Quoi que ce soit, où que ce soit, qui que ce soit (Clauses de Généralisation)
peu importe ou "n'importe quel. Pense à eux comme des outils pour exprimer laflexibilité" et l'
indifférence.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '-ever' words to say 'it doesn't matter which' or 'any at all' without needing a specific noun.
- Add '-ever' to wh-words like what, where, and who to create a sense of 'any' or 'no matter what'.
- Use them as subjects or objects: 'Whatever you decide is fine' (Subject clause).
- Use them as connectors between two ideas: 'I'll follow you wherever you go' (Adverbial clause).
Overview
-ever constitue une étape charnière pour tout apprenant de niveau B2. Si tu as déjà eu l'impression que ton anglais manquait de souplesse ou que tu devais systématiquement passer par des structures lourdes comme it doesn't matter who ou any person that, alors ces outils sont faits pour toi. En anglais, l'ajout du suffixe -ever aux pronoms interrogatifs (who, what, where, etc.) permet de transformer une question spécifique en une déclaration universelle et indéfinie.whoever, whatever ou wherever, c'est s'offrir la possibilité de nuancer son discours, de paraître plus naturel lors d'une réunion au bureau ou plus fluide lors d'une discussion entre amis. C'est l'outil parfait pour exprimer une concession ou une liberté totale de choix sans alourdir tes phrases.whatever ne peut pas, en théorie, se suffire à elle-même ; elle doit être rattachée à une proposition principale.-ever et tout ce qui le suit agissent comme un nom. Cela signifie que l'ensemble de la proposition peut être le sujet du verbe, son complément d'objet, ou le complément d'une préposition. C'est une structure très élégante qui permet de condenser l'information.- Whoever (Quiconque / La personne qui) : Il remplace un sujet humain inconnu.
Whoever is responsible for this mess needs to clean it up.(Ici,Whoever is responsible for this messest le sujet du verbeneeds). En français, on dirait : « Quiconque est responsable... » ou « Celui qui est responsable... ».- Whatever (Tout ce que / Quoi que ce soit) : Il remplace une chose ou une idée.
I will do whatever it takes.(Ici,whatever it takesest l'objet dedo). En français : « Je ferai tout ce qu'il faudra ».- Whichever (N'importe lequel / Celui que) : On l'utilise quand le choix est limité à un groupe d'options déjà défini.
You can take whichever car you prefer.(Il y a un choix entre deux ou trois voitures précises).
-ever agit comme un adverbe. Elle apporte une précision sur les circonstances de l'action principale (le lieu, le moment, la manière) et exprime souvent une concession. En français, c'est là que nous utilisons systématiquement le subjonctif.- Wherever (Où que / Partout où) :
Wherever you go, I will follow.(Où que tu ailles, je te suivrai). Note bien l'absence de subjonctif en anglais !- Whenever (Chaque fois que / Peu importe quand) :
Whenever I see her, she’s smiling.(Chaque fois que je la vois...).- However (De quelque manière que / Aussi... que) :
- C'est le plus complexe. Il exprime le degré ou la manière.
However hard he tries, he fails.(Aussi dur qu'il essaie / Quels que soient ses efforts...).
-ever | Structure Type | Traduction Intuitive | Exemple |Whoever | Whoever + Verbe | Quiconque / Celui qui | Whoever wins gets a prize. |Whatever | Whatever + Sujet + Verbe | Quoi que / Tout ce que | Whatever you say is fine. |Whichever | Whichever (+ Nom) + S + V | Lequel / Celle que | Choose whichever one you like. |Wherever | Wherever + Sujet + Verbe | Où que / Partout où | Wherever he lives, it's far. |Whenever | Whenever + Sujet + Verbe | N'importe quand / Dès que | Call me whenever you arrive. |However | However + Adjectif + S + V | Aussi [adj] que... | However fast you run... |-ever, tu dois mettre une virgule avant la proposition principale. Si elle arrive en fin de phrase, la virgule disparaît généralement.Wherever you go, don't forget your coat.(Virgule obligatoire).Don't forget your coat wherever you go.(Pas de virgule).
