Post by moon125 on Nov 3, 2024 2:11:24 GMT -5
This is a very common question for those who learn English: when and how to use Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, However and Whichever?
These 5 English words, because they are somewhat similar, can cause some confusion among those studying the language.
But in reality, the distinction between them is very simple to understand – keep reading to never make the same mistake again!
Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, However and Whichever
How to use whatever, wherever, whenever, however and whichever in English?
To begin to understand when to use each of these words, it is important to highlight what they refer to.
It's very simple: these words are just the shopify website design result of joining the “ question words ” what, when , where, how and which with the adverb “ever”. Thus, we have the following formations:
What (whatever) + ever = whatever (whatever it is)
Where (where) + ever = wherever (wherever it may be)
When (when) + ever = whenever (whenever)
How (how) + ever = however (however)
Which + ever = whichever
But is that all?
It depends! In fact, the exact meaning of these words can vary depending on their use in different sentences.
Thus, it is possible to understand the possible meanings of whatever, wherever, whenever, however and whichever in English from very common examples.
See below!
Different meanings of whatever, wherever, whenever, however and whichever
What does Whatever mean?
First, let's study the meaning of whatever , and understand how to use the word, based on common uses in sentences!
This word can represent ideas such as “ whatever ”, “ whatever it is ”, “ whatever it is ”, “ it doesn’t matter ”, “ regardless of what it is ”, among others.
Let's understand how this works in practice?
Read on to see the top 3 meanings of “whatever”!
Whatever , I don't care about his opinion.
Translation : Whatever , I don't care about his opinion.
Whatever , I'll do what I want.
Translation : Whatever , I'll do whatever I want.
➜ In these two cases above, “whatever” works more as an interjection of contempt, and the meaning is closer to something like “whatever!”, “it doesn’t matter!” or “it doesn’t matter!”.
It's your birthday, so I will cook whatever you want to eat.
Translation : It's your birthday, so I'll cook whatever you want to eat.
You can borrow whatever you want from my closet.
Translation : You can borrow anything you want from my wardrobe.
➜ In these cases above, the word is used with the meaning of “no matter what” or “anything” to indicate that it can be one of many alternatives.
Whatever happens, I'll be here for you.
Translation : No matter what happens, I'll be here for you.
It's going to be okay, whatever the result is.
Translation : It's going to be okay no matter what the outcome is.
➜ Finally, for the sentences above, “whatever” is used with the meaning of the adverb “independently”.
What does Wherever mean?
Similarly, the word “wherever” can mean something like “ wherever it is ”, “ whatever it is ”, “ anywhere ”, “ everywhere ”, etc.
Let's see, next, how the use of wherever happens in English sentences.
Feel free to sit wherever you're comfortable.
Translation : Feel free to sit wherever you are comfortable.
Wherever you are, I'll always be there for you.
Translation : Wherever you are, I will always be there for you.
I take my wallet with me wherever I go.
Translation : I take my wallet with me wherever I go .
What does Whenever mean?
For “whenever”, it’s also very simple! We can give some definitions for this word, such as, for example, “ whenever it may be ”, “ anytime ”, “ at any moment ” or “ whenever ”/“ whenever ” or even “ always ”.
See the examples below!
You can call me whenever you need assistance.
Translation : You can call me anytime you need help.
I check my email whenever I have a break.
Translation : I check my email whenever I have free time.
Whenever you're ready, we can start the meeting.
Translation : When you are ready, we can start the meeting.
What does However mean?
Following the same line, “however” can have different meanings, such as: “ no matter how much ”, “ however it may be ”, “ whatever it may be ”, etc.
“However” can also function as an adversative conjunction, with the meaning of “ however ” and “ meaning ”.
See how these different senses work in practice:
I wanted to go to the show; However , I was too tired.
Translation : I wanted to go to the show, but I was very tired.
However hard I try, I can't seem to solve this puzzle.
Translation : No matter how hard I try, I can't solve this puzzle.
However you prepare it, pizza always tastes delicious.
Translation : No matter how you prepare them, pizzas are always delicious.
What does Whichever mean?
Finally, the English word “whichever” can have the following meanings in a sentence: “ no matter which ”, “ whatever ”, “ anyone ”, etc.
See the different examples below to better understand:
You can choose whichever movie you'd like to watch tonight.
