$1000 riding on a GRAMMAR bet.

Question

So this is a 1000 dollar bet, and it's with a very stubborn self-proclaimed grammarian. If I'm right, and I think I am, it's going to take somebody smarter than me to explain WHY.

The question is: Is the use of "whomever" correct, or should it have been "whoever", in the following context.

"So did you tap that last night?"

"Tap who? (And by the way, technically "Did you tap that?" is grammatically incorrect. It should be "Did you tap 'her'?" - whomever 'her' is."

Here you have my stubborn friend going grammar nazi on my colloquial expression (that's NOT the grammar problem), I replied that he ought to learn when not to use 'whomever' when attacking grammar.

Then he bet me ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

So: is it WHOMEVER or WHOEVER

Markroe · Accepted Answer

"Tap who" is also grammatically incorrect; it should be "Tap whom." Back to your question: "whoever" is correct.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

So this is a 1000 dollar bet, and it's with a very stubborn self-proclaimed grammarian. If I'm right, and I think I am, it's going to take somebody smarter than me to explain WHY.

The question is: Is the use of "whomever" correct, or should it have been "whoever", in the following context.

"So did you tap that last night?"

"Tap who? (And by the way, technically "Did you tap that?" is grammatically incorrect. It should be "Did you tap 'her'?" - whomever 'her' is."

Here you have my stubborn friend going grammar **** on my colloquial expression (that's NOT the grammar problem), I replied that he ought to learn when not to use 'whomever' when attacking grammar.

Then he bet me ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

So: is it WHOMEVER or WHOEVER

'Who/whoever' are subject pronouns . 'Whom/whomever' are object pronouns.

As you probably know, in English that is not formal the word 'who' is very commonly used as both subject and object. It's the same with 'whoever'.

'Whoever/whomever' refers to 'any person or any persons'.

eg Whoever wants ice cream can come and get some means anyone can come and get it.

eg I can marry whomever I want to means 'I can marry any person I want to'.

Have a look here. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whoever

On the other hand, when you ask 'Did you tap her?', you are asking if you tapped one particular person, not any person. So, say 'Tap who/whom?'

That's why you say 'Who has my keys?' instead of 'Whoever has my keys?'

Try asking your friend if he thinks you should always say 'whoever' insetad of 'who', and see what he says.

Please note that this use of 'tpap' might be considered offensive by many women.

Do I get a beer out of the $1000 you win?

Clive

$1000 riding on a GRAMMAR bet.

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