However :However doit être immédiatement suivi de l'adjectif ou de l'adverbe. On ne dit pas However it is expensive, mais However expensive it is.What do you want for dinner?->Whatever you're having.(Ce que tu prends, peu importe).Who should I invite?->Whoever you want.(Invite qui tu veux).
You can organize the files however you think is best.(Organise-les comme tu le souhaites).Pick whichever laptop is available.(Prends celui qui est libre, parmi ceux-là).
However tired I am, I always go to the gym.(Même si je suis fatigué / Aussi fatigué que je sois...).Wherever he hides, the police will find him.(Où qu'il se cache...).
Whoever violates the safety protocol will be dismissed.(Quiconque enfreint le protocole...).The company is not responsible for whatever happens to personal belongings.(La société n'est pas responsable de quoi que ce soit qui arrive aux effets personnels).
HoweverHowever is difficult the task... ou However the task is difficult. C'est faux !- L'erreur :
However it is hot, I will go out. - La correction :
However hot it is, I will go out. - Pourquoi ? L'adjectif
hotdoit « coller » àhoweverpour former un bloc adverbial.
Whatever et WhicheverWhat et Which. Si tu as un choix illimité, utilise Whatever. Si tu as un choix entre des options précises (un menu, deux voitures, trois dossiers), utilise Whichever.- L'erreur : (Devant un buffet de 50 plats)
Choose whichever you want.(Sauf si tu pointes deux plats spécifiques). - La correction :
Choose whatever you want.
Whatever pour des personnesWhatever est strictement réservé aux objets, idées ou actions. Pour les humains, c'est Whoever.- L'erreur :
Whatever comes to the party is welcome. - La correction :
Whoever comes to the party is welcome. - Note : Utiliser
whateverpour parler d'une personne est extrêmement impoli, voire déshumanisant.
should ou une forme complexe là où un simple présent suffit.- L'erreur :
Wherever you may go...(C'est possible mais très littéraire/poétique). - La correction :
Wherever you go...(Plus naturel et moderne).
-ever (ex: Whatever) | Standard / Avancé | Fluide, intégré à la phrase. | I'll eat whatever you cook. |No matter wh- | Neutre / Emphatique | Insiste sur le fait que l'obstacle n'a aucun impact. | No matter what you cook, I'll eat it. |Any... that | Basique / Factuel | Plus descriptif, moins nuancé. | I will eat any food that you cook. |It doesn't matter... | Oral / Relâché | Sépare clairement les deux idées. | It doesn't matter what you cook, I'll eat it. |However vs However :however de généralisation que nous étudions ici avec le however de liaison (connecteur logique) qui signifie « cependant ».- Connecteur :
It's raining. However, I'm going out.(Cependant / Pourtant). Il y a toujours une virgule après. - Généralisant :
However hard it rains, I'm going out.(Peu importe à quel point il pleut). Pas de virgule aprèshowever.
Whatever est impoli ?Whatever!), oui, c'est très familier et cela signifie « C'est ça, cause toujours » ou « Je m'en fiche ». Mais utilisé dans une phrase grammaticale comme nous l'avons vu, c'est parfaitement correct et professionnel.Whomsoever ?Whoever. Même à l'écrit formel, Whoever est largement accepté aujourd'hui.Whenever et Every time ?Every time insiste sur la répétition systématique de chaque occurrence. Whenever est plus large et met l'accent sur le fait que le moment choisi n'a pas d'importance. Whenever you're ready, we can go (Dès que tu es prêt) est plus naturel que Every time you're ready.Anywhere à la place de Wherever ?You can sit anywhere et You can sit wherever you want sont proches. Cependant, Wherever introduit souvent une action plus complexe : Wherever you decide to sit, make sure you can see the screen.The '-ever' Word Family
| Word | Refers To | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Whoever
|
People (Subject)
|
Any person who
|
Whoever knows, tell me.
|
|
Whomever
|
People (Object)
|
Any person whom
|
Invite whomever you like.
|
|
Whatever
|
Things/Actions
|
Anything that
|
Do whatever is necessary.
