【问】 (A) You can do whatever you like.
 (B) I used whatever tools were available.
 如何分析上面的whatever从句?句(B)的从句为什么没有主语(即were的主语是什么)?是否可理解为在were之前省略了关系代词which或that?
 【答】 上面的whatever从句叫做名词性定语从句(nominal relative clauses)。在这里，whatev-er，whoever和whichever身兼二职：1.引导从句(主语从句、宾语从句等);2.在定语从句中起关系代词的作用(充当从句的主语、宾语等)。实际上，我们可以将名词性定语从句改写成名词中心词+定语从句：
 1. You can do whatever you like. →You can do any that which you like.
 你可以做你喜欢做的任何事情。
 2. You can take whichever you like.→You can take any that you like.
 你喜欢哪一个就可以拿哪一个。
 3. Whoever comes will be welcome. →Anyone who comes will be welcome.
 谁来都欢迎。
 4. We'll give you whatever help you need. →We'll give you any help(that)you need.
 我们将给予你们所需要的任何帮助。
 5. I used whatever tools were available.→I used any tools which were available.
 所能弄到的工具，我都用上了。
 这种名词性定语从句可以充当句子的各种成分：主语(例3)、宾语(例1—2)、定语(例4—5)。我国英语语法书关于充当定语的名词性定语从句谈得很少。让我们再补充一些实例，并加以讨论：
 1. You should wear whichever dress suits you best. (CGEL)
 哪件衣服穿起来最漂亮，你就穿哪件。
 2. She had to rely on whatever books were lying around. (EED)
 她不得不依赖放在周围的所有那些书。
 3. Take whichever seat you like.(LASED)
 你喜欢哪个座位就坐哪一个。
 4. I'll read whichever book you recommend.
 你推荐的任何书我都愿意看。
 5. Vote for whichever proposal you think most favourable. (CGEL)
 你认为哪个建议最好，你就投票赞成哪个建议。
 在上面的句子里，whatever和whichever引导名词性定语从句，它们本身在句子里充当定语。由于名词性定语从句的本质是名词中心词+定语从句，所以不能认为在从句谓语(如句(B)的were，句(1)suits，句(2) were)之前省略了关系代词which或that，因为whatever和whichever除了在主句中充当定语之外，在定语从句中还兼起着关系代词的作用。因此，句(3)、(4)也不能认为省略了关系代词which或that。(参见whichever2)