THE USES OF –EVER

1.- For emphasis

Whoever; whatever;… mean something like “It doesn´t matter who; what…”, but there is a
grammatical difference. The expressions “It doesn´t matter who…” can be used with one or
more clauses; but WHOEVER, WHATEVER… are conjunctions: they can only be used to join two
clauses together.

 It doesn´t matter where you go. I´ll go with you

 Wherever you go, I´ll go with you (you cannot omit the second sentence)

They can also express the idea of ignorance, indifference or something not precisely specified.

Note.- WHATEVER means “no matter what”. It can be used with a noun (as a determiner) or
alone (as a pronoun).

 Whatever problems you have, you can always come to me for help.
 Whatever you do, I´ll always love you.

HOWEVER.- 1.- It can be used to mean “In whatever way” “no matter how”

 However you travel, It´ll take you at least two days

2.- With an adjective or adverb, HOWEVER means the same as “even if…” or “it
doesn´t matter how”
Word order: however+ adjective/adverb+subject+verb

 However rich people are, they always want more

 However fast you drive, I always feel safe with you

(do not confuse it with the adverb)

2.- To express surprise

EVER can be used with the interrogative words WHO;WHAT;WHEN; WHERE;WHY AND how. It
expresses surprise (sometimes mixed with admiration, anger or other emotion)

 How ever did you manage to get the car started? I tried for hours and I couldn´t
 What ever do you think you are doing?
 Why ever didn´t you tell me you were coming?

The same meaning can be expressed in an informal style by using the expression ON EARTH
instead of EVER or (more strongly) by using THE HELL.

 How on earth did you manage to get the car started?

 Who on earth told you that?
 What the hell do you think you are doing?
 EXERCISES ON GRAMMAR

1.- Fill each gap with one word formed with –EVER

- ______________ thinks the Earth is flat is a fool.

- I don´t want to be disturbed. ___________ calls, and _______________ they want. Tell
them I´m out.
- Hang the picture ____________ you want, I don´t mind.
- ______________ hard I try, I can never remember people´s names.
- _______________ my wife cooks, she gets distracted, so the meat or the vegetables,
______________ it is she is cooking, gets burnt.
- Pick up the children. Megan, Kate, Dave… .________________ many there are, bring
them back for tea.

2.- Think of informal emphatic questions to ask about the following situations. Use EVER ;on
earth; the hell.

- Have you heard about the man who is going to row single-handed across the Atlantic?
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- Bill and Sheila are taking their nine children caravanning in Siberia.
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- A wine connoisseur paid 20,000 pounds for a 1812 bottle of claret.
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- Peter has a family to support, but he gave up a well paid job and now refuses to get
out of bed.
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- Malcolm has brought a python back from Sumatra. He says he is going to keep it as a
pet.
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