如果我們在 how, what, which, when, where 和 who 等 wh 字後面加上 -ever，它們的意思就會改變而變成：
However：不管怎樣，無論如何
Whatever：不管怎樣，無論什麼；任何事物，任何東西
Whichever：無論哪個，無論哪些；任何一個
Whenever：無論何時；每當，任何時候
Wherever：無論到 (或在) 哪裡，無論什麼地方；任何地方
Whoever：無論什麼人；任何人
- You can do it however you like. (你想怎麼做都行)
- However you look at it, it’s still a mess. (無論你怎麼看，它還是一團糟)
- Whatever I say I always seem to get it wrong. (無論我說什麼，似乎總是說錯)
- Do whatever you want – it won’t affect me. (你想做什麼就做什麼 — 這對我不會有影響)
- Please strike out whichever option does not apply to you. (請劃掉不適合您的選項)
- Which restaurant? — Whichever is nearest. (哪家餐廳？ ─ 最近的那家)
- Whenever I go there John seems to be asleep. (每次我去那裡，約翰似乎都在睡覺)
- Wherever I go I always seem to bump into Mary. (無論走到哪裡，我似乎總是會碰到瑪麗)
- There’s a reward for whoever finishes first. (誰先完成，誰就有獎勵)
在問句中，我們可以使用 however, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever 和 whoever 等這些有 -ever 的字來代替 how, what, which, when, where 和 who 等這些沒有 -ever 的字以加強語氣，此時這些有 -ever 的字意為「究竟…，到底…」，係在表示驚訝。說話時，-ever 為重音所在。例如：
- However will you manage to live on such a small income? (你到底要如何靠這麼微薄的收入來維持生活？)
－ 語氣比 How will you manage …? 來得強烈。 - However did you manage to get him to agree to that? (你究竟是怎樣成功地讓他同意那件事？)
－ 語氣比 How did you manage …? 來得強烈。 - Kevin, whatever are you doing with that rod? (凱文，你拿著那根竿子，到底在幹什麼？)
－ 語氣比 What are you doing …? 來得強烈。(以下各句的解釋亦同) - Whatever’s that purple thing on your plate? (你盤子裡那團紫色的東西到底是什麼？)
- Whichever did she choose? (她到底選了哪一個？)
- Whichever of them did she marry? (她到底嫁給他們之中的哪一個？)
- Whenever do you get the time to do these things? (你到底什麼時候有時間做這些事情？)
- Whenever did Amy see a doctor? (艾美究竟什麼時候看過醫生？)
- Wherever did you find that pen? (你究竟在哪裡找到那支筆？)
- Wherever does he get the money from to go on all these exotic journeys? (他究竟從哪裡弄到錢去進行這些異國旅行？)
- Whoever told you that? (究竟是誰告訴你的？)
- Whoever heard of such a thing? (到底是誰聽過這樣的事？)
我們可以單獨使用 whatever, whenever, wherever 和 whoever 來以非特定的方式指人和事物。此時這些有 -ever 的字意為「任何…」。例如：
- So, I’ll bring beer. (那麼我就帶啤酒來)
Sure, whatever (= bring that or anything else). (當然可以，帶什麼都行) - You add it, subtract it, or whatever. (你把它加上、減去或做什麼計算都行)
- We will start work in May or whenever. (我們將在五月或其他任何時候開始工作)
- I’d like to go to London, Paris, or wherever. (我想去倫敦、巴黎或其他任何地方)
- If you talk to the manager or whoever, you’ll be able to find out what’s happening. (如果你跟經理或其他任何人交談，你將能了解發生了什麼事)
有些人有時會以諷刺或不尊重的方式使用 whatever，通常是以誇張的方式來說話 (例如，用誇張的語調)，以表示他們不感興趣。例如：
- A: I’ll call you. (A：我會打電話給你)
B: Whatever. (B：隨便) - A: What do you want to do? (A：你想做什麼呢？)
B: Whatever. (B：無所謂)
Whatsoever
Whatsoever 是 whatever 的加強語氣形式，意為「無論怎樣，絲毫，任何」，最常出現在否定詞或否定片語之後。例如：
- Kevin seems to have no respect for authority whatsoever. (凱文似乎對權威一點也不尊重)
- I can see no reason whatsoever why Helen should not attend classes. (我看不出海倫有任何理由不去上課)
- A: Did you have any idea what was happening last night? (A：你知道昨晚發生了什麼嗎？)
B: None whatsoever. (B：完全不知道)