whoever与no matter who有何区别?

有这样一道题：

I will give the ticket to __________ wants it.

A. whoever B. no matter who C. whatever D. no matter what

此题应选 A。容易误选B。选项C，D都是错的，因为从句意上看，“想要票的”应该是“人”(whoever)而不能是“东西”(whatever)。至于为什么选 whoever 而不选no matter who，这要从它们在句中引导的成分说起：

no matter who通常只能引导状语从句，而不能引导名词性从句。而 whoever 既可引导名词性从句(= anyone that)也可引导状语从句(=no matter who)：

1. 引导名词性从句(只用whoever)：

谁想去我就带谁去。

正：I’ll take whoever wants to go.

误：I’ll take no matter who wants to go.

谁赢了都可以获奖。

正：Whoever wins gets a prize.

误：No matter who wins gets a prize.

不管这话是谁对你说的，他都是在撒谎。

正：Whoever told you that was lying.

误：No matter who told you that was lying.

2. 引导状语从句(两者可换用)：

不管是谁打电话来，都说我出去了。

正：Whoever phones，tell them I’m out.

正：No matter who phones，tell them I’m out.

不管是谁这样说，那都是错的。

正：Whoever says so，it is wrong.

正：No matter who says so，it is wrong.