Why the subject form in 'He who runs, runs faster' is 'who'

Subject forms and sentence rhythm can feel like tiny puzzles, but they show up in everyday writing more often than you think. Take a crisp example: He who runs, runs faster. It looks simple, yet it’s a nice spotlight on how the English pronoun system works inside a sentence. If you’re exploring the PACT writing landscape, this little line is a handy map for how subjects and relative clauses behave. Let me walk you through it.

What this sentence is doing, in plain English

First, let’s parse it a bit. The core idea is about a specific person—the one who runs. The structure “He who runs” works like this: “he” is the main subject of the overall sentence, and “who runs” is a relative clause that gives us more information about that same person. The second half, “runs faster,” is the main clause that tells us something about that person’s action.

In other words, the phrase “who runs” is not a separate person or object; it’s a way of identifying which “he” we have in mind. The word who itself is doing the job of a subject pronoun in the little clause that follows, even though the entire thing reads as one unit in English. That “little clause” is the key: it has its own tiny subject and verb, and that subject is who.

Who, whom, which, whose — a quick map

To see why “who” is the right pick here, it helps to be aware of the other relative pronouns and what they usually do. Here’s a quick snapshot you can reuse in daily writing:

• Who: subject pronoun. It does the action inside the relative clause. Example: The runner who wins gets a prize. Here, “who” is the subject of “wins.”

• Whom: object pronoun. It receives the action inside the relative clause. Example: The runner whom the crowd cheers for wins. Here, “whom” is the object of “cheers for.”

• Which: refers to things (and sometimes animals). It can introduce nonhuman subjects or objects. Example: The team, which won the race, celebrated. Here, “which” introduces the clause about the team.

• Whose: possessive. It shows ownership. Example: The runner whose legs ache took a break. Here, “whose” marks possession.

In the sentence at hand, we’re dealing with a person being identified, and the clause needs a subject for its verb. That’s precisely what who provides.

The role of who in a relative clause

Here’s the thing about relative clauses: they’re like tiny sentences tacked onto a main sentence. They need their own subject and verb. If you swap in whom, you’re nudging the pronoun into an object position within that little clause, which doesn’t match the action in this sentence.

Try a quick mental test: replace who with another subject pronoun that clearly acts as a subject in the small clause. If I say “He who runs, runs faster,” the clause is “who runs.” If I tried “He whom runs, runs faster,” doesn’t even look right, does it? That awkwardness is a telltale sign that whom isn’t the correct choice here. The subject position belongs to who.

A practical way to think about it

If you want a simple rule of thumb you can carry into student papers, try this: whenever you have a personal identification inside a relative clause—“the person who...,” “the man who...,” “the student who...”—use who. If you can replace the relative pronoun with a subject pronoun like he, she, they, or it, and the sentence still makes sense, you’re likely in the right zone with who. If you would replace it with an object pronoun (him, her, them), you’d probably want whom.

Let’s break down a few more quick examples to sharpen that instinct:

• The singer who performed last night stunned the audience. (who as subject of “performed”)

• The singer whom the crowd cheered for stunned the audience. (whom as object of “cheered for”)

• The car which won the race surprised everyone. (which referring to a thing)

• The owner whose dog barked all night kept them awake. (whose showing possession)

A few test phrases you can trot out in your head

• He who listens, learns. Here, who is the subject of “listens,” so it fits nicely.

• The teacher whom I met yesterday is kind. Here, whom is the object of “met,” so it’s not the right fit for the clause after “the teacher.”

• The book which I borrowed is fascinating. That one uses which because we’re talking about a thing.

Why the original choice is correct, succinctly

In He who runs, runs faster, the relative clause “who runs” needs a subject for its verb. Who fills that role. If you tried whom, you’d be forcing an object position into a clause that’s doing the subject’s work. It would sound off to a native ear and read as a grammatical misstep. The sentence lacks the usual destination for an object pronoun inside the subordinate clause, so whom doesn’t match the needs of the clause.

A few tangents you might appreciate

• Relative clauses aren’t only about grammar posters. They shape rhythm and emphasis in writing. A well-placed who can spotlight the person involved, giving your sentence a crisp, almost tactile feel. In narrative or descriptive writing, that subtle clarity helps readers picture the scene without tripping over heavy rules.

• The line between formal grammar and natural speech can blur. In spoken English, you’ll hear reduced forms or dropped pronouns in casual contexts, but in formal writing (think essays, articles, or reports), staying precise with who vs whom helps you avoid ambiguity.

• Some languages handle subject and object pronouns differently. If you’re bilingual or learning another tongue, this kind of puzzle can become a helpful anchor. It forces you to map where the action sits and who’s doing what to whom, which is pretty universal in language.

A few quick, relatable tests you can carry around

• If you can drop the relative clause and still have a clean main sentence, you’re probably good to go with who. Example: He runs. The added clause just tells us which he.

• If the pronoun were doing something to something else inside the clause, you’d likely switch to whom. The crowd cheered for him—the pronoun there is object-like, nudging you toward whom in other contexts.

• If you’re ever unsure, try swapping the pronoun with a known subject like she or they in the small clause. If it sounds right, who is a safe bet.

Putting it into everyday writing

This isn’t just about grading rubrics or test vibes. It’s about writing that feels precise, without fuss. When you use who correctly, you’re signaling to the reader that you’re mindful of who is performing the action in the clause. That extra care translates into clarity, which makes your writing more persuasive, more readable, and—frankly—more enjoyable to read.

Rhythms, flow, and the writing voice

Some readers respond to punchy, short sentences; others enjoy a longer, more lyrical cadence. You can alternate. After a short, pointed line like He who runs, runs faster, a longer sentence can explore why the subject matters or offer a parallel thought. The key is letting the relative clause maintain its own little sense of motion while the main clause keeps the forward push.

A note on style variety

If you’re building a writer’s toolkit for the PACT writing landscape, a couple more contrasts help:

• He who runs, runs faster. vs. The runner who runs the fastest isn't always the strongest. The first one uses a tighter, more formal stamp; the second leans into everyday speech while staying correct.

• The man whose dog barks all night is exhausted. vs. The man who owns the dog that barks all night is exhausted. The second variant uses more words but shares the same idea. It’s a reminder that there are often several clean routes to the same destination.

Final wrap-up

So, what’s the verdict for the question at the center of this little exploration? Who. Because in the phrase He who runs, runs faster, the relative clause needs a subject, and who is the subject pronoun that fits best here. It’s a small decision with a big payoff: cleaner syntax, clearer meaning, and a sentence that moves with a natural, human cadence.

If you’re collecting little grammar checklists as you read, this one earns a place near the top:

• Identify the subject in the relative clause.

• Use who for subject position; whom for object position.

• Remember that who introduces information about a person, not a thing.

And as you go about your day, keep an eye out for similar structures in articles, stories, and notes. You’ll notice patterns—how authors keep ideas tethered to a clear subject, how the rhythm shifts with different pronouns, and how a single choice can nudge clarity in just the right direction. It’s the kind of thing that makes writing not only correct but a touch more enjoyable to read.