Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

WH-CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

455

Clauses introduced by whatever, whenever, however, whoever, whichever can

introduce conditions which always seem to obtain and cannot seem to be changed:

Whatever she says, don’t believe it.

Whenever the team loses, they are miserable for the rest of the weekend.

However late they arrive, how can we find the time to meet them?

Whether … or

and whether … or not can be used to link two different conditions

which the speaker regards as having the same likely outcome:

Whether we drive or go by train, it will still take about four hours.

I don’t think it’ll make any difference 

whether Jake comes with us or not.

752 | Condition

Cambridge Grammar of English

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