Practice
Whatever or what ever: choosing the form
Whatever happens after the train is delayed, we can still call the hotel. Here, whatever means any possible thing that may happen, so it is one word.
Write whatever as one word for an unspecified thing, choice, or result, and use separate what ever only when what and ever have separate jobs in an emphatic question.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
whatever, what ever /wʌtˈevər/
The short answer
Write whatever as one word in ordinary statements, questions, and clauses about an unknown or unrestricted thing. Write what ever as two words only when ever separately emphasizes a question word what.
Please choose whatever color works best for the poster.
Why it works: Whatever means any color that works, so the word stays together.
5 more examples
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Whatever caused the alarm has stopped now.
Whatever names an unknown cause. The sentence means that the cause, no matter what it was, has stopped.
Not this:The
thing thatcaused the alarm has stopped now. What changes: This longer phrase gives a similar idea, but whatever is the more compact one-word form. -
Take whatever notes will help you prepare.
Whatever comes before the noun notes and means any notes that will help.
Not this:Take
any notesthat will help you prepare. What changes: Any notes that has a similar meaning and shows why whatever is written as one word here. -
Whatever the weather is like, the outdoor class begins at nine.
The phrase means no matter what the weather is like. It introduces a condition that does not change the plan.
Not this:
No matter whatthe weather is like, the outdoor class begins at nine. What changes: The longer phrase has the same basic meaning as whatever in this sentence. -
What ever made you choose the earlier flight?
What asks about the reason, and ever adds a surprised or strongly curious tone. The spaced form makes the separate roles visible.
Not this:
What madeyou choose the earlier flight? What changes: This neutral question asks for the same information without the added emphasis from ever. -
Whatever did you put in this soup?
Many writers also use one-word whatever in an emphatic question. The sentence sounds surprised, not neutral.
Not this:
What didyou put in this soup? What changes: The neutral question asks for information without showing surprise.
Read the full guide
First ask whether the phrase means any thing, anything that, or no matter what. If it does, choose whatever. If the sentence is a surprised question, remove ever in your mind. When what still asks for information and ever only adds force, the two words can be written separately.
Use whatever for an unrestricted thing or choice
Whatever usually means any thing, anything that, or no matter what. It works as one unit, so write it without a space. The sentence often leaves the exact thing open.
Whatever you decide, send me the final time.
No matter what you decide, send me the final time.
Does the phrase mean any possible decision?
Yes. Write whatever as one word because the decision is unrestricted.
Use whatever before a noun or after a verb
Whatever can introduce a noun, or it can introduce a clause after a verb. In both patterns, it has the same unrestricted meaning. A space is not needed before the noun or the clause.
Bring whatever documents the office requested.
Bring any documents that the office requested.
Which form fits before documents: whatever or what ever?
Use whatever. It means any documents that the office requested.
Check whether the sentence is really a question
Sometimes what asks for information and ever is added only for emphasis. This pattern sounds surprised, impatient, or strongly curious. When you remove ever, the plain question should still make sense.
What ever happened to the spare key?
What happened to the spare key?
What changes when you add ever to this question?
The question becomes more emphatic. The basic request for information stays the same.
Keep routine questions plain
Most questions need what by itself. Adding ever changes the tone, so it is not a neutral way to ask for help or information. Use the plain question unless you mean to show real surprise.
What time does the workshop begin?
What ever time does the workshop begin?
Which version is right for a normal scheduling question?
Use What time does the workshop begin? It asks for a fact without extra emotion.
Choose the form by meaning, not appearance
Whatever begins with the letters what, but that does not mean it must be two words. Look for the one-unit meanings any thing, anything that, and no matter what. Separate what ever only when the sentence clearly contains a question word plus an emphatic ever.
Whatever answer you choose, explain your reason.
Explain your reason for any answer that you choose.
What does whatever answer mean in this sentence?
It means any answer that you choose, so whatever is one word.
Edit an emphatic question with care
In an emphatic question, both whatever and what ever can appear. If you use two words, make sure ever has a clear job of adding force. If the added force is not needed, delete ever and keep the question simple.
What ever persuaded them to cancel the meeting?
What persuaded them to cancel the meeting?
What should you do if the question has no surprised tone?
Remove ever and use the ordinary question form.
Before you go
Remember this
Use whatever as one word when you mean any thing, anything that, or no matter what. Keep what ever for the rare emphatic question where what asks the question and ever supplies extra force. For ordinary information questions, use what without ever.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Whatever or what ever: choosing the form"
Is whatever usually one word?
Yes. Write whatever as one word when it means any thing, anything that, or no matter what. For example, Whatever reason you give, include the relevant details means any reason that you give. This is the normal spelling in ordinary statements and clauses.
Whatever caused the alarm has stopped now.
When can I write what ever as two words?
Use what ever only in a clearly emphatic question where what asks for information and ever adds force. For example, What ever made the room so quiet? sounds more surprised than What made the room so quiet? The spaced form is much less common than whatever.
The thing that caused the alarm has stopped now.
Does whatever mean no matter what?
Often, yes. In Whatever the result is, we will review it, whatever means no matter what the result is. It introduces a condition that does not change the main clause. That meaning takes the one-word spelling.
Take whatever notes will help you prepare.
Can whatever come before a noun?
Yes. Whatever can come before a noun when it means any noun of that kind. In Choose whatever seat is free, the phrase means choose any seat that is free. The word remains one unit before the noun.
Take any notes that will help you prepare.
Should I use ever in a normal what question?
Usually not. A normal question such as What caused the error? asks for information without extra emotion. Add ever only when the speaker truly wants a surprised or strongly emphatic tone. Otherwise, the plain question is clearer and more natural.
Whatever the weather is like, the outdoor class begins at nine.