Whether vs. Whatever

Whetherdeterminer

(obsolete) Which of two.

Whateverdeterminer

No matter what; for any

‘Whatever choice you make, there will be consequences.’;

Whetherpronoun

(obsolete) Which of two.

Whateverdeterminer

(relative) Anything that.

‘Whatever reasons you have for doing this are unimportant to me.’;

Whetherconjunction

(obsolete) Introducing a direct interrogative question (often with correlative or) which indicates doubt between alternatives.

Whateverpronoun

No matter what; for any

‘Whatever he does, he will still lose the game.’;

Whetherconjunction

Used to introduce an indirect interrogative question that consists of multiple alternative possibilities (usually with correlative or).

‘He chose the correct answer, but I don't know whether it was by luck or by skill.’;

Whateverpronoun

(relative) Anything; sometimes used to indicate that the speaker does not care about options.

‘I'll do whatever I can.’;

Whetherconjunction

Without a correlative, used to introduce a simple indirect question.

‘Do you know whether he's coming?’;

Whateverinterjection

A holophrastic expression used discourteously to indicate that the speaker does not consider the matter worthy of further discussion.

‘For the last time, brush your teeth! – Whatever!’;

Whetherconjunction

Used to introduce a disjunctive adverbial clause which qualifies the main clause of the sentence (with correlative or).

‘He's coming, whether you like it or not.’;

Whateveradjective

(colloquial) Unexceptional or unimportant; blah.

Whetherpronoun

Which (of two); which one (of two); - used interrogatively and relatively.

‘Now choose yourself whether that you liketh.’; ‘One day in doubt I cast for to compareWhether in beauties' glory did exceed.’; ‘Whether of them twain did the will of his father?’;

Whateveradjective

At all, absolutely, whatsoever.

‘There is no point whatever in going on with this discussion.’;

Whetherconjunction

In case; if; - used to introduce the first or two or more alternative clauses, the other or others being connected by or, or by or whether. When the second of two alternatives is the simple negative of the first it is sometimes only indicated by the particle not or no after the correlative, and sometimes it is omitted entirely as being distinctly implied in the whether of the first.

‘And now who knowsBut you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?’; ‘You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge.’; ‘For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.’; ‘But whether thus these things, or whether not;Whether the sun, predominant in heaven,Rise on the earth, or earth rise on the sun, . . . Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid.’;

Whateverpronoun

Anything soever which; the thing or things of any kind; being this or that; of one nature or another; one thing or another; anything that may be; all that; the whole that; all particulars that; - used both substantively and adjectively.

‘Whatever fortune stays from his word.’; ‘Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields.’; ‘Whatever be its intrinsic value.’;

Whateveradjective

one or some or every or all without specification;

‘give me any peaches you don't want’; ‘not any milk is left’; ‘any child would know that’; ‘pick any card’; ‘any day now’; ‘cars can be rented at almost any airport’; ‘at twilight or any other time’; ‘beyond any doubt’; ‘need any help we can get’; ‘give me whatever peaches you don't want’; ‘no milk whatsoever is left’;

Whateverpronoun

used to emphasize a lack of restriction in referring to any thing or amount, no matter what

‘do whatever you like’; ‘take whatever action is needed’;

Whateverpronoun

regardless of what

‘whatever decision he made I would support it’; ‘you have our support, whatever you decide’;

Whateverpronoun

used for emphasis instead of ‘what’ in questions, typically expressing surprise or confusion

‘whatever is the matter?’;

Whateverdeterminer

used to emphasize a lack of restriction in referring to any thing or amount, no matter what

‘take whatever action is needed’; ‘do whatever you like’;

Whateverdeterminer

Whateverdeterminer

regardless of what

‘whatever decision he made I would support it’; ‘you have our support, whatever you decide’;

Whateveradverb

at all; of any kind (used for emphasis)

‘they received no help whatever’;

Whateveradverb

no matter what happens

‘we told him we'd back him whatever’;

Whateverinterjection

said as a response indicating a reluctance to discuss something, often implying indifference

‘‘I'll call you later.’ I shrugged. ‘Whatever.’’;