Podcast: Como usar whatever e whichever em inglês

Hello, everyone. No episódio de hoje do podcast Inglês Online, eu falo sobre uma diferença básica entre as palavras whatever e whichever em inglês e dou exemplos de como usá-las.

Transcrição
Hello, everyone. This is the new episode of the Inglesonline podcast. Please subscribe to this podcast using the Podcasts app for iPhone or iPad, or listen to the episodes using the Inglesonline Android app. Thanks for all the comments at the iTunes store and if you haven't yet left a comment for this podcast please do so: the more comments for the Inglesonline podcast, the more people will find out about it and listen to the episodes. Thank you for telling your friends, your neighbours, your family and keep listening.

So today I will talk about the basic difference between whatever and whichever and give you examples of how to use both. I'm not gonna cover all the ways you can use one or the other; rather I'll focus, like I said, on the most basic way to use them.

Whatever language you choose, it's important to listen to it.

Do you remember the difference between WHICH and WHAT? Let's recap: which is the better option when you're referring to a limited set of options that is known to the people having a conversation. If you ask someone "What's your favourite movie?", you're asking that person to choose from an almost infinite number of possibilities - like, every movie known to man. Now, if you show three DVDs to that person, you could say "What's your favourite?" but "Which one is your favourite? " is better here. Why? Because you're asking them to choose from the three options you presented before you asked the question.

So the examples I'm going to show you using whatever and whichever follow the same rule, so to speak. So if someone tells you "Whatever language you decide to learn, it is important to listen to it." Out of all the languages of the world, whatever language you choose, it's important to listen to it. If someone says "You can buy whatever you like in the supermarket. It's on me" they're giving you complete freedom - they will pay for any products you choose to buy without restriction. If your teacher tells you "whatever degree you'd like to pursue, I can help you" that means that you could choose any degree in the world and they will be able to help you.

Now, if the same teacher says "In order to have my guidance you have to pick Geography, History or Social Sciences. So whichever one you choose, I will be able to assist you"... That teacher laid out three options for you - here, you have limited choice. If you go with one of these three options, they will be able to help you - whichever one you choose. If that other person said, "You will find five kinds of yoghurt at that supermarket. Whichever one you buy is fine" - again, you will find only five options. And finally, you might be telling that first person that you're thinking about learning an Asian language - like Japanese or Korean. So that person might tell you "Whichever one you choose (out of the limited set of Asian languages) will be a great addition to your education."

I would like to see your examples for whatever and whichever. Let me know in the comments, and talk to you next time!

Key expressions

whatever
whichever

Vocabulário

so to speak = por assim dizer

it's on me = é comigo (eu estou pagando)

laid out = apresentou, expôs

Hello, everyone. No episódio de hoje do podcast Inglês Online, eu falo sobre uma diferença básica entre as palavras whatever e whichever em inglês e dou exemplos de como usá-las.

Hello, everyone. This is the new episode of the Inglesonline podcast. Please subscribe to this podcast using the Podcasts app for iPhone or iPad, or listen to the episodes using the Inglesonline Android app. Thanks for all the comments at the iTunes store and if you haven’t yet left a comment for this podcast please do so: the more comments for the Inglesonline podcast, the more people will find out about it and listen to the episodes. Thank you for telling your friends, your neighbours, your family and keep listening.

So today I will talk about the basic difference between whatever and whichever and give you examples of how to use both. I’m not gonna cover all the ways you can use one or the other; rather I’ll focus, like I said, on the most basic way to use them.

Whatever language you choose, it’s important to listen to it.

Do you remember the difference between WHICH and WHAT? Let’s recap: which is the better option when you’re referring to a limited set of options that is known to the people having a conversation. If you ask someone “What’s your favourite movie?”, you’re asking that person to choose from an almost infinite number of possibilities – like, every movie known to man. Now, if you show three DVDs to that person, you could say “What’s your favourite?” but “Which one is your favourite? ” is better here. Why? Because you’re asking them to choose from the three options you presented before you asked the question.

So the examples I’m going to show you using whatever and whichever follow the same rule, so to speak. So if someone tells you “Whatever language you decide to learn, it is important to listen to it.” Out of all the languages of the world, whatever language you choose, it’s important to listen to it. If someone says “You can buy whatever you like in the supermarket. It’s on me” they’re giving you complete freedom – they will pay for any products you choose to buy without restriction. If your teacher tells you “whatever degree you’d like to pursue, I can help you” that means that you could choose any degree in the world and they will be able to help you.

Now, if the same teacher says “In order to have my guidance you have to pick Geography, History or Social Sciences. So whichever one you choose, I will be able to assist you”… That teacher laid out three options for you – here, you have limited choice. If you go with one of these three options, they will be able to help you – whichever one you choose. If that other person said, “You will find five kinds of yoghurt at that supermarket. Whichever one you buy is fine” – again, you will find only five options. And finally, you might be telling that first person that you’re thinking about learning an Asian language – like Japanese or Korean. So that person might tell you “Whichever one you choose (out of the limited set of Asian languages) will be a great addition to your education.”

I would like to see your examples for whatever and whichever. Let me know in the comments, and talk to you next time!

Key expressions

whatever
whichever

Vocabulário

so to speak = por assim dizer

it’s on me = é comigo (eu estou pagando)

laid out = apresentou, expôs