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Victo Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

'whoever' / 'whomever'

Give the promotion to the most qualified candidate, whoever that may be. (I say 'whoever' is correct here.)


But:


We will give the promotion to whomever you recommend. (I say 'whomever' is correct here.)


Am I correct with both?


Thanks.
  

Top answer

victo Am I correct with both? Yes.

— RandomGuy

  • victo Am I correct with both?
  • Yes.
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8 Answers
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victoAm I correct with both?
Yes.
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Because, in the first example above, 'it may be he that gets the promotion', not him, correct?
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victoBecause 'it may be he that gets the promotion', not him, correct?
No. We covered this last month.

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I realize that, but my logic and reasoning are not sophistic or specious here.
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Well, the problem with your reasoning is that It may be him that gets the promotion is perfectly fine.
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'It may be he' = subordinate clause

'may be' is a subjunctive permutation of the verb 'to be' (copulative function); ergo, albeit a tad awkward-sounding, ‘It may be he’ is technically grammatically correct—prescriptively speaking, of course.


My reasoning is sound, valid, and irrefutable.
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victo'It may be he' = subordinate clause
No, it’s an independent clause. The subordinate clause is that gets the promotion.
victo'may be' is a subjunctive permutation of the verb 'to be' (copulative function)
No, it’s just a modal followed by a linking verb. It has nothing to do with the subjunctive mood whatsoever.
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The problem with 'modern' English is that it is preponderantly idiomatic; that is the reason for such elasticity of usage.
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