“疑问词 + ever”是近年来高考英语的一个考查热点，在各版本的中学英语教材中出现频率较高，而且是学生理解和掌握的一个难点。从不同角度论述这方面内容的文章很多，本文试图别辟蹊径，简单明了地归纳讲解这一问题。

“疑问词 + ever ”可分为两类，“疑问代词 + ever ”： whatever / whichever / whoever （宾格 whomever ）和“疑问副词 + ever ”： wherever / whenever / however.

不论是“疑问代词 + ever ”还是“疑问副词 + ever ”，其意义都是“不管 / 无论 + 该疑问词的本义”。

1. “疑问代词 + ever”可引导两种类型的从句，即让步状语从句和名词性从句（主语从句、宾语从句）。

（1）引导让步状语从句。此时 whatever / whoever / whichever 分别等于“ no matter + what / who / which”。例如：

Whatever happened， he wouldn't say a word. = No matter what happened， he wouldn't say a word.

Whoever says so， it is wrong. = No matter who says so， it is wrong.

Whichever dictionary you （may） take， you will have to pay at least 20 dollars. = No matter which dictionary you （may） take， you will have to pay at least 20 dollars.

注意：这类从句中应用一般现在时表将来，从句中也常用情态动词 may / might .

（2）引导名词性从句。例如：

Whoever smokes here will be punished. （主语从句）

Beggars will eat whatever they are given. （宾语从句）

Whichever he likes will be given to him. （主语从句）

You may invite whoever / whomever you like. （常用 whoever 代替 whomever）

此时它们都不能换成“ no matter + 疑问词”的形式，但 whoever 等于 anyone who， whatever 等于 anything that.

2. “疑问副词 +ever ”： wherever / whenever / however 一般只能引导一种类型的从句，即让步状语从句，此时它们分别等于“ no matter + where / when / how ”。例如：

Wherever he goes （may go）. I'll follow him. = No matter where he goes （may go），I'll follow him.

Whenever I wisited him， he was always busy working. = No matter when I visited him， he was always busy working.

However late he is， his mother will wait for him to have dinner together. = No matter how late he is， his mother will wait for him to have dinner together.

注意：当 however 用作连接副词时也可引导名词性从句，而 whenever/ wherever 则不能引导名词性从句。例如：

I'll give you however much money you need. （宾语从句，此时 however 不能改成 no matter how ）。

3. 另外， whatever / whichever / whoever 与 whenever / wherever /???? however 分别可相当于 what / which / who 与 when / where / how 的强调式，引起的特殊疑问句往往是简单句，与原疑问词的意思、用法完全相同，只是表达的语气更为强烈，翻译时可加上“到底；究竟”等。例如：

What（ever） are you doing ？ 你（到底）在干什么？

Which（ever） do you want to buy ？ 你（究竟）要买哪一个？

Who（ever） told you such a foolish story？ （究竟）是谁讲给你这么蠢的事？

When（ever） can I enjoy a long vacation？ （究竟）什么时候才能给我放个长假呢？

Where（ever） did you leave your dictionary？ 你（究竟）把词典放哪儿了？

How（ever） did you collect so much money？ 你（到底）是怎样筹到这么多钱的？