|
|
Whichever
|
Specific Choice
|
Any one of a set
|
Take whichever you prefer.
|
|
Wherever
|
Place
|
Anywhere that
|
Sit wherever you want.
|
|
Whenever
|
Time
|
Any time that
|
Come whenever you can.
|
|
However
|
Manner/Degree
|
In any way that
|
However you do it, do it well.
|
Common Conversational Shortenings
| Full Phrase | Short Form | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
It doesn't matter what.
|
Whatever.
|
Can be dismissive or neutral.
|
|
At any time you like.
|
Whenever.
|
Very common in casual plans.
|
|
In any place you like.
|
Wherever.
|
Used when giving freedom of choice.
|
Meanings
A group of compound pronouns and adverbs used to refer to an unknown or non-specific person, thing, or place, often implying that the specific identity is unimportant.
Indifference/Any Choice
Used to express that any option from a set is acceptable or possible.
“Eat whatever you like from the fridge.”
“You can sit wherever there is an empty seat.”
No Matter What/Who/Where
Used to introduce a concessive clause, showing that the main clause remains true regardless of the condition.
“Whatever happens, stay calm.”
“Wherever he goes, he makes friends.”
Sarcastic Indifference
A one-word response used to show that the speaker does not care about what was just said.
“A: 'You're late again!' B: 'Whatever.'”
“I don't care, whatever.”
Unknown Identity
Used when the speaker truly does not know the identity of the person or thing.
“Whoever broke the window must pay for it.”
“I'll buy whatever is cheapest.”
Reference Table
| Mot en -ever | Sens général | Exemple concret |
|---|---|---|
|
Whoever
|
N'importe qui / Peu importe qui
|
Whoever arrives first can choose the music.
|
|
Whatever
|
N'importe quoi / Peu importe quoi
|
You can pick whatever movie you want.
|
|
Wherever
|
N'importe où / Peu importe où
|
I'll meet you wherever is convenient.
|
|
Whenever
|
N'importe quand / Peu importe quand
|
Call me whenever you're free.
|
|
However
|
Peu importe à quel point (+ adj/adv)
|
However difficult it seems, keep trying.
|
|
Whichever
|
N'importe lequel (choix limité)
|
Choose whichever dessert looks best.
|
Spectre de formalité
You may select whichever option you deem most appropriate. (Decision making)
You can choose whatever you want. (Decision making)
Pick whatever. (Decision making)
Whatever, man. (Decision making)
Les mots en -Ever : Concepts Clés
Sens de base
- Peu importe qui/quoi/où Indifference to specifics
- N'importe quel + (Nom/Adverbe) Open choice/generalization
Formes principales
- Whoever People (subject)
- Whatever Things/situations
- Wherever Places
- Whenever Times
- However Manner/Degree (with adj/adv)
- Whichever Limited choices
WHATEVER vs. WHICHEVER : Choisir son 'N'importe'
Utiliser 'However' (Généralisation) ou 'However' (Transition) ?
Est-ce que 'however' est suivi direct d'un adjectif ou adverbe ?
Est-ce qu'il connecte deux phrases indépendantes ?
Les mots en -Ever en action
Choix libre & Flexibilité
- • Order whatever looks good on the menu.
- • Meet whenever works for you.
- • Sit wherever you're comfortable.
Emphase & Concession
- • However tired you are, you must finish.
- • Whoever objects, the decision stands.
- • Whatever the cost, we need to do it.
Exemples par niveau
Eat whatever you want.
Eat anything you want.
Go wherever you like.
Go to any place you like.
Whoever is next, please come in.
The next person should come in.
Call me whenever.
Call me at any time.
Whatever you do, don't be late.
It doesn't matter what you do, just don't be late.
I will buy whichever one is cheaper.
I will buy the one that costs less money.
Wherever he lives, it is far from here.
His home is far, no matter where it is.
Whoever knows the answer, please speak.
Any person who knows the answer should talk.
You can invite whoever you want to the party.
You have permission to invite any person.
Whenever I see that movie, I cry.
Every single time I watch that movie, I cry.
