Pattern
Question word used inside a statement
Core idea
Question words can appear in statements where the speaker leaves the exact person, thing, place, or time open. The meaning is like “whoever,” “whatever,” “whenever,” or “anywhere,” depending on context.
The sentence is not asking a direct question. The question word is part of a larger statement.
Compare with inclusive question words
Inclusive patterns often mean the whole set, such as everyone or everything. Non-specific patterns leave the choice open. The surrounding words tell you which meaning is intended.
Examples
你想吃什么都可以。
Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme dōu kěyǐ.
Whatever you want to eat is fine.
谁来都欢迎。
Shéi lái dōu huānyíng.
Whoever comes is welcome.
你什么时候有空都可以来。
Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng dōu kěyǐ lái.
You can come whenever you are free.
Common mistakes
Avoid
你想吃什么？都可以。
Use
你想吃什么都可以。
For the non-specific statement meaning, keep the question word inside the same sentence.
Seen in stories
The Rooftop Key
说到顶楼，住户们有的晒棉被，有的种九层塔，谁都说自己没拿钥匙。
Speaking of the rooftop, some residents dry quilts there and some grow basil, but everyone said they had not taken the key.
The Wrong Locker Code
说到网购，邻居们什么都买，可是谁也不承认这袋猫粮是自己的。
Speaking of online shopping, the neighbors buy everything, yet no one admitted the cat food was theirs.