who[(m)ever] - whose[ever] - what[ever] - when[ever] - where[ever] - how[ever]

Question

I wonder whether these sentences are possible in the subject position. Which ones are correct and which wrong?

[1] However we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel.
[2] However you do the job is not important to him.
[3] However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot.

[4] How we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel.
[5] How you do the job is not important to him.
[6] How you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot.
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[7] Who(m)ever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public.
[8] Who(m)ever you ask, the answer is always the same.

[9] Who(m) planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public.
[10] Who(m) you ask, the answer is always the same.
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[11] Wherever they went were closely followed by security men.
[12] Wherever they went is not important.
[13] Wherever he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.

[14] Where they went were closely followed by security men.
[15] Where they went is not important.
[16] Where he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.
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[17] Whatever she did was nothing to do with me.
[18] Whatever we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.
[19] Whatever you decide, it’s okay by me.

[20] What she did was nothing to do with me.
[21] What we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.
[22] What you decide, it’s okay by me.
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[23] Whenever he returns to this place he is happy and contented...
[24] Whenever he returns to this place is of no concern to her.

[25] When he returns to this place he is happy and contented...
[26] When he returns to this place is of no concern to her.
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[27] Whoseever car this is is not important.
[28] Whosever car this is is in deep trouble.
[29] Whoseever car this is, we have to fine him.

[30] Whose car this is is not important.
[31] Whose car this is is in deep trouble.
[32] Whose car this is, we have to fine him.

Doll · Accepted Answer

Diamondrg
[1] However we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel.
[2] However you do the job is not important to him.
[3] However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot.

I don't want to say they are wrong but all of the above sound better to me with "how".

[4] How we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel.
[5] How you do the job is not important to him.
How you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot.

4 and 5 are okay but I would add "No matter" before "how" for number 6.
--
[7] Who(m)ever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public.
Who(m)ever you ask, the answer is always the same.

To me, 7 should be "who" because a noun, Jane or Bob (he, she) can be written.

Whomever for 8 is okay, I asked them, I asked her, I asked him can be replaced.

[9] Who(m) planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public.
[10] Who(m) you ask, the answer is always the same.

I would use "who" for 9 and "whom" for 10 with the same reason above.
---
[11] Wherever they went were closely followed by security men.
[12] Wherever they went is not important.
[13] Wherever he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.

Number 12 sounds strange to my ear. I can't explain why though.

[14] Where they went were closely followed by security men.
[15] Where they went is not important.
[16] Where he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.

All above okay to me.
----
[17] Whatever she did was nothing to do with me.
[18] Whatever we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.
[19] Whatever you decide, it’s okay by me.

Above are okay.

[20] What she did was nothing to do with me.
[21] What we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.
[22] What you decide, it’s okay by me.

okay.
-----
[23] Whenever he returns to this place he is happy and contented...
[24] Whenever he returns to this place is of no concern to her.

[25] When he returns to this place he is happy and contented...
[26] When he returns to this place is of no concern to her.
------

Somehow I feel that using where and who suggest us a broader context than wherever and whoever. Also I sense a difference in meaning among 23,24,25,26
[27] Whoseever car this is is not important.
[28] Whosever car this is is in deep trouble.
[29] Whoseever car this is, we have to fine him.
I have never heard whoseever!
[30] Whose car this is is not important.
[31] Whose car this is is in deep trouble.
[32] Whose car this is, we have to fine him.

Sounds okay.

Mr Wordy · Answer

* You might hear native speakers use options marked thus, but they are, to varying degrees, dubious in my opinion.

[1] How/however* we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel.
[2] How/however* you do the job is not important to him.
[3] However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot.

[7] Whoever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public.
[8] Whoever [conversational, informal] / whomever [formal, can sound pedantic] you ask, the answer is always the same.

[11] Wherever / where [less likely] they went they were closely followed by security men.
[12] Where/wherever* they went is not important.
[13] Wherever / where [less likely but OK] he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.

[17] What/whatever she did was nothing to do with me. ["whatever" implies that the speaker isn't sure what she did]
[18] What/whatever we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.
[19] Whatever you decide, it’s okay by me.

[23] Whenever/when he returns to this place he is happy and contented...
[24] When/whenever* he returns to this place is of no concern to her.

[27] Whoever's / whosever [rarer] / whose car this is is not important. [To me, these have different meanings. The first two mean that the owner is not important. The last means that the identity of the owner is not important.]
[28] Whoever's / whosever [rarer] car this is is in deep trouble.
[29] Whoever's / whosever [rarer] car this is, we have to fine him.

(I made a couple of later edits to this)

Diamondrg · Answer

Hi, Mr Wordy and thank you.

If 13 is corect, then 11 must be correct too with "where". Isn't that right?

Kooyeen · Answer

Careful! This is my opinion, as a non-native speaker.

DiamondrgI wonder whether these sentences are possible in the subject position. Which ones are correct and which wrong?

[1] However we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. I'd use HOW.
[2] However you do the job is not important to him. I'd use HOW.
[3] However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot. OK.

[4] How we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. OK
[5] How you do the job is not important to him. OK
How you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot. I'd use HOWEVER
--
[7] Who(m)ever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public. I am not comfortable with "whomever". I always use WHOEVER
Who(m)ever you ask, the answer is always the same. I am not comfortable with "whomever". I always use WHOEVER. (but here maybe "whomever" is ok too)

[9] Who(m) planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public. Hmm. I guess it should be something else, like THE ONE WHO
[10] Who(m) you ask, the answer is always the same. I'd say WHOEVER (and maybe "whomever" would be ok too)
---
[11] Wherever they went were closely followed by security men. Nope, I feel there's a "they" missing.
[12] Wherever they went is not important. I'd say WHERE.
[13] Wherever he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him. OK.

