How To Tuesday...He, Who, Him, Whom...Huh?

This is the first "How To Tuesday" blogpost.  Today I will show you how to tell when to use he and whom and him and whom.

Back when I lived in Pittsburgh I taught an adult basic education class at the local Goodwill.  It was my job to help these folks get a basic grasp of the English language.  One of my lessons focused on when to use he or him, and when to use him, or the now archaic, whom.  So, here it is in a nutshell.

(I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)---Who
You can properly answer the question, "Who ___?" with any of the above pronouns.

Examples:
They are home.
Who is home.
They are!

She is my sister.
Who is your sister?
She is!

(me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them)---Whom
These pronouns, when not used as the subject ("it" and "you" could be used as either) are always accompanied with "helper words," such as with, to, and for.  As a neumonic device, it also helps to remember that him and whom both end with "m," so it's easy to remember that they go together.  But why you may ask.  It's best to show with an example...

I'm going to the store with him.
With whom are you going?
With him!

She gave the book to us.
Who did she give it to? or (not frequently used anymore, but still correct) To whom did she give the book?
Same answer in either case...To us!

OK, but wait. What's wrong with saying "Me and him?"  I know I've heard a lot of people say that.  I'm sure you have, too.  Here's when you know...

If you can take "him" out of the sentence, what are you left with?  "Me."
So take the sentence, "Me and him are going to eat lunch."
Now take him out of the sentence.  Would you say, "Me is going to eat lunch?" I would hope not.  The correct way to say that would be, "I am going to eat lunch."
OK, now bring him back.  "I and him..." That's just painful to hear.  What's wrong now?  The problem is that "me" didn't do anything.  "I did it."  Remember the question above..."Who did it?"  Well, here you go.  "I did it," and "He did it, too."  So the correct use would be "He and I (think of good manners and always put yourself last) are going to eat lunch"...or, how about..."We are going to eat lunch?"

Hopefully that wasn't too confusing.  Just remember He/Who...Him/Whom.