In this lesson, we will look at WH-ever words. The most common way to use these words is in a relative clause. For example, here is a sentence with a regular relative clause and no WH-ever.
I just want to meet someone who is friendly and kind.
A WH-ever relative pronoun uses a regular relative pronoun (which, who, when, where) and adds the word 'ever' to it.
I just want to meet someone whoever they might be.
The meaning has now changed to mean 'it doesn't matter who'. Just remember to use the right pronoun for the right meaning (e.g. who = people, which = things, when = time, where = place).
We can also use 'what' and 'how' with 'ever' as well. We will explore all these possibilities below.
WHOEVER
Whoever comes to my party will receive a free gift bag. (= anyone who)
We use WHOEVER to mean:
the person who
it doesn't matter who / no matter who
anyone who
I don't know who
I don't care who
The specific meaning will depend on the sentence, and more often than not, context will make it obvious. Other examples include:
Whoever wants a coffee should let me know now. I'm about to go to the café. (= anyone who)
Who is Terence? He sounds interesting, whoever he is. (= I don't know who)
We can also use 'whomever' in the final example like this:
Who is Terence? He sounds interesting, whomever he is. (= I don't know who)
Remember that we use 'whom/whomever' when the relative pronoun acts as the object of the relative clause.
WHICHEVER / WHATEVER
Take whichever bottle of wine you want, the red or the white.
We use WHICHEVER or WHATEVER to mean:
the thing which/that
it doesn't matter which/what / no matter which/what
I don't know which/what
I don't care which/what
Both WHICH and WHAT refer to things (not person, place or time). The difference is that:
WHICH = a limited / finite number of things
WHAT = an unlimited / infinite number of things
In the above example, we use WHICHEVER because the context only refers to a limited number of things (i.e. 2 bottles of wine; red or white). In the following example, we use WHATEVER because the context refers to an infinite number of things (i.e. we don't know how many things there are).
Take whatever you want from my garage. I'm getting rid of it all. (= the thing that / it doesn't matter what)
Here are some further examples.
That sounds like hard work, whichever way you put it. (= it doesn't matter which / no matter which)
Whatever you do, don't upset your teacher. (= it doesn't matter what / no matter what)
WHENEVER
Come round whenever you like - I'm free all day. (= any time)
We use WHENEVER to mean:
the time that
it doesn't matter when / no matter when
any time / every time
I don't know when
I don't care when
Here are some further examples:
Whenever I plan to go jogging, it starts to rain. (= every time / it doesn't matter when / no matter when)
I tend to get angry whenever I'm hungry. (= every time)
WHEREVER
Wherever we go on our next holiday, it will be a wonderful experience. (= the place that / it doesn't matter where)
We use WHEREVER to mean:
the place where
it doesn't matter where / no matter where
anywhere / everywhere
I don't know where
I don't care where
Here are some further examples:
All the beds are empty in this dormitory. You can sleep wherever you like. (= anywhere)
I make new friends wherever I go. (= everywhere)
HOWEVER
You can write the article however you want. There's no fixed style. (= it doesn't matter how / whichever way)
We use HOWEVER to mean:
the way/method that
it doesn't matter how / no matter how
whichever way / whatever way
I don't know how
I don't care how
Here are some further examples:
Doing the test will be good for you however well you do. (= it doesn't matter how / no matter how)
However he achieved it, he will be remembered forever. (= it doesn't matter how / I don't know how)
Be careful not to confuse HOWEVER with the linking word HOWEVER, used to mean 'but / on the other hand / in contrast'.
The test will be good for you. However, it will be difficult. (= but / on the other hand / in contrast)
EMPHASISING QUESTIONS
We can use WH-ever words to emphasise questions. These can often sound a little old-fashioned, and is common in period novels or television dramas (i.e. stories taking place in 1920s England). Consequently, be careful how you use them.
However will you cope living in a new city without your parents to support you? (= more emphatic than "How will you cope...?")
In this example, the HOWEVER creates a more emphatic version of simply HOW. Here are some further examples.
He hasn't smiled all day. Whatever is the matter? (= more emphatic than "What is the matter?")
You're always travelling somewhere. Wherever will you go next? (= more emphatic than "Where will you go next?")
GIVING VAGUE RESPONSES
We can use WH-ever words to make your responses sound vague (i.e. not specific). For example:
A: When would you like to meet next? B: Whenever.
A: What would you like me to make for dinner? B: Whatever.
A: Where should we visit for our anniversary? B: Wherever.
In all of these dialogues, the responses sound vague, but they also sound very rude or impolite. Make sure to use the correct WH-ever word (i.e. whenever = time, whatever = thing etc.) and be careful with who you use it with (because it makes you sound rude). For example, by using the single word wh-ever response, it can often mean "I don't care when/what/where etc."
To make these responses sound less rude, we can soften the response by adding 'you like/want'. For example:
A: When would you like to meet next? B: Whenever you like / whenever you want.
A: What would you like me to make for dinner? B: Whatever you like / whatever you want.
A: Where should we visit for our anniversary? B: Wherever you like / wherever you want.
WHATSOEVER
We can use WHATSOEVER to add emphasis in negative sentences. It has a similar meaning to using 'AT ALL' in negative sentences. Like AT ALL, we place it after the object, and make sure the sentence is negative. For example:
He's so lazy. He never does any work whatsoever! (= emphasises he does no work)
I want to speak to your manager. You have been no help to me whatsoever! (= You have been no help to me at all!)
There is no reason whatsoever why you should find this difficult!
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