Question Words with -ever

Whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, however: any... at all

intermediate

When to Use

•Whatever: any thing. Take whatever you want. Whatever happens, I'll support you.
•Whoever: any person. Whoever did this will be punished. Give it to whoever needs it.
•Whenever: any time. Come whenever you like. Whenever I see her, she's smiling.
•Wherever: any place. Sit wherever you want. Wherever he goes, trouble follows.
•However: any way/degree. However hard I try, I can't do it. Do it however you like.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Question word + -ever + clause

Negative (-)

Same structure with negation in clause

Question (?)

Rarely used in questions

💡 These can introduce noun clauses or adverb clauses. 'However' can also mean 'but'.

Examples

✓Whatever you decide is fine with me.

✗What ever you decide is fine with me.

One word: whatever.

✓Whoever calls, tell them I'm busy.

✗Who ever calls, tell them I'm busy.

One word: whoever.

✓However hard I try, I fail.

✗However hard I try but I fail.

Don't add 'but' after however clause.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Whatever = anything that; whoever = anyone who.
• Whenever = any time that; wherever = any place that.
• However + adjective/adverb = no matter how.
• All written as one word (not 'what ever').

relative-clauses wh-questions adverb-clauses 📝 relative-clauses-intermediate 📝 ever-words-quiz

Question Words with -ever

Whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, however: any... at all

intermediate

When to Use

•Whatever: any thing. Take whatever you want. Whatever happens, I'll support you.
•Whoever: any person. Whoever did this will be punished. Give it to whoever needs it.
•Whenever: any time. Come whenever you like. Whenever I see her, she's smiling.
•Wherever: any place. Sit wherever you want. Wherever he goes, trouble follows.
•However: any way/degree. However hard I try, I can't do it. Do it however you like.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Question word + -ever + clause

Negative (-)

Same structure with negation in clause

Question (?)

Rarely used in questions

💡 These can introduce noun clauses or adverb clauses. 'However' can also mean 'but'.

Examples

✓Whatever you decide is fine with me.

✗What ever you decide is fine with me.

One word: whatever.

✓Whoever calls, tell them I'm busy.

✗Who ever calls, tell them I'm busy.

One word: whoever.

✓However hard I try, I fail.

✗However hard I try but I fail.

Don't add 'but' after however clause.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Whatever = anything that; whoever = anyone who.
• Whenever = any time that; wherever = any place that.
• However + adjective/adverb = no matter how.
• All written as one word (not 'what ever').

relative-clauses wh-questions adverb-clauses 📝 relative-clauses-intermediate 📝 ever-words-quiz

Question Words with -ever

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Question Words with -ever

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗What ever you want

✗Whoever comes, they are welcome.

✗However I try hard

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗What ever you want

✗Whoever comes, they are welcome.

✗However I try hard

💡 Practice Tips

Related