这些词具有几种不同的含义,可以引导关系从句和其他从句。尽管其他从句严格说不属于本章范围,但是看来最好还是把这些带ever的形式放在一起讲。
A whoever(代词)和whichever(代词和形容词)的意思可以是the one who,he who,she who:
Whoever gains the most points wins the competition.
谁得分最多,谁就赢得比赛。
Whichever of them gains the most points wins.
他们中哪一个得分最多,哪一个就赢。
Whichever team gains the most points wins.
哪个队得分最多,哪个队就赢。
Whoever gets home first starts cooking the supper.
谁先到家,谁就开始做晚饭。
Whichever of us gets home first starts cooking.
我们当中不管谁先到家,就开始做饭。
Whoever cleans your windows doesnt make a good job of it.
不管是谁擦洗你的窗户,他都没干好。
B whatever(代词和形容词),whenever,wherever:
You can eat what/whatever You like(anything you like).
你喜欢什么就可以吃什么。
When you are older you can watch whatever programme you like.
等你长大了,你爱看什么节目就可以看什么节目。
My roof leaks when/whenever it rains(every time it rains).
一下雨(每次下雨),我的房顶就漏。
You will see this product advertised everywhere/wherever you go.
无论你到哪里,都能看到这种产品的广告。
Go anywhere/wherever you like.
你愿意去哪儿就去哪儿。
C whoever,whichever,whatever,whenever,wherever,however都可以是 no matter who(不论)的意思:
If I say heads,I win;tails you lose,I will win whatever happens/ whichever way the coin falls.
如果我说头,我赢;尾,你输,那么无论什么情况(无论硬币落下后哪一面朝上)我都会赢。
Whatever happens dont forget to write.
无论怎样别忘了写信。
Ill find him,wherever he has gone.
无论他到哪里去了,我都要找到他。(不论他去了哪儿)
whatever you do经常被置于要求/命令之前或之后以强调其重要性:
Whatever you do,dont mention my name.
无论如何,不要提起我的名字。
however是程度副词,常和形容词或另一副词连用:
Id rather have a room of my own,however small(it is),than share a room.
无论房间多么小,我宁愿一个人住一间,而不愿意与别人合住一个房间。
However hard I worked,she was never satisfied.
无论我多么努力地工作,她从来没满意过。
D whatever,wherever可以表示说话人不知情或者不关心:
He lives in Wick,wherever that is.
他住在威克,谁知道那地方在哪儿。(我不知道威克在哪里,也不感兴趣。)
He says hes a phrenologist,whatever that is.
他说他是一个颅相学家,谁知道是干什么的。(我不知道那是干什么的,也不感兴趣。)
who ever,when ever,what ever等等也可以分开写成两个字,但意思产生了变化:
I lost seven kilos in a month.
How ever did you lose so much in such a short time?
一个月内我体重减轻了七公斤。
在这么短的时间里你怎么会瘦那么多呢?
Bill(suspiciously):I know all about you.
比尔(怀疑地):我知道你的底细。
Tom(indignantly):What ever do you mean?
汤姆(怒气冲冲地):你到底是什么意思?
Where ever did you buy your wonderful carpets?
你究竟在什么地方买下这些漂亮的地毯?
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