3

What is the difference between "whatsoever" and "whatever"?

Which of them can be used in the following sentence:

  1. Whatever book you like you can take it.

  2. Whatsoever book you like you can take it.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4

I've seen this confusion before and thought I knew the answer. But when I wanted to cite some references, I was surprised.

Whatever as a pronoun, adjective or determiner is defined as (LDOCE):

any or all of the things that are wanted, needed, or possible

and about 7 more definitions (available at the dictionary link I provided) that don't apply to the example given.

But...

Whatever as an adverb:

used to emphasize a negative statement [= whatsoever]

And when you look up whatsoever:

used to emphasize a negative statement [= whatever]:

MW gives similar explanations for whatever and whatsoever.

To answer your question directly: in your example you should definitely use whatever. The word whatever has many meanings and it may be used instead of whatsoever. But vice versa does not apply - in your example, you cannot use whatsoever because in this context whatever has another meaning. Since there is a group of books to choose from, you might use whichever instead of whatever in this context.

Whatever book you like, you can take it.

Whichever book you like, you can take it.

You can take whatever/whichever book you like.

Improve this answer
6
  • 1
    Basically agree, although I would recommend leaving off the "it" in thses two sentences: "Whatever book you like, you can take it. Whichever book you like, you can take it." -
    – Adam
    Commented Apr 22, 2015 at 17:12
  • Could you provide an example sentence where "whatever" and "whatsoever" are interchangeable? I can't think of any.
    – DJMcMayhem
    Commented Apr 22, 2015 at 17:30
  • 1
    @DJMcMayhem This is just a stupid argument that has nothing whatever to do with your job. (an example in LEDO, on the page linked to above) I think whatsoever is fine, too.
    – Damkerng T.
    Commented Apr 22, 2015 at 19:22
  • 1
    Another example from LDOCE: She has shown no interest whatever in anything scientific If you say that one like this: She has shown no interest whatsoever in anything scientific or She has shown no interest in anything scientific whatsoever it conveys the same meaning, doesn't it?
    – Lucky
    Commented Apr 22, 2015 at 19:36
  • 1
    I don't think I agree. It sounds wrong to me, and I wouldn't say it. (I would use whatsoever instead of whatever) Maybe it's a dialect/location thing?
    – DJMcMayhem
    Commented Apr 23, 2015 at 0:45

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .