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Whoever and Whomever are pronouns used to refer to people. They are often confused, but they have different meanings and uses in sentences.
 Whomever vs Whoever Meaning of Whoever
Whoever is a pronoun used to describe any person or people, regardless of the identity of the person or people. It is commonly used as a subject in a sentence. It is used in the situations like when a particular identity of the person is not known.
Meaning of Whomever
Whomever is a pronoun used to refer to a person or people in the object position of a sentence. It is used as the object of a preposition or verb. It is used in situations like when the identity of a specific person or people and the gender, or number of the persons is known.
Differences between Whoever and Whomever
| Used as a subject in a sentence |
Used in the object position of a sentence |
| Refers to any person or people |
Refers to a specific person or people |
| Used in informal writing |
Used in formal writing |
| Frequently used in questions |
Rarely used in questions |
| Followed by a verb |
Usually followed by a noun or pronoun |
| Used to introduce a clause that describes an action or situation |
Used to describe the object of a preposition or verb |
| Used with or without a preposition |
Usually used with a preposition |
| Used to describe a person’s actions or character |
Used to describe a person’s identity or affiliation |
| Used in everyday speech |
Used in academic or legal writing |
| Less formal than Whomever |
More formal than Whoever |
Usage of Whoever
- Used to introduce a clause that describes an action or situation
- Used to introduce a clause that states a condition or requirement as a subject
- Used to describe a person in a subordinate clause
- Used in an informal context
Examples of Whoever
- Whoever is interested in attending the concert should buy tickets now.
- Whoever finishes first can choose a prize.
- Whoever made this cake did an excellent job.
- Whoever wants to join the club should sign up today.
- Whoever stole the phone will be caught and punished.
Usage of Whomever
- Used to refer to a person or people in the object position of a sentence
- Used in situations where the speaker wants to show a high level of formality
- Used in formal writing
- Used interchangeably with “to whom”
Examples of Whomever
- I will give the job to whomever is the most qualified.
- She invited whomever she met at the party.
- They will punish whomever is responsible for the mistake.
- Please give the package to whomever it belongs to.
- The teacher will help whomever needs extra assistance.
- Whomever you choose as your partner, make sure they treat you well.
Conclusion
In summary, whoever and whomever are both pronouns used to refer to people, but they have different meanings and uses. Whoever is used as a subject in a sentence and refers to any person or people, while Whomever is used in the object position of a sentence and refers to a specific person or people. It’s essential to use these pronouns correctly to avoid confusion in your writing.
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