grammatical case - Should I use 'whoever' or 'whomever': "I will kill ___ despises me." ?


I know this sentence is a little awkward. Bear with me.


"I will kill whomever I despise." -- This one feels correct. However...


"I will kill whoever despises me." -- Is this right? Would this one also be whomever? Or is 'whoever' correct here?



Answer



Both sentences are grammatically correct in that you've used the correct whoever/whomever in both. Break each sentence into two:



I will kill him. I despise him. [him + him = whomever]


I will kill him. He despises me. [him + he = whoever]



But the meaning differs between your two sentences. In the first you are saying you will kill people you despise. In the second you are saying you will kill people who despise you. Which is it?


Also, if you're a high school student in the US I wouldn't let my teacher see this.


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