Page 269 - Basic English Usage

271 362 — 364

362 whether ... or...

We can use whether ... or... aS aconjunction, with a similar
meaning to it doesn't matter whether ... or ... The clause with
whether ... or ... cancome at the beginning of the sentence or after
the other clause.
Whether you like it or not, you'll have to pay.
You'll have to pay, whether you like it or not.

363 which, what and who: question words

Determiners
We can use which and what before nouns to ask questions about
people or things.
Which teacher do you like best?
Which colour do you want green, red, yellow or brown?
—
What writers do you like?
What colour are your girl-friend’s eyes?
We usually prefer which when we are choosing between a small
number, and what when we are choosing between a large number.
Before another determiner (for example the, my, these) or a pronoun, we
use which of.
Which of your teachers do you like best?
Which of them do you want?

Pronouns
We can use which, what and who as pronouns, without nouns. We use
who, not which, for people.
Who won — Smith or Fitzgibbon?
Which would you prefer — wine or beer?
What would you like to eat?
We usually use who, not whom, as an object.
Who 0 you like best — your father or your mother?
(Whom do you like best ... 7 is very formal.)
For who and which as relative pronouns, see 277. For relative what, see 278.

364 who ever, what ever, how ever etc

These express surprise, or difficulty in believing something.
Who ever is that girl with the green hair?
What ever are you doing?
How ever did you manage to start the car? | couldn't.
When ever will | have time to write some letters?