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whoever, whatever, etc

Meaning and use​

Whoever means ‘it doesn’t matter who’, ‘any person who’, or ‘the unknown person who’. Whatever, whichever, however, whenever and wherever have similar ‘open’ meanings.

Clauses beginning with these words can act as adverbials.

  • I’m not opening the door, whoever you are.
  • Whatever you do, I’ll always love you.
  • Keep calm, whatever happens.
  • We’re free all next week. You’ll be welcome whichever day you come.
  • However much he eats, he never gets fat.
  • People always want more, however rich they are.
  • Whenever I go to London I try to see Vicky.
  • You can come whenever you like.

With these conjunctions we use present tenses when talking about the future.

  • Whichever of them you marry, you’ll have problems.
  • However you travel, it’ll take you at least three days.
  • Wherever you go, you’ll find Coca-Cola.

whoever, whichever and whatever: subjects and objects​

Whoever, whichever and whatever can be the subjects or objects of the verbs in their clauses. (Note that whomever is not used in modern English.)

  • Whoever directed this film, it’s no good. (subject of directed)
  • Whoever you marry, make sure he can cook. (object of marry)
  • Whatever you say, I don’t think he’s the right man. (object of say)

Whichever and whatever can also go with nouns as determiners.

  • Whichever room you use, make sure you clean it up afterwards.
  • Whatever problems you have, you can always come to me for help.
  • If you change your mind for whatever reason, just let me know.

Clauses as subjects or objects​

A clause with whoever, whichever or whatever can be not only an adverbial, but also a subject or object in the other clause.

  • Whoever told you that was lying. (subject of was lying)
  • I’ll marry whoever I like. (object of marry)
  • Send it to whoever pays the bills. (object of to)
  • Whichever climber gets to the top first will get a £5,000 prize. (subject of will get)
  • I’ll take whichever tent you’re not using. (object of take)
  • Whatever you want is fine with me. (subject of is)
  • Prisoners have to eat whatever they’re given. (object of eat)

whenever = ‘every time that’​

Whenever can suggest repetition, in the sense of ‘every time that’.

  • Whenever I see you I feel nervous.
  • I stay with Monica whenever I go to London.

whoever, etc … may​

May can be used to suggest ignorance or uncertainty.

  • He’s written a book on the philosopher Matilda Vidmi, whoever she may be.
  • She’s just written to me from Llandyfrdwy, wherever that may be.

Leaving out the verb: whatever his problems​

In a clause like whatever his problems are, where whatever is the complement of the verb be, it is possible to leave out the verb.

  • Whatever his problems, he has no right to behave like that.
  • A serious illness, whatever its nature, is almost always painful.

After however + adjective, we can leave out a pronoun + be.

  • A grammar rule, however true (it is), is useless unless it can be understood.

Informal uses: short answers​

In an informal style, these conjunctions are sometimes used as short answers.

  • ‘When shall we start?’ ‘Whenever.’ (= Whenever you like.)
  • ‘Potatoes or rice?’ ‘Whichever.’ (= I don’t mind.)

Whatever is often used to mean ‘I don’t care’ or ‘I’m not interested’. This can sound rude.

  • ‘What would you like to do? We could go and see a film, or go swimming.’ ‘Whatever.’

Or whatever can mean ‘or anything else’.

  • Would you like some orange juice or a beer or whatever?
  • If you play football or tennis or whatever, it does take up a lot of time.

whatever meaning ‘at all’​

After any and no, whatever can be used in British English to mean ‘at all’.

  • Don’t you have any regrets whatever?
  • I can see no point whatever in buying it.

In American English, whatsoever is preferred in this sense; in British English it is a formal alternative.

note

For other uses of whatever and however, see a good dictionary.

For who ever, what ever, etc, (see here).