily
Whom else do you want to come with us?
This can sound stiff or overly formal.
A natural alternative is:
Who else do you want to come with us?
A Simple Memory Trick
Use this question:
Is the person doing the action or receiving the action?
- Doing the action → who
- Receiving the action → traditionally whom
For example:
Who else called you?
The person represented by who performed the action of calling.
Whom else did you call?
The person represented by whom received the action.
But remember: modern English frequently uses “who” for both roles, especially in conversation.
American vs British English
Both American and British English use who else very commonly.
The traditional use of whom still exists in both varieties, particularly in formal writing and after prepositions.
For example:
More conversational:
Who else did you speak to?
More formal/traditional:
To whom else did you speak?
The difference is therefore more about formality and grammatical style than a strict American-versus-British distinction.
Similar Words and Expressions
Several expressions are related to who else and whom else.
Who else
Means another person or other people.
Who else is interested?
Whom else
A formal/traditional object form.
Whom else did you ask?
What else
Used for things rather than people.
What else do you need?
Where else
Asks about another place.
Where else can we go?
When else
Asks about another time.
When else could we meet?
Why else
Asks for another reason.
Why else would she leave?
Final Verdict: Who Else or Whom Else?
“Who else” is the best choice for most situations.
Use it in everyday conversation, informal writing, questions, and general English:
Who else is coming?
Who else did you invite?
Use “whom else” when whom is the object and you want to follow traditional formal grammar:
Whom else did you invite?
With whom else did you speak?
If you are an English learner and are unsure which one to choose, “who else” will usually be the more natural and widely accepted option.
FAQs
Is “who else” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Who else” is grammatically correct and extremely common in modern English. It can be used when asking about another person or group of people.
Is “whom else” correct?
Yes. “Whom else” can be grammatically correct when the pronoun functions as an object. It is more formal and less common than “who else.”
Which is correct: “Who else did you invite?” or “Whom else did you invite?”
Both can be defended grammatically. “Whom else did you invite?” follows the traditional object form, while “Who else did you invite?” is much more natural in modern everyday English.
Is “Who else is coming?” correct?
Yes. “Who else is coming?” is completely correct. Who is the subject of the verb is coming.
Is “Whom else is coming?” correct?
No, not according to traditional subject-object grammar. The person coming is the subject, so the traditional form is “Who else is coming?”
Do Americans say “who else” or “whom else”?
Americans commonly say “who else.” “Whom else” still occurs in formal contexts, but it is considerably less common in ordinary conversation.
Should ESL learners use “who else” or “whom else”?
ESL learners should generally use “who else.” It is natural, widely understood, and appropriate for most everyday questions.
Remember This
- Who else = the normal, natural choice in most situations.
- Whom else = formal/traditional object form.
- Else does not determine whether you use who or whom.
- Who else is coming? → subject → who
- Whom else did you invite? → traditional object → whom
- In modern English, who is commonly used instead of whom, especially in conversation.
Conclusion
The choice between “who else” and “whom else” depends mainly on grammatical role and level of formality. Traditionally, who is used for subjects and whom for objects. Therefore, “Who else is coming?” is clearly correct, while “Whom else did you invite?” follows the traditional object rule.
However, English has changed over time, and who is now widely used instead of whom, especially in everyday speech. That is why “Who else did you invite?” sounds natural to most speakers. For general English, students and ESL learners can confidently use “who else” in most situations.
John Tyler is a dream researcher and content writer at SleepCout, sharing insightful articles about coded dreams, dream meanings, symbolism, sleep psychology, and practical guidance to help readers understand their dreams.
