Fiche à imprimer : Whatever, whoever, wherever, however : les mots en -ever

En ajoutant -ever à un mot interrogatif, on obtient l'idée de « n'importe quel », « quel que soit » ou « chaque fois que ».

Mot	Sens	Exemple
whatever	quoi que, tout ce que, n'importe quoi	Take whatever you want. / Whatever happens, I'll help you.
whoever	qui que, quiconque, celui qui	Whoever wins, it'll be a great match.
wherever	où que, partout où	Sit wherever you like.
whenever	chaque fois que, quand tu veux	Call me whenever you need help.
whichever	quel(le) que soit (choix limité)	Take whichever seat you prefer.
however + adjectif / adverbe	si... que, aussi... que	However hard I try, I can't do it.

Attention à however

However a deux sens : en début de phrase suivi d'une virgule, il signifie « cependant » (However, it's expensive). Suivi d'un adjectif ou d'un adverbe, il signifie « si... que » (however expensive it is = si cher que ce soit).

Comme après if, on utilise le présent (pas will) : Whatever happens.

À l'oral, Whatever! seul signifie « peu importe ! », souvent avec agacement.

Mise en situation : organiser une sortie

Ava : Where shall we go on Saturday?

Où est-ce qu'on va samedi ?

Jack : Wherever you want. Whatever you choose, I'm happy.

Où tu veux. Quoi que tu choisisses, ça me va.

Ava : OK, the cinema. Whoever arrives first buys the tickets.

D'accord, le cinéma. Celui qui arrive en premier achète les billets.

Jack : Deal! And however late it finishes, I'll walk you home.

Marché conclu ! Et aussi tard que ça finisse, je te raccompagne.

À retenir

whatever (quoi que), whoever (qui que), wherever (où que), whenever (chaque fois que), whichever (quel que soit).
however + adjectif = si... que ; However, = cependant.
Présent après ces mots : Whatever happens...

Exercice 1 : Les mots en -ever : exercice 1 (QCM)

___ happens, I'll be there for you. (quoi qu'il arrive)
1. Whatever
2. Whoever
3. Wherever
Sit ___ you like. (où tu veux)
1. whatever
2. whenever
3. wherever
Call me ___ you need help. (chaque fois que)
1. whoever
2. whenever
3. wherever
___ wins, it'll be a great final. (qui que ce soit)
1. Whoever
2. Whichever
3. Whatever
___ hard I try, I can't remember his name. (si... que)
1. Whatever
2. Whenever
3. However
Take ___ seat you prefer: the red one or the blue one. (choix limité)
1. whoever
2. however
3. whichever
« Tu peux manger tout ce que tu veux. »
1. You can eat whenever you want.
2. You can eat whatever you want.
3. You can eat however you want of.
« Cependant, c'est trop cher. »
1. Whenever, it's too expensive.
2. Whatever, it's too expensive.
3. However, it's too expensive.
Choisissez la phrase correcte.
1. Whatever happen, stay calm.
2. Whatever will happen, stay calm.
3. Whatever happens, stay calm.
« Celui qui a cassé ça doit le réparer. »
1. Whoever broke it must fix it.
2. Who ever broke it, must fixes it.
3. Whatever broke it must fix it.

Exercice 2 : Les mots en -ever : exercice 2 (à compléter)

.......................... you decide, I'll support you. (quoi que)
You can sit .......................... you want. (où)
Come and see us .......................... you like. (quand)
.......................... finds the treasure will win a prize. (celui qui)
.......................... tired I am, I always read before bed. (si... que)
Choose .......................... colour you prefer: blue or green. (celle que)
Whatever .......................... , don't panic. (arrive)
.......................... , there's a problem. (cependant)
I'll find you, .......................... you hide! (où que)
Take .......................... you need from the fridge. (tout ce que)

Exercice 3 : Les mots en -ever : mise en situation

Tu laisses ton ami choisir le film.
1. Whenever you choose is fine with me.
2. Whatever you choose is fine with me.
3. Whoever you choose is fine with me.
Tu dis à ton invité qu'il peut s'asseoir où il veut.
1. Sit wherever you like.
2. Sit whenever you like.
3. Sit whatever you like.
Tu proposes à ton ami de t'appeler quand il veut.
1. Call me whatever you want.
2. Call me whenever you want.
3. Call me wherever you want.
Tu dis que celui qui gagnera aura une pizza.
1. Whichever wins get a pizza of.
2. Whoever wins gets a pizza.
3. Whatever wins gets a pizza.
Tu promets ton soutien quoi qu'il arrive.
1. However happens, I'll help you.
2. Whatever happens, I'll help you.
3. Whatever will happen, I'll help you.
Tu dis qu'aussi dur que tu travailles, tu n'y arrives pas.
1. Whatever hard I work, I can't do it.
2. However I work hard, I can't do it.
3. However hard I work, I can't do it.
Tu proposes de prendre le bus ou le train : celui que tu préfères.
1. Take whoever you prefer.
2. Take whichever you prefer.
3. Take wherever you prefer.
Dans un essay, tu nuances : « Cependant, ce n'est pas si simple ».
1. Whenever, it's not that simple.
2. Whatever, it's not that simple.
3. However, it's not that simple.
Ton frère ne t'écoute pas et dit « peu importe ! ».
1. Wherever!
2. Whoever!
3. Whatever!
Tu dis que chaque fois que tu vas à Londres, il pleut.
1. Wherever I go to London, it rains.
2. Whenever I'll go to London, it rains.
3. Whenever I go to London, it rains.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. a) Whatever · 2. c) wherever · 3. b) whenever · 4. a) Whoever · 5. c) However · 6. c) whichever · 7. b) You can eat whatever you want. · 8. c) However, it's too expensive. · 9. c) Whatever happens, stay calm. · 10. a) Whoever broke it must fix it.

Exercice 2

1. Whatever · 2. wherever · 3. whenever · 4. Whoever · 5. However · 6. whichever · 7. happens · 8. However · 9. wherever · 10. whatever

Exercice 3

1. b) Whatever you choose is fine with me. · 2. a) Sit wherever you like. · 3. b) Call me whenever you want. · 4. b) Whoever wins gets a pizza. · 5. b) Whatever happens, I'll help you. · 6. c) However hard I work, I can't do it. · 7. b) Take whichever you prefer. · 8. c) However, it's not that simple. · 9. c) Whatever! · 10. c) Whenever I go to London, it rains.