“Who” / “Whom”

Question

'Who'/'whom' are you antagonizing?'Whoever'/'Whomever' you choose for the job will be a true asset to our team.Which is correct – and why?Thank you.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

What do you think, victo?

Victo · Answer

‘Whom’ and ‘whomever’.

RandomGuy · Answer

victo‘Whom’ and ‘whomever’.

Yes, those forms would be acceptable because they function as direct objects of the verbs antagonizing and choose, respectively.

Canadian45 · Answer

victo'Whoever'/'Whomever' you choose for the job will be a true asset to our team.

But 'Who(m)ever' is the subject of 'will be..........team.'

RandomGuy · Answer

canadian45But 'Who(m)ever' is the subject of 'will be..........team.'

Not quite. The subject is the noun clause whomever you choose for the job.

Canadian45 · Answer

Aspara GusNot quite. The subject is the noun clause whomever you choose for the job.

no

'He will be.......'

'Him will be....'

"Whoever" is correct.

RandomGuy · Answer

canadian45'He will be.......'
'Him will be....'

Yes, but again, the pronoun is not functioning as the subject of the main clause but rather as the direct object of the verb choose in the subordinate noun clause whomever you choose for the job, the true subject of the main clause.

It is not uncommon in English for a clause to act as a noun. I suggest that you do some research on noun clauses.

Canadian45 · Answer

Aspara GusYes, but again, the pronoun is not functioning as the subject of the main clause It is. That's why the whole question is raised. But in the other sentence in the OP, the pronoun is only functioning as an object so the choice is more straightforward. but rather as the direct object of the verb choose in the subordinate noun clause whomever you choose for the job, the true subject of the main clause. That's a red herring. You still have to choose one of the pronouns. And you want me to believe that being an object in the subordinate clause takes precedence over being a subject in the dependent clause. That's not what I was taught!
Or are you saying that because the object function happens first, we have to choose the object pronoun?

RandomGuy · Answer

canadian45And you want me to believe that being an object in the subordinate clause takes precedence over being the subject in the independent clause.

No. A word cannot function as both subject and object.

You obviously haven’t taken my advice, and I’m not going to repeat myself.

Canadian45 · Answer

Aspara GusNo. A word cannot function as both subject and object.
That's not what I said! I said we have to choose one of the pronouns.

You obviously haven’t taken my advice, and I’m not going to repeat myself.
Why are you harboring the delusion that I have to take your advice?

“Who” / “Whom”

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