"I cannot be bothered to look after my offspring therefore I will downvote whomever doubts that education-by-internet for two year olds is appropiate"
I see that it is used for the object of a verb, and whoever for the subject of a verb, but I am a bit confused here, because here it is the object of "downvote", but the subject of "doubts", so I am confused.
In the sentence "I will look at whomever Bob greets.", I think I understand why it is "whomever", and in the sentence "Whoever enters the room next, they will encounter a surprise.", I think I understand why it is "whoever" and not "whomever", but in the case of your sentence, I don't know what the rule is.
Could you (or anyone else) please explain it to me?
> Rule 1. The presence of whoever or whomever indicates a dependent clause. Use whoever or whomever to agree with the verb in that dependent clause, regardless of the rest of the sentence.
> Examples:
> Give it to whoever/whomever asks for it first.
> He asks for it first. Therefore, whoever is correct.