Whatever/No matter

Question

Is there any difference in the two?
Would it be the same to say

Whatever you do you'll have my unconditional support as I need you in my company.
No matter what you do you'll have my unconditional support as I need you in my company.

Paco2004 · Accepted Answer

Hello Maj

"No matter what .." is an ellipsis of 'it makes no matter what ...' or 'it is no matter what'.
"No matter what" and "whatever" mean the same, though the latter sounds a bit more formal.

paco

MrPedantic · Answer

I'd agree that the two sentences mean much the same thing. It might be possible to argue that 'whatever' has an air of 'if', whereas 'no matter what' has an air of 'even if':

A: 'So I can sell off all our French assets, and invest the proceeds in a Swedish furniture-making concern?'
B: 'Whatever you do, you'll have my unconditional support, as I need you in my company.'

i.e. 'if you do that or anything else, you'll...'

A: 'So I can sleep with your wife?'
B: 'No matter what you do, you'll have my unconditional support, as I need you in my company.'

i.e. 'even if you do that, you'll...'

MrP

Whatever/No matter

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