When do I use "Whenever / Wherever / Whatever" and when do I use "Whichever / Whoever / However"?

-Ever formula: whenever (when), wherever (where), whatever (what), whoever (who), whichever (which of a set), however (how / however [adj]). Concessive "however": however + adjective + subject + verb; never: "However the project is complex" (wrong).

What is the most common mistake with "Whenever / Wherever / Whatever" and "Whichever / Whoever / However"?

Most frequent errors: 1. "Whoever option you choose" = wrong, for things (not people) use "whichever," not "whoever." 2. "However the project is complex" = wrong, the correct concessive structure is "However complex the project may be" (adjective goes directly after "however").

How do I remember the difference between "Whenever / Wherever / Whatever" and "Whichever / Whoever / However"?

Build your own: take any WH-word + EVER = "no matter what that WH says". WHAT-ever = no matter WHAT. WHERE-ever = no matter WHERE. WHEN-ever = no matter WHEN. WHO-ever = no matter WHO. HOW-ever = no matter HOW. Every -ever has "no matter" built right in.

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Which one to use?Advancedpronounpronoun

Whenever / Wherever / WhatevervsWhichever / Whoever / However

Compounds with '-ever' express 'no matter when/where/what' or introduce a generic or concessive clause.

Side-by-side comparison

Whenever / Wherever / Whatever

pronoun

"Whenever" means "at any time that" or "every time that". "Wherever" means "in any place that". "Whatever" means "anything that" or "no matter what".

You can call me whenever you need help. I am always happy to answer.
She takes her notebook wherever she goes so she can write down ideas at any moment.
Whatever you decide, I will support you, just make sure it is what you really want.

Whichever / Whoever / However

pronoun

All three express an open and undefined idea: no matter when, where, or what. They are used to give total freedom within that specific dimension.

Whichever course you choose, you will need to practise every day to see real progress.
Whoever made this cake must be a very talented baker, it is absolutely delicious.
However hard it seems at first, keep going, it gets easier once you are past the basics.

Common mistake

Most frequent errors:

1."Whoever option you choose" = wrong, for things (not people) use "whichever," not "whoever."
2."However the project is complex" = wrong, the correct concessive structure is "However complex the project may be" (adjective goes directly after "however").

Trick to remember it

•Build your own: take any WH-word + EVER = "no matter what that WH says". WHAT-ever = no matter WHAT. WHERE-ever = no matter WHERE. WHEN-ever = no matter WHEN. WHO-ever = no matter WHO. HOW-ever = no matter HOW.
•Every -ever has "no matter" built right in.

Quick rule

•-Ever formula: whenever (when), wherever (where), whatever (what), whoever (who), whichever (which of a set), however (how / however [adj]).
•Concessive "however": however + adjective + subject + verb; never: "However the project is complex" (wrong).

Did you know?

The -EVER compounds have a fascinating history in English. In more archaic English, the form -SOEVER existed (more emphatic): "whensoever," "wheresoever," "whosoever." This form survives today almost exclusively in the King James Bible (1611): "whosoever believeth in him shall not perish" and "whatsoever things are true." In modern standard English, the form without "so" is the only one used. Linguistically, -EVER compounds are "free relative pronouns" or "generalizing concessive conjunctions", a category that exists in virtually all languages but with very varied morphology.