Learn English – Should I use which or whichever

questions

I am confused between the following sentences. Which of these sentences are correct?

You wear whichever shoes are comfortable.

You wear the shoes which are comfortable.

Please explain to me which sentence is correct.

Best Answer

You can use both, they have slightly different meanings. But your sentences aren't quite grammatical or natural-sounding.

Wear whichever shoes are comfortable.

This means that the speaker is aware that the listener has a choice of shoes, and that the listener should choose the pair that is most comfortable.

Wear shoes which are comfortable.

This means that the speaker is merely instructing the listener to wear comfortable shoes, without being aware of whether the listener actually owns shoes that fit that description or not.

In this usage, "whichever" implies a choice, "which" is a descriptor.