Difference Between Whoever & Whomever

The main distinction between whoever and whomever is that whoever functions as a subject pronoun, while whomever serves as an object pronoun. Whoever and whomever are both interrogative pronouns that refer to people, but they can be confusing to differentiate. However, understanding the difference between the two is easier when you consider that whoever is similar to he, while whomever is akin to him or whom.

Key Takeaways

• Whoever is a subject pronoun, like I, he, she, we, and they.
• Whomever is an object pronoun, like me, him, her, us, and them.
• Whoever refers to the person performing the action, while whomever is the object receiving the action or the object of a preposition.

What Does Whoever Mean?

Whoever functions as a subject pronoun, similar to other pronouns such as I, he, she, we, and they. Subject pronouns typically refer to a person or thing performing the action of a verb. Some example sentences containing the pronoun whoever include:

– Whoever finishes first will get a prize.
– A prize will be given to whoever solves the problem first.
– Whoever wants to go to town is welcome to join us.
– Whoever made this apple pie should be commended.
– We realized whoever was not already there wasn’t coming.

In these examples, whoever refers to the person performing the action of the main verb. Use whoever in places where you would use the interrogative ‘who’, as opposed to ‘whom’.

What Does Whomever Mean?

Whomever is an objective pronoun, functioning similarly to personal pronouns like me, him, her, us, and them. Object pronouns serve as the direct object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition. Some example sentences containing the pronoun whomever include:

– I will hire whomever you recommend.
– She will marry whomever she likes.
– We don’t have to agree with everything said by whomever is in power.
– I will do business with whomever I wish.

In these examples, whomever acts as the direct object of the verb or the object of a preposition. Some people may use this pronoun to sound more educated or intellectual, but using it incorrectly can have the opposite effect. Use whomever when referring to an object.

What is the Difference Between Whoever and Whomever?

The key difference between whoever and whomever is that whoever is a subjective pronoun, while whomever is an objective pronoun. Whoever refers to a person or thing performing the action of a verb, while whomever serves as the direct object of the verb or the object of a preposition. Remember that whoever functions like I, he, she, we, and they, while whomever operates like me, him, her, us, and them.

Summary – Whoever vs Whomever

The primary distinction between whoever and whomever is that whoever serves as a subject pronoun, whereas whomever functions as an object pronoun. Understanding this key difference can help you choose the correct pronoun for your sentence.