Whatsoever vs. howsoever

[Strawberry girl]

Test No. incompl/inter-37 "Eating Disorder", question 4

The contract stated that he would never eat any meat ..........

(a) whatsoever
(b) whosoever
(c) howsoever
(d) whichsoever

Test No. incompl/inter-37 "Eating Disorder", answer 4

The contract stated that he would never eat any meat whatsoever.

Correct answer: (a) whatsoever

Your answer was: incorrect
The contract stated that he would never eat any meat howsoever.
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Hi,Alan
"Whatsoever" is a pron word and "howsoever" is a adv word.And howsoever means "to whatever degree or extent".Why doesn't it fit here?

[Alan]

Hi Strawberry,

You have to look at this sentence in the context of the little story I've written. George has signed a contract agreeing not to eat meat of any kind. The emphasis is on the meat - in other words no meat at all of any kind. That's why it should be no meat whatsoever. If you said howsoever, you would be referring to the verb eat and the manner in which he would eat it and that's not the meaning intended.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple