"Those I loved" vs "those whom I loved"

Question

"Those I loved" vs "those whom I loved"

Both 'those I loved' and 'those whom I loved' are correct, but 'those I loved' is more commonly used in modern English. The use of 'whom' is becoming less common in informal contexts, so 'those I loved' is preferred for simplicity and clarity.

Last Updated: March 08, 2024

This phrase is used to refer to people or things that the speaker loved in the past. 'I loved' is the simple past tense of the verb 'to love.'

Examples:

Those I loved have always been in my heart.
I will never forget those I loved.
The memories of those I loved will never fade.
She was one of those I loved deeply.
He was among those I loved the most.

Alternatives:

those whom I loved
those that I loved
those who I loved
those that were loved by me
those who were loved by me

This phrase is also used to refer to people or things that the speaker loved in the past. 'Whom' is the object form of 'who,' used when 'who' is the object of a verb or preposition.

Examples:

Those whom I loved are always in my thoughts.
I will cherish the memories of those whom I loved.
She was one of those whom I loved deeply.
He was among those whom I loved the most.
The people whom I loved the most are no longer here.

Alternatives:

those I loved
those that I loved
those who I loved
those that were loved by me
those who were loved by me

Answer 1

Those I loved

This phrase is correct and commonly used in modern English.

Answer 2

those whom I loved

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in modern English.

"Those I loved" vs "those whom I loved"

Those I loved

those whom I loved

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