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Iwazaru Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

whoever/whomever again

Hi, people. I'm new to the grammar forums and I have a question regarding who(m)ever.

I have this setence:

"Both versions were drastically opposite, which meant that whoever was lying was a big fat nasty liar."

Something makes "whomever" ring correctly in this sentence. Which one would be correct?

Thank you!
  

Top answer

Iwazaru Something makes "whomever" ring correctly Your bell needs a tune-up! It's whoever because it's the subject of the clause whoever was lying. You'd ask Who was lying?

— CalifJim

  • Iwazaru Something makes "whomever" ring correctly Your bell needs a tune-up!
  • It's whoever because it's the subject of the clause whoever was lying.
  • You'd ask Who was lying?
  • , not Whom was lying?
  • ) CJ
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2 Answers
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IwazaruSomething makes "whomever" ring correctly
Your bell needs a tune-up!
It's whoever because it's the subject of the clause whoever was lying.
You'd ask Who was lying?, not Whom was lying?(I hope!)
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Doesn't the rest of the sentence "was a [...] liar" modify the initial clause ("was lying") somehow?

Thanks, CJ.
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