从一道高考题谈whichever的用法

作者：杨时务

先看下面一道高考题:

These wild flowers are so special I would do ________ I can to save them.

A. whatever B. that

C. which D. whichever

此题主要考查关联词引导宾语从句时的用法差异。that引导宾语从句时,只起连接作用,在从句中不充当任何成分。which引导宾语从句具有双重作用:一方面起连接作用,引导从句,同时在从句中充当某种成分,其意思与其作疑问词时的意思相同。弄清whichever与whatever的区别,我们便可确定此题的正确选项为A。

下面重点分析whichever的用法:

一、whichever作连接代词,意为"无论哪个;无论哪些",连接宾语从句、主语从句。如:

You can choose whichever you want.你要哪一个,就挑选哪一个。

Whichever of us fulfils his task first will lend a helping hand to others. 我们之中无论谁先做完自己的工作,都要去帮助别人。

二、whichever作连接形容词,意为"无论哪个;无论哪些"。应当注意, 此用法的whichever必须同其被修饰的词一起放在从句前引导从句。如:

You can take whichever seat you want. 你喜欢哪一个座位,就挑哪一个。

Whichever book you borrow, you must return it in a week. 你无论借哪一本书,都必须在一周内归还。

三、whichever与whatever的区别。

这两个词的意思不同,whichever意为"无论哪个;无论哪些";whatever意为"无论什么;凡是......的事物"。此外,whichever后也可以接一个名词,当然,在一定的语境中,与whichever连用的名词有时可以省略。如:

You should wear whichever dress suits you best. 什么衣服最适合你穿,你就应该穿什么。

I'll do whatever you ask me to do. 你叫我做什么,我就做什么。

All the books are here. You may borrow whichever (book) you like. 所有的书都在这儿。你愿借哪本,就借哪本。

Whatever she did was right, I am afraid. 凡是她所做的恐怕都是正确的。

四、whichever与which的区别。

whichever可以引导名词性从句或状语从句;which是个疑问词,用在疑问句中,或作关系代词,引导定语从句。如:

I'll read whichever book you recommend. 你推荐的任何书我都愿意看。

Whichever you choose, the others will be offended. 不管你选哪一个,其余人都会生气的。

Which foreign language have you studied? 你学过哪一种外语?

He invited us to dinner, which was very kind of him. 他邀请我们吃饭,他真是太好了。

五、whichever与no matter which的区别。

no matter which 只能引导状语从句,但whichever既可引导状语从句,还可引导名词从句。

Whichever of the three sisters you choose to marry, you will have a good wife. 不论你选择三姐妹中的哪一位结婚,你都将娶一位贤淑的妻子。

Vote for whichever proposal you think most favourable. 认为你哪个建议最好,你就投票赞成哪个建议。

No matter which dictionary you want to buy, I'll pay for it. 无论你想买哪本词典,我都愿意付款。