English is filled with small yet significant nuances. For instance, the addition of just one letter can make a substantial impact and can be confusing for anyone who has not yet learnt the rules. Examples are the distinctions between "who" and "whom" and "to" and "too."

These differences highlight the numerous English rules that grammar students need to grasp, whether they are natives or second language learners.

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How Do You Use Who or Whom?

The pronouns "who" and "whom" often induce confusion due to their similar sounds, but also because of the diminishing use of "whom" in everyday language.

While both refer to people, they serve distinct grammatical roles in a sentence.

directions_walk
Who or Whom?

In sentence structures, "whom" operates as an object, while "who" acts as a subject.

If who represents the subject (the person performing an action), then use who. For example:  "Who is making that noise next door?" Conversely, if who serves as the object (the person receiving the action), use whom, as in "To whom is this letter of complaint going?"

Deciding on when to use who and whom hinges on the sentence context. You'll need to expose yourself to the words in different contexts to help you understand how to use them appropriately every time. You might also consider consulting an online English tutor for additional support.

Proper Usage:  When to Use Who and Whom   

"Who" functions as a subject pronoun, much like "he," "she," or "they."
Example: Who is coming to the show tonight? Here, "who" acts as the subject of the verb "is coming," and if replaced with "she," the sentence remains accurate.
"Whom" operates as an object pronoun, similar to "him," "her," or "them."
In the sentence "Whom did you invite to your wedding?" "Whom" acts as the object of the verb "did invite," and if replaced with "him," the sentence remains grammatically correct, though a slight rearrangement is necessary, i.e. "Did you invite him to your wedding?"

If you are struggling to grasp this distinction, the he/him method offers a simple solution. By replacing "who" or "whom" with "he" or "him," one can more easily make the correct choice.

Remember that both "him" and "whom" end with the letter 'm' which reinforces this mnemonic aid.

Consider the question "Who/whom did you see at the football match?" If we substitute "he," we get "Did you see he at the football match?" (incorrect), and if we substitute "him," we get "Did you see him at the football match?" (correct).

In this instance, "whom" is the accurate choice as it functions as the object of the verb "see," akin to the correct object pronoun "him."

While this concept may be challenging, this helpful video from Oxford English Now can provide further explanation.

To Whom it May Concern

The question of how do you use who or whom has become somewhat irrelevant in modern times ... except in formal letter writing.

Using the salutation "To Whom it May Concern" is useful when you are sending a letter and you don't know the name of the person who will receive it, like when applying for a job, and the hiring manager's name is not mentioned in the job advert.

Of course, where you do know the name of the recipient, you should always address them directly.

The Difference Between Too and To

The difference between too and to is a common pitfall for many, however incorrect usage of these words can leave a negative impact, particularly when composing letters or a CV.

In fact, understanding the difference between to and too is a typical example of why mastering English language nuances is important.

Despite the identical pronunciation. the words have very distinct meanings and functions.

The words are not interchangeable and using them correctly is important for clarity, and for making a good impression.

Let’s take a deeper look at the difference between too and to and if you are still unclear, be sure to ask your English teacher for more examples.

When to Use 'to'

The word "to" has a multiple uses in English. In fact, it is considered one of the language's top five most commonly used words.

Here's a summary of its correct usage:

1. "To" as a preposition
"To" is widely used to indicates direction, a destination, or movement. For example, in the sentence "She walked to the park with her dog," "to" signifies movement towards a specific destination, the park. Another example would be "I am going to the show on Friday night."
2. The to-infinitive
In this context, the word 'to' appears before the base form of a verb to create the infinitive form.

For example, in the sentence "she likes to sing," the infinitive phrase "to sing" conveys the action that she enjoys. As an aside, infinitive verbs are also called non-finite verbs, since they represent the fundamental form of a verb which discusses a concept rather than a singular instance of an action.
3. 'To' as an adverb
Take the example: the door is open to the public. In this context, "to" signifies openness or accessibility. Similarly, expressions like "this event is open to everybody" demonstrate the adverbial use of "to."

Now that you've mastered the use of 'to' let's dive into how 'too' is used.

preschool girl holding up sign with the letter T written in capitals and lowercase
Don't mix up too and to. - Image: Werner Pfennig

When Should You Use 'Too'?

Using the word "too" is quite straightforward and can include three primary instances.

1. "Too" as an adverb
Too can be used to convey the idea of excess, surplus or degree. For example, in the sentence "She ate too much Mexican food," "too" is used to describe an excessive amount of food consumption.
2. Expressing the concept of "as well" or "also" in informal contexts
For example, in the sentence "I want to go to the concert, and she does too," "too" indicates her desire to attend the concert as well.
3. To expresses a shared sentiment or agreement
To indicate agreement, "too" can be used in response to a positive statement. If your friend says, "I love this album. If you agree, you could say, "Me too!"

It's important to note that this agreement structure only applies to positive sentences.
When you want to agree with a negative statement, you should use the word "neither".

For example, your brother says, "I don't like this album," and you feel the same then you should say "me neither," instead of "me too."

Hopefully, you're now well on your way to understanding when to use 'too' and when to use 'to'!

Common to and too Mistakes to Avoid

A very common mistake is using "to" instead of "too" when aiming to express excess or agreement.

For example, it's not uncommon to see someone write 'I ate to much last night.' However, this is incorrect, and should be 'I ate too much last night.'

Similarly, writing 'He wants to come to' to express agreement is incorrect. The correct form is 'He wants to come too.'

Remember that even though it might seem strange, it is possible to find multiple uses of "to" and "too" in a sentence, as in the example: "She had to go to the shops, too."

Can you identify the unique function of each instance of 'to' and 'too' in this sentence?

If not, a private English teacher could help to explain it further.

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Niki Jackson

Niki is a content writer from Cape Town, South Africa, who is passionate about words, strategic communication and using words to help create and maintain brand personas. Niki has a PR and marketing background, but her happiest place is when she is bringing a story to life on a page.