Wherever/no matter where

Question

In some cases we can use the phrase "no matter where" instead of "wherever."
ex) Wherever you go, I'll follow you.
No matter where you go, I'll follow you.
But in some cases it's not possible.
ex) I'll go wherever you want.
I'll go no matter where you want. (not correct)
I want to know in what casese the paraphrase is possible and in what cases impossible.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

'No matter where' cannot be an object of the verb, I think, while 'wherever' wears two hats:

Wherever I go, I am reviled. (adverbial clause, with 'wherever an adverb)
I will go wherever you go. (d.o clause, with 'wherever' a conjunction)

CalifJim · Answer

Oops. I don't think intransitive verbs (go) have direct objects.
Unfortunately, I think "wherever ..." is always adverbial.

How are you doing Mr. Mic?

CalifJim · Answer

I think it's related to whether it's at the beginning of the sentence or not, and also partially on whether the verb following "wherever" is stative, the case of "no matter where ... [stative]" being incorrect.

Just a flippant guess. I need to think about it some more.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Well, I am not at the peak of my perceptiveness, Jim. So let me call it an adverbial adjunct, not a direct object. Webster's at least enters 'wherever' etc. as conjunctions; but actually, I like your other guess re position in the sentence. I almost said that at first too, then realized I didn't know how to support the contention.

Now I am passing on. See you.

An attempt · Answer

I hate contradicting you but still I don’t think the position of the words “no matter where” in the beginning of the sentence or in the middle has anything to do with it; indeed, why couldn’t the sentence “I'll follow you wherever you go” be just as well paraphrased as “I'll follow you, no matter where you go” ?

I’d rather think that the first guess about “wherever” having 2 different grammatical functions and “no matter where” fitting only one of them is more correct.

However I feel uncertain as to how these functions should be called in English. Just for myself, I’d put it like this: “wherever” can be used both as a conjunction introducing a concessive subordinate clause (meaning something close to “in spite of the fact there might be various places”) and as a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause which grammatically stands for an adverbial phrase (meaning “to any place”), while with “no matter where”, only the first way to use it is possible.

An attempt · Answer

I might be mistaken in using the terms, though. I am not quite sure here. Correct me, please

Komountain · Answer

Here is two cents from a non-native speaker:

"wherever": used as either a noun conjunction or an adverbial conjunction.
(In other words, it has a double function.)
This means [wherever + clause] can function as either a noun or an adverb.
noun: He wanted to live wherever I chose.
('chose' is a transitive requiring an object. Only nouns can be objects.)
adverb: He wanted to live wherever I did (=lived)
(Here, 'wherever' is definitely an adverb.)

More often than not, these two functions are in effect in one
sentence at the same time. A good example was already provided by Yoshi.
"I'll go wherever you want." (Here, 'wherever' fits the mold.)

"no matter where": used as an adverbial conjunction.
(Its function is limited as opposed to 'wherever.')
adverb: I'll go no matter where you go. (correct)
I'll go no matter where you want. (incorrect)
(Here, 'want' is a transitive requiring an object. 'no matter where' can't
be an object as it is an adverb.)

*I have noticed the words with the concept of typical places (e.g. place, room, space,
someplace, somewhere, anywhere, nowhere....) have a double function as both a noun
and an adverb. Examples:
This city is a good place to live.
This city is a good place to live in.
(I believe both are correct.)

Let's go somewhere to eat.
(I'd rather not add 'in' after 'eat.')

I just hope my analysis works and helps you.

Wherever/no matter where

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