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Jooney Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Whatever
Hi,
A: What she is cooking smells delicious.
B: Whatever she is cooking smells delicious.
As for A, I know the thing that she is cooking, and it smells delicious.
As for B, I don't know what it is that she is cooking, but that unknown thing smells delicious.
What about the following sentence?
I'll do what/whatever I can to save the marriage.
Q1) Is the infinitive a purpose adjunct?
Q2) Can "what" and "whatever" be interchangeably used in this sentence? It seems to me both can be paraphrased as follows:
what: I don't know what it is that I can do in order to save the marriage, but I'm willing to do that thing.
whatever: same as above.
I'd appreciate your help.
A: What she is cooking smells delicious.
B: Whatever she is cooking smells delicious.
As for A, I know the thing that she is cooking, and it smells delicious.
As for B, I don't know what it is that she is cooking, but that unknown thing smells delicious.
What about the following sentence?
I'll do what/whatever I can to save the marriage.
Q1) Is the infinitive a purpose adjunct?
Q2) Can "what" and "whatever" be interchangeably used in this sentence? It seems to me both can be paraphrased as follows:
what: I don't know what it is that I can do in order to save the marriage, but I'm willing to do that thing.
whatever: same as above.
I'd appreciate your help.
Top answer
jooney A: What she is cooking smells delicious. B: Whatever she is cooking smells delicious . As for A, I know the thing that she is cooking, and it smells delicious.
- jooney A: What she is cooking smells delicious.
- B: Whatever she is cooking smells delicious .
- As for A, I know the thing that she is cooking, and it smells delicious.
- As for B, I don't know what it is that she is cooking, but that unknown thing smells delicious.
- Right.
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2 Answers
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jooneyA: What she is cooking smells delicious.Right.
B: Whatever she is cooking smells delicious.
As for A, I know the thing that she is cooking, and it smells delicious.
As for B, I don't know what it is that she is cooking, but that unknown thing smells delicious.
jooneyWhat abo
00
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