1whatever可用作连接词或连接副词,引导让步状语从句,表示“无论,不管”的意思.此时,可用no matter what结构来替换其意完全相同.位置前后置都可以.
2whatever还可以引导名词性从句,同时起先行词和关系代词的作用.相当于anything that或all that,有任何一切这类意思.此时不能用no matter what替换.
3what和ever分开写,则作“到底,究竟”解,这时它和on earth,in the world相同,起强调作用.e.g.What ever do you mean?= What do you mean on earth?
4what也可以引导名词性从句意为“the thing which”与“whatever”含义相同.
5用法完全与whatever相同的词还有whichever,whoever.