whatever / whenever / wherever
whatever / whenever / wherever means “-ever words mean 'no matter what/when/where' or 'any ... that': Take whatever you want; Call me whenever you like”. Whatever, whenever and wherever combine a wh-word with -ever to mean 'any … at all' or 'no matter …'. Formation: whatever/whenever/wherever + clause
-ever words mean 'no matter what/when/where' or 'any ... that': Take whatever you want; Call me whenever you like
B2Formation
whatever/whenever/wherever + clause
Explanation
Whatever, whenever and wherever combine a wh-word with -ever to mean 'any … at all' or 'no matter …'. They introduce a clause and cover every possibility: Take whatever you want (= anything you want). Whenever you call, I will answer (= at any time). Wherever they go, people love them (= no matter where). Similar words are whoever (any person) and however (in any way / no matter how).
Examples
Note
In statements keep them as one word: whatever, whenever, wherever. The two-word forms (what ever, when ever) only occur in emphatic questions: What ever happened to him?
FAQ
whatever / whenever / wherever — what does it mean and how is it used?
-ever words mean 'no matter what/when/where' or 'any ... that': Take whatever you want; Call me whenever you like. Whatever, whenever and wherever combine a wh-word with -ever to mean 'any … at all' or 'no matter …'. They introduce a clause and cover every possibility: Take whatever you want (= anything you want). Whenever you call, I will answer (= at any time). Wherever they go, people love them (= no matter where). Similar words are whoever (any person) and however (in any way / no matter how).
whatever / whenever / wherever — how do you form it?
whatever/whenever/wherever + clause
whatever / whenever / wherever — any usage notes?
In statements keep them as one word: whatever, whenever, wherever. The two-word forms (what ever, when ever) only occur in emphatic questions: What ever happened to him?