呂吉爾

許多同學會將whoever和who混淆,這主要是沒有辨清whoever一詞的基本含義及其用法所致。whoever有三種含義,與之相對應的用法也有三種。

(1) 表示“……的那個人”,相當于anyone who/that。此時,whoever具有連接詞的功能,引導名詞性從句。

例1Whoever told you that was lying. 誰對你說這話,誰就是在撒謊。

例2Ill give my ticket to whoever wants it. 誰要我的票,我就把票給誰。

例3Whoever you respect will respect you as well. 你尊重別人,別人也會尊重你。

從上述例句可以看出,whoever引導名詞性從句時,兼有先行詞anyone和關系代詞who兩個功能。此時,主句的主語或賓語由whoever中隱含的anyone擔任;而whoever中包含的who引導定語從句,修飾anyone。

如例1,Whoever told you that was lying相當于Anyone who told you that was lying,whoever包含的anyone是was lying的主語,who told you that修飾anyone。

假如將例1改為Who told you that was lying,則句子不成立。who引導的從句who told you that意為“誰告訴你那件事的”,這是個疑問,“疑問”是不會撒謊的,撒謊的應該是“告訴你那件事的人”。要使句子表達正確,who前面必須有先行詞anyone,此時who引導的是一個定語從句。

事實上,who 引導名詞性從句時,整個從句在主句中作一定的成分。比如:Who will give you a new class is unknown一句中,從句who will give you a new class作主句的主語。這點和whoever引導名詞性從句時有著根本區(qū)別。

在判斷不清用whoever還是who來引導名詞性從句時,可以從句意角度去考慮,也可以通過分析在主句中擔任成分的是否為整個從句來判斷。

(2) 表示“無論誰,不管什么人”,相當于no matter who。此時,whoever用做連接代詞,引導讓步狀語從句。

whoever在引導讓步狀語從句時與引導名詞性從句時的區(qū)別在于,讓步狀語從句中的whoever不擔任主句的句子成分,而名詞性從句中的whoever則兼任主句的成分。

例4Whoever says so, it is wrong. 不管誰這樣說,這都是錯的。

例5Whoever it is, I dont want to see him. 不管什么人,我都不想見。

例6Whoever you marry, make sure he can cook. 不管你跟誰結婚,他一定要會做飯才行。

(3) 意為“究竟是誰”,常用來表示驚訝,用做疑問代詞,是疑問代詞who的強調形式。這種情況下whoever也可以分寫為who ever。此時,whoever引導的不是從句,而是一個獨立的疑問句,且加強了疑問的語氣;可與who互換,但who的語氣要弱一些。

例7Whoever told you such a stupid story? 究竟是誰告訴你這么愚蠢的事?

例8Whoever could that be at this time of night? 這么晚了,究竟會是誰呢?

【牛刀小試】

1. Give the books toneeds them for the English class and the writing class.

A. whomever B. whom C. who D. whoever

2.telephones, tell him Im out.

A. Whom B. Whoever C. Who D. No matter

3. Womendrink more than two cups of coffee a day have a greater chance of having heart disease than thosedont.

A. who; whoever B. whoever; who

C. who; who D. whoever; whoever

4.will give us a talk is unknown to us all.

A. Whomever B. Who C. Anyone D. No matter who

5.has finished the work ahead of time will be rewarded though we dont knowit will be.

A. Those who; that B. Anyone; whoever

C. Whoever; who D. No matter who; who

6. “ could have dreamed of such a thing?” I asked in great surprise.

A. Whoever B. Anyone whom

C. No matter who D. Whose

【參考答案】

1. D (此句相當于Give the books to anyone who needs ...)

2. B (根據句意“不論誰來電話”,選B。whoever引導讓步狀語從句,相當于no matter who)

3. C (此句兩空考查定語從句,先行詞均為人,故用who引導)

4. B (句意為“誰將給我們作報告還是未知的”,who引導的名詞性從句在主句中作主語)

5. C (whoever引導名詞性從句;who引導know的賓語從句)

6. A (whoever作為疑問詞who的強調形式)