[14] Where they went were closely followed by security men. Nope, I feel there's a "they" missing, and I would say WHEREVER.
[15] Where they went is not important. OK
[16] Where he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him. I'd say WHEREVER
----
[17] Whatever she did was nothing to do with me. Hmm, not sure, but I think I'd accept this.
[18] Whatever we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel. Hmm, not sure, but I think I'd accept this.
[19] Whatever you decide, it’s okay by me. OK

[20] What she did was nothing to do with me.OK
[21] What we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.OK
[22] What you decide, it’s okay by me. I'd say WHATEVER
-----
[23] Whenever he returns to this place he is happy and contented... OK
[24] Whenever he returns to this place is of no concern to her. Hmm, I don't know. Maybe it's ok.

[25] When he returns to this place he is happy and contented...OK
[26] When he returns to this place is of no concern to her.
------
[27] Whoseever car this is is not important. Never heard of whosever
[28] Whosever car this is is in deep trouble. Never heard of whosever
[29] Whoseever car this is, we have to fine him. Never heard of whosever

[30] Whose car this is is not important. OK
[31] Whose car this is is in deep trouble. Huh? The owner of this car is in trouble.
[32] Whose car this is, we have to fine him. Whoever the owner is, we have...

I'm interested in this stuff too. Now let's see what the others say. And I gotta go... big storm coming here.

Mr Wordy · Answer

DiamondrgIf 13 is corect, then 11 must be correct too with "where". Isn't that right?

[11] Where they went they were closely followed by security men.

Yes, I missed that one, but you're right, "where" seems possible (though not as likely as "wherever"). "Where" here tends to suggest that they went to a particular place, not just different places in general.

Looking at it again, I'm not sure either about the asterisk I put on #18. That one is probably OK too.

Diamondrg · Answer

Hi, Mr Wordy.

[11] Wherever / where [less likely] they went they were closely followed by security men.

Is the sentence below correct, with or without comma after men?

They were closely followed by security men(,) wherever / where they went.

Mr Wordy · Answer

DiamondrgIs the sentence below correct, with or without comma after men?

They were closely followed by security men(,) wherever / where they went.

I would not use a comma with "wherever".

To me, "where" does not work in this "non-inverted" form of the sentence, either with a comma or without.

Diamondrg · Answer

Thank you, Mr Wordy, for your help.

Diamondrg · Answer

Hi, again.

I wonder whether the non-inversioned versions of these sentences work the same way as their inversioned counterparts.

Could you tell us which ones are correct and which wrong? Thanks.

[1] How / however we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel.
[2] What we feel has a lot to do with how / however we conceptualize things.

[3] How / however you do the job is not important to him.
[4] It is not important to him how / however you do the job.

[5] How / However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot.
[6] It's going to cost a lot how / however you look at it.

[7] Whoever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public.
[8] Whoever / whomever you ask, the answer is always the same.
[9] The answer is always the same whoever / whomever you ask.

[10] Wherever / where they went they were closely followed by security men.
[11] They were followed closely wherever / where they went.

[12] Where / wherever they went is not important.
[13] It is not important where / wherever they went.

[14] Wherever / where he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.
[15] A carload of soldiers goes with him wherever / where he goes.

[16] What / whatever she did was nothing to do with me.
[17] It was nothing to do with me what / whatever she did.

[18] What/ whatever we conceptualize has a lot to do with what we feel.
[19] What we feel has a lot to do with what / whatever we conceptualize.

[20] What / Whatever you decide, it’s okay by me.
[21] It's okay with me what / whatever you decide.

[22] Whenever / when he returns to this place he is happy and contented...
[23] He is happy and contented whenever / when he returns to this place.

[24] When / whenever he returns to this place is of no concern to her.
[25] It is of no concern to her when / whenever he returns to this place.

[26] Whoever's / whosever / whose car this is is not important.
[27] It is not important whosever's / whosever / whose car this is.

[28] Whoever's / whosever / whose car this is is in deep trouble.

[29] Whoever's / whosever / whose car this is, we have to fine him.
[30] We have to fine (him) whoever's / whosever / whose car this is.

Mr Wordy · Answer

* Possible in informal conversation, but, to varying degrees, dubious (IMO).

I should mention, in case it's not already obvious, that while some choices are obviously correct, and some are obviously wrong, there is a grey area in between where you look at some of the options and think "Hmmm... is that right or not?".

[2] What we feel has a lot to do with how / ~~however~~ we conceptualize things.

[4] It is not important to him how / however* you do the job.

[6] It's going to cost a lot ~~how~~ / however you look at it.

[9] The answer is always the same whoever [everyday use] / whomever [formal] you ask.

[11] They were followed closely wherever / ~~where~~ [borderline, perhaps just about possible] they went.

[13] It is not important where / wherever* they went.

[15] A carload of soldiers goes with him wherever / where [less likely] he goes.

[17] It was nothing to do with me what / whatever she did. [A comma is needed before "whatever" IMO]

[19] What we feel has a lot to do with what / whatever [less likely, but probably OK] we conceptualize.

[21] It's okay with me whatever / what* you decide.

[23] He is happy and contented whenever / when he returns to this place.

[25] It is of no concern to her when / whenever [see note] he returns to this place. [This sentence can be read in two ways. Either the time of his return is of no concern, or something else (whatever "it" refers to) doesn't concern her at the time he returns. "whenever" fits the second meaning but not the first.]

[27] It is not important ~~whosever's~~ / ~~whosever~~ / whose / whoever's* car this is.

[30] We have to fine (him) whoever's / whosever [rarer] / ~~whose~~ car this is. [If "him" is included then I would put a comma after "him"]

who[(m)ever] - whose[ever] - what[ever] - when[ever] - where[ever] - how[ever]

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