Whoever/Whomever

[enigma]

I wasn't sure where to put this but could someone please help me with a little problem I am having in composing an email? I am not sure whether 'whoever' or 'whomever' would be the appropriate choice. I need to send the following information :

"It is his prerogative to hire whomever/whoever he sees fit"

Many thanks.

[4getmenot]

whomever

[China Doll]

'the most suitable person for the post'

[grasscarp]

or Whomsoever

[bigmamma]

Hi enigma . Yes , ditto what 4get said :-)
Hi 4get :-) x

[enigma]

Thanks 4getmenot. That was my original choice but a colleague put the seed of doubt in my mind and when I googled it, I found very conflicting information. I'll go with my gut instinct then. Cheers.

I agree that that sounds much better China Doll but as it is not my email and having already questioned the wording of it and had my head bitten off being told that the wording shall stand, then I better just go with what has been requested. Whomsoever? Are you just trying to confuse me now grasscarp? (Hee hee)

Hi Bigmamma. I may just go with that then - majority rules! Thanks everyone.

[grasscarp]

I was only offering an alternative. See meaning of Whomever below
Used as the object of a verb or preposition to mean �any person or people that'. Also whomsoever.
Example: I will write to whomever they appoint

[whiffey]

It should be whom, because it is the object, if it were the subject it would be who. It might sound a little stilted, but correct. Not that many people care much about grammar these days, especially on here.

[kp nonuts]

Says the whiffster with his cardboard cut out scholarship hat on one of his heads

[jno]

whomever is correct; but whoever is so common that's it's used almost always in speech and very commonly in writing. Stick with whomever if you're getting grief over it, and quote the rule as whiffey has given it,

[whiffey]

I'm off shooting, and getting better. As I look down the barrel of the Anschutz, the circular target metamorphoses into an image of nonuts' pumpkin head, and I get 1/2 inch groups.

[kp nonuts]

happy hunting and dont forget to duck whiff

[raysparx1]

I agree with whiffey, To Whom

[kp nonuts]

Ah nuts im going down the pub

[Quizmonkey]

For non-grammarians the easiest way to remember the distinction is to substitute he or him (rather than who or whom). You would say "the prerogative to hire him", never "the prerogative to hire he" - so therefore it has to be 'whom'.