Whichever path you take, be careful.
Regardless of the road you choose, stay safe.
Whatever the reason, he shouldn't have lied.
The reason is not important; the lie was wrong.
Whatever the outcome of the meeting, we must remain professional.
Regardless of what happens in the meeting, we need to stay professional.
Whoever is responsible for this error needs to fix it immediately.
The person who made the mistake must correct it now.
You may choose whichever of these three options suits you best.
Pick the one option from this specific list that you prefer.
Wherever you may find yourself in ten years, I hope you are happy.
No matter where your life takes you, I wish you happiness.
However much it costs, we have to buy it.
The price is irrelevant; the purchase is necessary.
Whomever the board appoints will have a difficult task ahead.
The person chosen by the board faces a challenge.
Whatever happens to be the case, the facts remain unchanged.
Regardless of the situation, the facts are the same.
Whenever the opportunity arises, one should take it.
One should seize any chance that appears.
Whithersoever they wandered, the echoes of the past followed.
No matter where they traveled, they were haunted by history.
The law applies to all, whoever they may be and whatever their status.
Legal rules are universal, regardless of identity or rank.
He was free to act howsoever he saw fit.
He could act in any way he decided was appropriate.
Whatever the merits of the argument, the delivery was flawed.
Even if the argument was good, the presentation was bad.
Facile à confondre
Learners use 'whatever' for everything, but 'whichever' is required for limited choices.
Learners are unsure when to use the 'm' version.
Learners confuse 'However, I like it' with 'However much I like it'.
Erreurs courantes
What you want is okay.
Whatever you want is okay.
I go where you go.
I go wherever you go.
Who is there can come.
Whoever is there can come.
When you want, call me.
Whenever you want, call me.
Take whatever of these two.
Take whichever of these two.
Whatever he is rich, he is unhappy.
However rich he is, he is unhappy.
I'll find you where ever you are.
I'll find you wherever you are.
Whoever you choose, I'll like them.
Whomever you choose, I'll like them.
Whatever you do? I don't care.
Whatever you do, I don't care.
I will buy whatever is the cheapest.
I will buy whichever is the cheapest.
He can do howsoever he likes.
He can do however he likes.
Whatever the weather will be, we will go.
Whatever the weather is, we will go.
Whomever wants to go can go.
Whoever wants to go can go.
Whatever of the options you pick...
Whichever of the options you pick...
Structures de phrases
Whatever ___, I will ___.
You can ___ whichever ___ you prefer.
Whoever ___ must ___.
Wherever you ___, you will find ___.
Real World Usage
A: 'Should we eat pizza or sushi?' B: 'Whatever you want is fine with me!'
I am willing to relocate to wherever the company needs me most.
Whichever plan you choose, you'll get the first month free.
You can hop on or off the bus whenever you like.
The tenant is responsible for any damage whatsoever.
Post whatever makes you happy! #livelife
L'astuce du 'No Matter'
Attention au 'Whatever!' tout seul
Le double jeu de 'However'
Partout, tout le temps
Whoever made this video is a genius.
Whichever vs. Whatever
Choose whichever of these two shirts you like.
Smart Tips
Use 'whichever' to sound more precise and helpful.
Add 'whatsoever' at the end of the sentence.
Always check for the comma after the first clause.
Use 'whenever' or 'whichever' to give the other person the power to choose.
Prononciation
Stress on the second syllable
In all '-ever' words, the primary stress falls on the 'ev' syllable.
The Schwa ending
The final 'er' is usually a weak schwa sound in British English, while the 'r' is pronounced in American English.
Rising-Falling on '-ever'
What-EV-er. ↘
Conveys sarcasm or dismissiveness.
Flat intonation in clauses
Whatever you do, ↗ don't move. ↘
Indicates the first part is a condition for the second.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
W-H-E-V-E-R: What, Who, Where, Which, When + EVER = Everything, Everyone, Everywhere, Every choice, Every time.
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant 'Open' sign that works for any person, at any time, in any place. The '-ever' suffix is the key that unlocks all the doors at once.
Rhyme
Wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you meet, stay true to you.
