whoever vs whomever

[Tan Elaine]

1. I will reward whoever found the missing documents.
2. You may leave the package with whoever is sitting at the front desk.

Why is 'whoever' used in both sentences instead of 'whomever'?

Thanks.

 

[Tarek Masud]

1. I will reward whoever found the missing documents.
2. You may leave the package with whoever is sitting at the front desk.

Why is 'whoever' used in both sentences instead of 'whomever'?

Thanks.

Whoever in both cases is the subject of the subordinate clauses i.whoever found the missing documents ii.whoever is sitting at the front desk

Whomever is used objectively such as: I will love whomever I like.

 

[5jj]

Whoever in both cases is the subject of the subordinate clauses i.whoever found the missing documents ii.whoever is sitting at the front desk

Whomever is used objectively such as: I will love whomever I like.

Actually, whoever in #1 functions as both the direct object of reward and as the subject of found; in #2, it functions as both the object of with and the subject of is sitting.

We choose whoever.

In "I will love whomever I like", the word does indeed function as a direct object; the use of whomever is rare in BrE, however (as is the use of whom, except in formal writng and very formal speaking). Most of us would use whoever.