Is it “whomever” or “whoever”?

Misusing the words whoever versus whomever is something that happens frequently in verbal and written communication. Often, it’s assumed that “whomever” is simply a more formal version of “whoever.” This common assumption is incorrect—there’s a correct way to use “whoever” and a correct way to use “whomever,” and their uses are not interchangeable. The words “whoever” and “whomever” are both relative pronouns. Relative pronouns connect nouns to clauses or phrases to create what’s called a noun phrase. Let’s walk through how to tell these two relative pronouns apart and the appropriate cases in which to use them both.

How to use “whomever”

The word “whomever” is used to replace words like me, him, her, and them in a sentence. “Whomever” is an object pronoun, which means that it refers to the object of a sentence. The object of a sentence is the person that is receiving and action.

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For example, the word “whomever” can be used to replace the word him in the following sentence:

Say it to him.
Say it to whomever.

How to use “whoever”

The word “whoever” is used to replace words like I, he, she, and they in a sentence. “Whomever” is a subject pronoun, meaning that it refers to the subject of a sentence. The subject of a sentence is the person that doing or performing an action.

For example, the word “whoever” can be used to replace the word he in the following sentence:

He is baking a cake.
Whoever is baking a cake?

Examples of “whomever” vs. “whoever”

The easiest way to understand when to use “whomever” versus when to use whoever is by looking at examples of the two words in a sentence. The way a sentence is structured can also provide hints on whether or not an object pronoun or a subject pronoun should be used.

Often, the subject is placed at the beginning of a sentence. “Whoever” being used as the subject of a sentence might looks something like this:

Whoever is available can claim these shifts.
Whoever wants a piece of pizza is welcome to grab a slice.
Whoever arrives first gets to choose their room.

However, subject pronouns don’t always occur at the beginning of sentences. Sometimes, subject pronouns such as “whoever” can occur later on. To identify whether or not “whoever” or “whomever” should be used in these cases, identify the main verb of the sentence, and determine whether the pronoun is the subject or the object of the verb:

The coffee can be made by whomever.
The coffee can be made my whoever wakes up earliest.

In the first sentence, the main verb is main, which means the sentence requires an object pronoun. In the second sentence, the main verb is wakes, which requires a subject pronoun.

Still feeling confused? Let’s take a look at a few more examples.

Incorrect: Whomever finishes last loses the race.
Correct: Whoever finishes last loses the race.

Incorrect: Whomever wants to go on the field trip should get on the bus now.
Correct: Whoever wants to go on the field trip should get on the bus now.

Incorrect: Whomever gets the most votes will become the next president.
Correct: Whoever gets the most votes will become the next president.

Incorrect: She inspires whoever she meets with her art.
Correct: She inspires whomever she meets with her art.

Incorrect: They’ll hire whoever I recommend.
Correct: They’ll hire whomever I recommend.

Incorrect: You should give the prize to whoever you think is the best.
Correct: You should give the prize to whomever you think is the best.

Who vs. whom

When questioning whether to use “whomever” or “whoever,” you might also question the root of these words—“who” and “whom.” Like “whoever” versus “whomever,” the difference between “who” and “whom” is a difference of object versus subject. “Who” is a subject, which means it refers to the person performing an action. “Whom” is an object, which means it refers to the person receiving an action. When choosing whether to use “who” versus “whoever” and “whom” versus “whomever” in a sentence, the meaning is slightly more subtle—“who” and “whom” indicate a known subject or object’s identity, whereas using “whoever” or “whomever” shifts the sentence’s emphasis to the verb rather than the subject/objects identity. Like all grammar rules, understanding the difference between “whomever” versus “whoever” and “whom” versus “who” might seem tricky at first, but with a little practice will become second nature in no time.