Story
A traveler arrives in a magical city. The guard says, 'You can eat whatever you find, sleep wherever you land, and talk to whoever you meet. Whenever you are ready to leave, just say whichever word you like.'
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences about your dream vacation using 'wherever', 'whatever', and 'whenever'.
Notes culturelles
The word 'Whatever' became a major cultural catchphrase in the 1990s (popularized by movies like Clueless) to express 'I don't care' or 'Your argument is invalid'. It is still used today but can be seen as very rude if said to an elder or boss.
In legal documents, 'whosoever' and 'whatsoever' are used to ensure there are no loopholes, emphasizing that the rule applies to absolutely everyone and everything.
You might hear 'wherever at' or 'whenever at', though this is non-standard. Generally, '-ever' words are used similarly across all major English dialects.
Derived from Old English 'swa hwa swa' (so who so), which evolved into 'who-so-ever' and finally 'whoever'.
Amorces de conversation
If you could travel wherever you wanted right now, where would you go?
What is something you would do whatever the cost?
Whoever is your biggest inspiration, what have they taught you?
Whenever you feel stressed, what is your go-to activity?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
___ you do, don't forget to submit your assignment by midnight.
Find and fix the mistake:
Who ever is responsible for this, needs to fix it immediately.
Choisis la bonne phrase :
Traduis en anglais : 'Appelle quand tu veux.'
Answer starts with: ["C...
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesYou can sit ___ you like in the cinema; it's almost empty.
___ wins the race will receive a gold medal.
Find and fix the mistake:
Whatever of these two books you choose, you will enjoy it.
It doesn't matter what he says, I don't believe him.
1. Whenever, 2. Wherever, 3. Whichever
A: 'When should I call you?' B: '___ is best for you.'
Choose the word for limited sets.
'Whomever' is used as the subject of a sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe manager said ___ finishes the report first can leave early.
You can pick what ever flavor you prefer from the ice cream case.
Quelle phrase est grammaticalement correcte ?
Traduis : 'Peu importe ce que tu dis, je ne changerai pas d'avis.'
Remets les mots dans l'ordre :
Associe le mot en 'wh-ever' à son usage :
You can start the project ___ you feel ready, but don't delay too long.
I don't care what you do, just make sure it's done.
Laquelle de ces phrases est correcte ?
Traduis : 'Où que tu ailles, je te suivrai.'
Remets les mots dans l'ordre :
Take ___ coat you want from the closet; they all fit.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, it depends on the context. In a sentence like `Whatever you want is fine`, it is helpful. As a one-word reply to a question, it is often seen as dismissive.
`Whoever` is a subject (like 'he' or 'she'), while `whomever` is an object (like 'him' or 'her'). In modern English, `whoever` is often used for both in casual speech.
Yes! `Wherever you go, I will follow` is a perfectly correct and common way to structure a sentence.
Use `whichever` when there is a limited number of options (e.g., 'Whichever of these two shirts...'). Use `whatever` when the options are open-ended.
If the '-ever' clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, you usually need a comma before the main clause: `Whatever she says, don't believe her.`
It is very rare and mostly found in legal or very old religious texts. In modern English, just use `however` or `in whatever way`.
Yes, but they express surprise or confusion: `Whatever are you doing?` (meaning 'What on earth are you doing?').
It is an emphatic version of 'at all', usually used in negative sentences: `I have no interest whatsoever.`
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cualquiera / Quienquiera / Dondequiera
English uses the indicative mood, while Spanish often uses the subjunctive.
N'importe qui / Quiconque / Où que
French uses a phrase ('n'importe quoi') where English uses a single word ('whatever').
Wer auch immer / Was auch immer
German separates the parts ('was auch immer') while English combines them ('whatever').
〜でも (Nandemo, Dokodemo)
Japanese uses particles at the end of the word, whereas English uses a suffix.
أيّما / مهما (Ayyama / Mahma)
Arabic has distinct particles that don't always look like the question words.
无论...都 (Wúlùn... dōu)
Chinese requires a correlative 'dou' in the second clause to complete the meaning.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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