posted
The comma following the first was is grammatically appropriate according to Chicago. Rule 6.45: Homonym, applies for ease of reading when two spellled-alike words that have different uses if a slight pause is intended.
The Chicago example closest to the exemplar is: "Whatever is, is good."
Because it wasn't asked, and there's insufficient context to assess, I won't get into the relative/objective pronoun issue, nor the prounoun-subject agreement. Whomever was coming . . . Whatever it was . . .
posted
I'd go with "was-comma-was" as grammatically correct...but the whole of it we see seems awkward...a noise, followed by identification of the source as "who," having identity and intelligence, rather than "what."
Perhaps rephrased as a question, and edited down a little: "The noise grew louder. Was it dangerous?"
posted
You can usually change things about without disturbing meaning. Two things happen here:
1st: The noise increases in volume--presumably this triggers the thoughts that follow, so this sentence needs to remain first.
2nd: The realisation the unnamed/unknown person was dangerous. The clauses in the sentence don't have to follow any particular order to retain meaning.
The noise grew louder. They were dangerous, whoever it was.
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited September 23, 2008).]
posted
Grammatically, you should structure the sentence either singular, singular or plural, plural. "Whoever" can be either singular or plural, but you can't change this mid-sentence. "It" cannot be "they." I'm sure extrinsic can elaborate on this more fluently than I can, but nevertheless, it's true. Therefore, what "was" must remain "was" unless you change your wording, which would be my choice. May I suggest:
"The noise grew louder. Whoever this was, he or she was dangerous."
or
"The noise grew louder. Whatever it was, it was dangerous."
On a side note, I find it interesting that it seems to be the second half of the sentence in the original version that determines it is "whoever" instead of "whomever".
[This message has been edited by philocinemas (edited September 23, 2008).]
posted
In this case the source of the noise has already been identified as a person. And I believe "whomever" is more correct. As for knowing the comma is necessary, thanks a million. Ultimately, though, I decided to rephrase it.
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posted
"Whomever" is for when the pronoun represents a noun that is the object of the sentence. "Was" does not take an object when it's the only verb in the sentence. So "whoever" is correct.
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