Translation : You can choose any movie you want to watch tonight.
These 5 English words, because they are somewhat similar, can cause some confusion among those studying the language.
But in reality, the distinction between them is very simple to understand – keep reading to never make the same mistake again!
Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, However and Whichever
How to use whatever, wherever, whenever, however and whichever in English?
To begin to understand when to use each of these words, it is important to highlight what they refer to.
It's very simple: these words are just the shopify website design result of joining the “ question words ” what, when , where, how and which with the adverb “ever”. Thus, we have the following formations:
What (whatever) + ever = whatever (whatever it is)
Where (where) + ever = wherever (wherever it may be)
When (when) + ever = whenever (whenever)
How (how) + ever = however (however)
Which + ever = whichever
But is that all?
It depends! In fact, the exact meaning of these words can vary depending on their use in different sentences.
Thus, it is possible to understand the possible meanings of whatever, wherever, whenever, however and whichever in English from very common examples.
See below!
Different meanings of whatever, wherever, whenever, however and whichever
What does Whatever mean?
First, let's study the meaning of whatever , and understand how to use the word, based on common uses in sentences!
This word can represent ideas such as “ whatever ”, “ whatever it is ”, “ whatever it is ”, “ it doesn’t matter ”, “ regardless of what it is ”, among others.
Let's understand how this works in practice?
Read on to see the top 3 meanings of “whatever”!
Whatever , I don't care about his opinion.
Translation : Whatever , I don't care about his opinion.
Whatever , I'll do what I want.
Translation : Whatever , I'll do whatever I want.
➜ In these two cases above, “whatever” works more as an interjection of contempt, and the meaning is closer to something like “whatever!”, “it doesn’t matter!” or “it doesn’t matter!”.
It's your birthday, so I will cook whatever you want to eat.
Translation : It's your birthday, so I'll cook whatever you want to eat.
You can borrow whatever you want from my closet.
Translation : You can borrow anything you want from my wardrobe.
➜ In these cases above, the word is used with the meaning of “no matter what” or “anything” to indicate that it can be one of many alternatives.
Whatever happens, I'll be here for you.
Translation : No matter what happens, I'll be here for you.
It's going to be okay, whatever the result is.
Translation : It's going to be okay no matter what the outcome is.
➜ Finally, for the sentences above, “whatever” is used with the meaning of the adverb “independently”.
What does Wherever mean?
Similarly, the word “wherever” can mean something like “ wherever it is ”, “ whatever it is ”, “ anywhere ”, “ everywhere ”, etc.
Let's see, next, how the use of wherever happens in English sentences.
Feel free to sit wherever you're comfortable.
Translation : Feel free to sit wherever you are comfortable.
Wherever you are, I'll always be there for you.
Translation : Wherever you are, I will always be there for you.
I take my wallet with me wherever I go.
Translation : I take my wallet with me wherever I go .
What does Whenever mean?
For “whenever”, it’s also very simple! We can give some definitions for this word, such as, for example, “ whenever it may be ”, “ anytime ”, “ at any moment ” or “ whenever ”/“ whenever ” or even “ always ”.
See the examples below!
You can call me whenever you need assistance.
Translation : You can call me anytime you need help.
I check my email whenever I have a break.
Translation : I check my email whenever I have free time.
Whenever you're ready, we can start the meeting.
Translation : When you are ready, we can start the meeting.
What does However mean?
Following the same line, “however” can have different meanings, such as: “ no matter how much ”, “ however it may be ”, “ whatever it may be ”, etc.
“However” can also function as an adversative conjunction, with the meaning of “ however ” and “ meaning ”.
See how these different senses work in practice:
I wanted to go to the show; However , I was too tired.
Translation : I wanted to go to the show, but I was very tired.
However hard I try, I can't seem to solve this puzzle.
Translation : No matter how hard I try, I can't solve this puzzle.
However you prepare it, pizza always tastes delicious.
Translation : No matter how you prepare them, pizzas are always delicious.
What does Whichever mean?
Finally, the English word “whichever” can have the following meanings in a sentence: “ no matter which ”, “ whatever ”, “ anyone ”, etc.
See the different examples below to better understand:
You can choose whichever movie you'd like to watch tonight.
Translation : You can choose any movie you want to watch tonight.