Question Word + som helst

Whatever / Whoever (Som Helst)

Level 3

The phrase som helst is added to question words like hvad (what) or hvem (who) to express that the specific choice does not matter. It translates to 'any... at all' or '-ever'.

How It Works

The construction spørgsmålsord + som helst is a vital part of intermediate Danish. It is used to indicate that the identity, time, place, or manner of something is completely open or irrelevant.

1. Common Combinations:

  • Hvad som helst: Anything / Whatever
  • Hvem som helst: Anyone / Whoever
  • Hvor som helst: Anywhere / Wherever
  • Hvornår som helst: Anytime / Whenever
  • Hvordan som helst: Any way / Anyhow

2. Movement and Direction:
Just like standard wh-questions, the word 'hvor' changes based on direction. You can use hvorhen som helst (to anywhere) or hvorfra som helst (from anywhere) to be more precise about movement.

3. Agreement and Articles:
When using hvilken (which) to modify a noun, you can use an indefinite article (en or et) before the phrase:

  • En hvilken som helst dag (Any day at all)
  • Et hvilket som helst barn (Any child at all)
  • Plural: Hvilke som helst bøger (Any books at all), without en/et.

The article is not compulsory in every context: Vælg hvilken som helst farve is also grammatical.

4. Subject Rule in Subordinate Clauses:
A following subject relative clause needs a relative marker, usually der: Hvem som helst, der vil være med, kan komme. This does not mean the phrase itself always needs der when it is a subject: Hvad som helst kan ske and Jeg tror, at hvad som helst kan ske need no extra der. The der belongs to the additional relative clause, not to som helst.

5. Important Distinction:
Do not confuse hvad som helst (anything/whatever) with the concessive hvad ... end (no matter what). Hvad som helst acts like a noun or adverb, while hvad ... end is used for 'regardless' scenarios (e.g., Hvad han end gør...).

Emphatic Negatives: Jeg har ikke nogen som helst idé (I have no idea at all) and Vi har ikke noget som helst at spise (We have nothing at all to eat). With plural nouns, negative nogen is also used: Jeg har ingen som helst problemer or Jeg har ikke nogen som helst problemer (I have no problems whatsoever). The phrase reinforces the absence of any exception.

Examples (6)

  1. Du må vælge hvad som helst fra menuen.

    You may choose whatever/anything at all from the menu.

    Word by Word: You may choose what as preferably from menu-the.

    'Hvad som helst' functions as the object of the sentence, meaning 'anything without restriction.'

  2. Hvem som helst kan lære at svømme.

    Anyone at all can learn to swim.

    Word by Word: Who as preferably can learn to swim.

    'Hvem som helst' is the subject here, emphasizing that the person's identity doesn't matter.

  3. Hvad som helst, der sker, er fint med mig.

    Whatever happens is fine with me.

    Word by Word: What as preferably, that happens, is fine with me.

    The added relative clause 'der sker' has der as its subject marker. Hvad som helst by itself can be a subject without der.

  4. Jeg har ikke noget som helst at lave i dag.

    I don't have anything at all to do today.

    Word by Word: I have not something as preferably to do today.

    Here 'som helst' is added to noget to add strong emphasis to the negation.

  5. Du kan komme på en hvilken som helst dag.

    You can come on any day at all.

    Word by Word: You can come on a which as preferably day.

    When modifying a noun, this example uses an indefinite article.

  6. Vi kan tage hvorhen som helst i ferien.

    We can go anywhere at all during the vacation.

    Word by Word: We can take where-to as preferably in vacation-the.

    Just like standard question words, 'hvor' changes to hvorhen when there is movement toward a destination.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting gender agreement with 'hvilken'.

    Du kan tage hvilken som helst æble.
    Du kan tage hvilket som helst æble.

    Since 'æble' is a neuter noun (et æble), you must use 'hvilket' instead of 'hvilken'.

  • Using 'nogle' instead of 'nogen' in the singular sense.

    Jeg har ikke nogle som helst anelse.
    Jeg har ikke nogen som helst anelse.

    In the phrase 'any... at all,' the singular 'nogen' (common gender) or 'noget' (neuter) is used, not the plural 'nogle'.

  • Incorrect word order in subordinate clauses.

    Hvor som helst man må ikke ryge...
    Hvor som helst man ikke må ryge...

    In a subordinate clause, the adverb 'ikke' must come before the verb.

How It Connects

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Question Word + som helstLevel 3Whatever / Whoever (Som Helst)

Learn This First

To understand 'spørgsmålsord + som helst', you first need to know the basic Danish question words (hvad, hvem, hvor, etc.) because they form the first part of the expression. You also need to be familiar with the relative pronoun 'som', which serves as the linking element in this fixed phrase meaning 'any-' or '-ever'.