45. Select the best word for the blank in the following sentence: '___________ left these books on the table needs to put them away.'
Answer: B
Whoever left these books on the table needs to put them away.
The appropriate word to complete the sentence is "whoever," which is used as the subject of the verb "left." This choice correctly indicates that the person responsible for leaving the books is the one being addressed.
A) Whomever
"Whomever" is incorrect in this context because it functions as an object rather than a subject. The sentence requires a subject pronoun to indicate who left the books, making "whomever" unsuitable.
B) Whoever
"Whoever" is the correct choice as it serves as the subject of the verb phrase "left these books." It appropriately identifies the person who performed the action, aligning with the grammatical structure of the sentence.
C) Whom
"Whom" is also incorrect here because it is typically used as an object pronoun. The sentence requires a subject pronoun, and thus "whom" does not fit grammatically.
D) Who
"Who" is not the best choice for this sentence because it does not convey the same meaning as "whoever." While "who" could function as the subject, it does not capture the sense of any person who might have left the books, which is what "whoever" does.
Conclusion
The correct answer is "whoever" as it effectively serves as the subject of the sentence and conveys the intended meaning of any person responsible for leaving the books. All other options fail to meet the grammatical and contextual requirements, making them unsuitable for this particular sentence structure.