View Single Post
Old 06-17-10 | 05:20 PM
  #71  
carlosflanders
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by John Wilke
ME!

= = =

Something to ponder over lunch:

Rule 1.

To determine whether to use whoever or whomever, here is the rule:
him + he = whoever
him + him = whomever
Examples:

Give it to whoever/whomever asks for it first.

Give it to him. He asks for it first.

Therefore, Give it to whoever asks for it first.
We will hire whoever/whomever you recommend.
We will hire him. You recommend him.
him + him = whomever
We will hire whoever/whomever is most qualified.
We will hire him. He is most qualified.
him + he = whoever

Rule 2. When the entire whoever/whomever clause is the subject of the verb that follows the clause, look inside the clause to determine whether to use whoever or whomever.
Examples:

Whoever is elected will serve a four-year term.

Whoever is elected is the subject of will serve.

Whoever is the subject of is.

Whomever you elect will serve a four-year term.

Whomever you elect is the subject of will serve.

Whomever is the object of you elect.
Who/Whom is archaic. Should have been eliminated from American English long ago. Had enough of that Direct/Indirect Object nominative/accusative/dative stuff when I learned German.
carlosflanders is offline  
Reply