Question: This headline appeared over a newspaper story about anonymous kidney donations: “For whomever needs it most.” Is “whomever” correct because it is the object of the preposition “for”? Or should it be “whoever,” the subject of “whoever needs it most”?
— Tom Whalen, West Hartford, Conn.
Answer: I'm always ready to provide help for whoever needs it most — and this headline needs it.
As you suggest, we're tempted to choose the objective-case pronoun “whomever” here, because the object of a preposition must be in the objective case. So we want to write “for whomever.”
Don't do that. In this headline, the entire clause following “for” is functioning as the object of the preposition, and the pronoun “whoever” is the subject of that clause, so it should be “whoever needs it most.”
Now, if the headline had read, “People give kidneys for whomever they love,” “whomever” would be correct because the subject of the clause has now become “they,” and “whomever” functions as the object of the verb “love.”
Here's a handy guideline: If the “-ever” pronoun is followed by a verb, the correct choice is almost always “whoever.” If the “-ever” pronoun is not followed by a verb, the correct choice is almost always “whomever.”
With that rule in mind, see whether you can choose the correct pronoun in these sentences:
1. I place my trust in (whoever, whomever) is honest.
2. I will vote for (whomever, whoever) they nominate.
3. Assign the job to (whoever, whomever) wants it most.
4. Please give an orientation packet to (whoever, whomever) the boss has hired.
5. Please tell (whoever, whomever) runs this place that my coffee was cold.
6. Let's support (whoever, whomever) they say is best.
Answers:
1. “Whoever” (the subject of the clause “whoever is honest”) is followed by a verb, “is.”
2. “Whomever” (the object of “nominate”) is followed by a pronoun, “they.”
3. “Whoever” (the subject of the clause “whoever wants it most”) is followed by a verb, “wants.”
4. “Whomever” (the object of “hired”) is followed by a noun, “the boss.”
5. “Whoever” (the subject of the clause “Whoever runs this place”) is followed by a verb, “runs.”
6. Tricky one! “Whoever” (the subject of the clause “whoever they say is best”) is followed by a pronoun, “they.” But the clause “they say” is parenthetical; the sentence really means, “Let's support whoever is best.”
