Whoever means any person who, the person who, or no matter who. Whoever finishes first can choose the music. Whoever you invite, let me know how many chairs we need. In a question, it adds surprise: Whoever told you that?
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whoever + verb / whoever + subject + verb
- Whoever finishes first can choose the music.
- Please give the spare key to whoever is working at reception.
- Whoever you invite, let me know how many chairs we need.
What changed
First versionWhoever finish first can choose the music.
RevisionWhoever finishes first can choose the music.
Anyone at all sounds like many people, so the verb loses its -s: whoever finish. But whoever means one person, whoever that turns out to be, so the verb is singular: whoever finishes.
Who is a specific person or a question: Who finished first? Whoever is anyone who fits: Whoever finishes first wins. Anyone who means the same, only longer: Anyone who finishes first wins.
Your turn
Choose the verb for any one person: Whoever ___ last should turn off the lights.
Show the answer
leaves — Whoever is one person, whoever they are, so leaves takes -s. Should turn off belongs to the main clause.
Make up a rule for flatmates or colleagues: whoever does something last takes on a task. Use whoever.
Whoever arrives first should collect the room key from reception.
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