whoever or whomever

[yuanchenhsiao]

Here is the question:

_________ left this behind will certainly come looking for it soon.
(A) Whoever
(B) Whomever
(C) Whosever
(D) Who

The answer is (B).

However, I am really curious about this answer.
Can anyone explain to me why it takes an object(whomever) instead of a subject(whoever) in this case?

Or it's simply a wrong answer?

Thank you.

 

[LiuJing]

The pick is probably wrong.

I would choose 'whoever', for it serves to denote the one leaving this behind,a subject, not an object.

 

[bhaisahab]

Here is the question:

_________ left this behind will certainly come looking for it soon.
(A) Whoever
(B) Whomever
(C) Whosever
(D) Who

The answer is (B).

However, I am really curious about this answer.
Can anyone explain to me why it takes an object(whomever) instead of a subject(whoever) in this case?

Or it's simply a wrong answer?

Thank you.

"Whoever" is the best choice.

 

[Heterological]

"Whomever" is definitely wrong in this case!

"Who(ever)" is a subject pronoun, like "I," "he," or "she." "Whom(ever)" is an object pronoun, like "me," "him," or "her." You wouldn't say, "Him left this behind," would you? Nor should you say "Whomever" left this behind." You could say, "Whomever this belongs to," however, because we would say, "this belongs to him."