Are these correct expressions?
" To show our respect, we take our gloves off whoever we are to shake hands with."
"To improve the quality of our products, we asked for suggestions whoever had used the products."
I think we should change them as below,
" To show our respect, we take our gloves off for whoever we are to shake hands with."
"To improve the quality of our products, we asked whoever had used the products for suggestions ."
[QUOTE=*^^*;832619]
" To show our respect, we take our gloves off for whoever we are to shake hands with."
NOT A TEACHER
(1) I think that you are interested in writing "perfect" English.
(2) I most respectfully suggest, therefore, that some strict teachers may require:
To show our respect, we take our gloves off/ take off our gloves for whomever we are to
skake hands with.
(a) "whomever" is the object of the preposition "for."
(i) That is, "take off our gloves for anyone whom we are to shake hands with."
Last edited by *^^*; 14-Dec-2011 at 11:47.
[QUOTE=*^^*;832638]
I have just answered you in a private message. I hope that you received it.
To show our respect, we take our gloves off whoever we are to shake hands with.
I think it would be correct with a comma between "off" and "whoever". In this case, "whomever" would be impossible.
How about simply "we take our gloves off when we shake hands."
I don't think this is possible (that you don't care about the meaning). You can't be concerned with the syntax, but not the semantics.
Both original sentences are non-grammatical.
To change your first sentence to make it grammatical, simply change 'whoever', to 'whomever':
"To show our respect, we take our gloves off whomever we are to shake hands with."
That makes it grammatical, ie. syntactically correct. But it doesn't mean what you want it to mean. You do care whether your sentence has the people taking their own gloves off themselves, not off the other people. You do care if your sentence, amended to make it grammatical, means what you think it means.
"Yes, you're right,means the second sentences are right"
Yes, that's the only assertion you made. The only line in your post that "Yes, you are right" could possibly refer to is "I think we should change them as below."
As you've found out, though, not everyone would accept your amended sentences as being right.