What if是由两个简单的词组成的,不过它的用法很丰富。What if…?句型其实是包含了if引导的条件状语从句、但省略了主句内容的。由于if引导的从句提出的是一个假设,在从句中根据不同的情况使用陈述语气(一般现在时)或是虚拟语气(一般过时时)都是可以的。
What if…?句型有三大主要用法:
一是用来假设某事发生后会发生什么事:
What if…? 要是……怎么办?
这时,这个句型的完整形式相当于:
What will happen if…?
或:What will I/we/you do if…?
举例说明:
A: I’m going to skip school this afternoon.
B: What if someone tells your mother?
A:今天下午我准备旷课。
B:要是有人告诉你妈怎么办?
A: What if Tony doesn’t make it on time?
B: We’ll have to start without him.
A:如果托尼不能准时来呢?
B:那我们只有不管他就开始了。
A: I can’t take anymore of this. I’m going to tell the boss I’m quitting.
B: What if you can’t find a new job?
A:我再也受不了这个了。我要跟老板说我要辞职。
B:那你要是找不着新工作怎么办呢?
A: What if we’re late?
B: Don’t worry. We’ll be on time.
A:如果我们迟到怎么办呢?
B:别担心,我们会准时的。
A: But, Mom, everybody is getting a new bicycle!
B: What if everyone were to jump off a cliff, would you do that too?
A:可是妈妈,每个人都有新自行车了!
B:如果每个人都从悬崖上跳下去又怎么样?你也要跳下去吗?
A: Don’t waste your money on another lottery ticket.
B: Why not? What if I win?
A:别再把钱浪费在彩票上了。
B:为什么不?我要赢了呢?
第二种用法是用来对未来提出建议:
What if…? ……你说怎么样?
这时它相当于:
What do you say if…?
Examples:
A: What if we split the profits fifty-fifty?
B: Alright. It's a deal.
A:我们五五分成如何?
B:行,成交。
A: This package won't make it in time for her birthday.
B: What if we send it by Shunfeng?
A:这个包裹肯定赶不上她生日了。
B:我们寄顺丰怎么样?
A: What if we have steak for dinner?
B: That's a good idea. Everybody likes steak.
A:我们晚餐吃牛排怎么样?
B:好主意。人人都喜欢牛排。
A: I'll never forgive you for saying that.
B: What if I said I was sorry?
A:我永远都不会原谅你说那样的话。
B:我道歉怎么样?
A: What if we just settled our differences peacefully?
B: Oh, no, it's too late for that.
A:我们和平解决我们之间的争议如何?
B:不行,已经太晚了。
A: I'll never finish this cleaning in time for the party!
B: What if I helped you out?
A:我肯定赶不及收拾好地方来准备聚会了!
B:我帮你怎么样?
练习完这12个对话,你应该能熟练掌握What if…?这一句型的用法了吧?别忘了要用出去!
Now it's your time to open your mouth and practice! 张开嘴巴练起来!
联系客服