康 忠 侯国俊
if是英语中出现频率很高的连词,并且它的用法也很多。学生感到很难掌握,为了让同学们更多更好地了解其用法及其语法功能。现结合教学中遇到的情况,予以归纳,以供参考。
一、if作为连词,引导条件状语从句,它表示的意思是“假如”“如果”等。在复合句中如果主句用将
来时,则if引导的状语从句用一般现在时。例如:
1. If itdoesntrain, we will go to the park next Sunday. 如果天不下雨,下周星期天我们将去公园。
2. If you ask him,he will help you.如果你求他,他将会帮助你。
二、if还可以引导让步状语从句。这时if当作“即使是”,“虽说”解。例如:
1. If shes poor,at least shes honest. 虽说她很穷,但至少她还是诚实的。
2. If I am wrong,you are wrong, too. 即使说我错了,那么你也不对。
3. Ill do it, even if it takes me all the afternoon. 虽然会花费我一下午的时间,我还是要做这事。
三、if作为连词还可以引导宾语从句。引导宾语从句时和whether意思相同。例如:
1. Lily asked if / whether she liked it. 莉莉问她是否喜欢它。
2. She asked if / whether they had a cotton one. 她问是否他们有一件棉织的。
四、if引导时间状语从句,当if做“当”或“无论何时”解而不含有条件之义时,if从句中的时态与主句中的时态相同。例如:
1. If youmix yellow and blue,you get green.你将黄色与蓝色混合,便会得到绿色。
2. If she wants the servant,she rings the bell.每当她需要仆人时,她便按铃。
五、if后接否定动词,用于感叹句中,表示沮丧、惊奇等。例如:
I. Well,if I havent left my false teeth at home!真倒霉,我把假牙丢在家里了!
2. And if he didnt try to knock me down!(What do you think he did!He tried knock me down!)你猜他想做什么?他想把我撞倒!
六、用于虚拟语气中,if从句中用过去式,表示不可能实现,大概不会实现或提出作为考虑的假定条件。例如:
1. If you were a bird, you could fly.假使你是只鸟,你便会飞了。
2. If I asked him(if I were to ask him) for a loan,would he agree?如果我向他借贷,他会答应吗?
另外,if从句中用过去完成式,表示过去未实现的条件(例如由于不可能实现或某人之未能实行)。例如:
1. If they had startedearlier,they would have arrivedin time.要是他们早些动身,他们便可及时到达了。
2. If they had not started when they did,they would not be here now.如果他们那时不动身,现在他们就不会在此地了。
第三,在文学体栽中,if有时可省略,然后将主语与所用的限定动词(尤其是were,had,should)倒置。例如:
1. Should it (=if it should)be necessary,I will go. 倘若有必要,我会去的。
2. Were I(=if I were) in your place,I would do the same . 如果我处于你的位置,我也会这样干的。
3. Had I(=if I had)known earlier,I would come.如果我早一点知道,我就会来。
七、if与其它一些介词的连用。
首先,as与if连用,它的意思是:“仿佛、好像”同样引导从句。例如:
1. It isnt as if we are rich.(We are not rich.)我们不像富有的样子。(即我们不富有)
2. It isnt as if he doesnt know the ruler.(i.e.He does know the rulers.)他不像不懂规则的样子。(即他懂得规则)
另外as if还可以引导感叹句。例如:
As if I would allow it!(i.e.I would certainly not allow it!)好像我会答应似的!(我才不会答应哩!)
其次, if与only连用。常表示愿望或一个未实现的条件,尤其用于感叹句中。例如:
1. If only he arrives in time!他若能及时到达就好了!
2. If only she would marry me!但愿她能嫁给我!
3. If only she had known about it!(But she didnt know.) 她那时要是知道(但她不知道)这事就好了!