Whoever, Whatever, Whenever, Wherever: Genetic Engineering
Whoever, Whatever, Whenever, Wherever: Genetic Engineering
Whoever, Whatever, Whenever, Wherever: Genetic Engineering
• The main grammar focus is on the pronouns / adverbs whoever, whatever, whenever or wherever,
used to express it doesn’t matter who / what / when / where, etc. and anyone / anything / anytime /
anyplace.
• Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese have no direct equivalents to some of these
pronouns / adverbs and only uncommon, formal equivalents to others. Sometimes the idea is
conveyed by a basic pronoun / adverb, equivalent to who, where, etc., followed by a subjunctive.
Consequently, students may have difficulty remembering these words and their use, avoid them,
and substitute them with transliterations such as Who has broken it will pay. ✗ for Whoever broke
it . . . , or Always that I go there, I have fun. ✗ for Whenever I go there . . .
ANSWERS
EXERCISE 1 EXERCISE 3
PERSONALIZE IT!
• Ask the students to list a few things that annoy them, or that they don’t like, using a wh-ever word
in their sentences, e.g. I get very angry whenever I see a person dropping litter. / I can’t stand rap
music, whoever is performing it. Ask volunteers to read their sentences out to the class and see how
many students agree with them.
• The students can work in pairs to write a conversation between a couple who are very much in love,
using wh-ever words, e.g.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
EXERCISE 1 EXERCISE 3
Complete these sentences with whoever, whatever, Read this conversation. Rewrite the underlined sentences
whenever or wherever. below, using an appropriate wh-ever word.
Whatever you do, don’t tell them you’ve had Pablo: This is ridiculous, Sven. You haven’t
a genetic test! spoken to me for a week.
1 discovers a cure for cancer will Sven: What do you expect? It doesn’t matter what
become very rich and famous. you say or do, I can’t forget that article you
2 The government is stopping the funding for the published.
research, the discoveries they’ve Pablo: It was only disagreeing with your research.
made. Sven: I know, but (1) every time that someone
3 I turn cold I hear people talking sees my name now, they’ll think of the scientist
about cloning. who got it all wrong.
4 GM crops are grown, the seeds Pablo: There was a problem with the equipment.
always blow into other fields and contaminate (2) It doesn’t matter who did the research, the
other plants. results were going to be wrong.
5 I don’t believe the findings in that report, Sven: I suppose you’re right. (3) It doesn’t matter
the authors are. who repaired that piece of equipment, they
should lose their job.
EXERCISE 2 Pablo: I agree. The situation now is awful. (4) It
Complete these sentences using the phrases in the box. doesn’t matter what agency you use, they
always send untrained people.
• deserves to earn $1 million a year Sven: Mm, I suppose they’re cheaper. Karen says
• always drink bottled water that (5) the company is trying to save money
• the rate of divorce in my country every place it can, but it’s crazy if they don’t
• can’t escape the effects of air pollution get the right staff.
• see pictures of starving children Pablo: You’re right, but (6) anything we scientists
• I can find it. say is ignored. You know that . . .
Whatever you say or do, I can’t forget that article
1 Whenever I ,
I have to turn the TV off. you published.
2 You , 1
wherever you live.
3 No one , 2
whoever they are.
4 Whatever ,
3
I still want to get married.
5 I try to eat organic food whenever
© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2004
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6 I ,
wherever I’m traveling. 5
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