. . . dashing off memos urging reconsideration of the project to whoever would listen.
Wrestling with Moses
Anthony Flint
Whoever, whomever . . . I thought this the easiest
issue in grammar. But this has me in a tizzy.
Perhaps it’s an issue of proximity, as when the guy
on public radio says, “Investment in securities involve
the risk of loss.”
Your bouquets and brickbats humbly solicited.
A Quandary
- Slava
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Re: A Quandary
For me, it would help to know when this was written. Whom has made a comeback within my lifetime, so if it's oldish, it might have been considered proper at the time.
For current usage, if I'm ending a sentence with a preposition, I use who; Who are you giving it to? Only in formal writing or speech do I use whom; To whom are you giving it?
For current usage, if I'm ending a sentence with a preposition, I use who; Who are you giving it to? Only in formal writing or speech do I use whom; To whom are you giving it?
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Re: A Quandary
The book was published in 2009.
You seem to be suggesting that ‘whomever’ would actually be correct. Bouquets, I think, to you.
You seem to be suggesting that ‘whomever’ would actually be correct. Bouquets, I think, to you.
Re: A Quandary
This is a difficult one, but I think 'whomever' would be grammatically wrong in this case (no pun intended).
"Whoever would listen" is a clause, with "whoever" as its subject, so it should be in the subjective form. The preposition "to" introduces that clause as a whole, not just "whoever".
Compare "There is uncertainty about who did it". It would be incorrect to say "...about whom did it".
"Whoever would listen" is a clause, with "whoever" as its subject, so it should be in the subjective form. The preposition "to" introduces that clause as a whole, not just "whoever".
Compare "There is uncertainty about who did it". It would be incorrect to say "...about whom did it".
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Re: A Quandary
But I'm OK with, "About whom did you write?" In this case the phrase subject is you and who is the object of about.
I spent months learning how to use whom in grammar school and am gravely disappointed by it loss.
I spent months learning how to use whom in grammar school and am gravely disappointed by it loss.
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