“疑問詞 + ever”是近年來高考英語的一個考查熱點,在各版本的中學(xué)英語教材中出現(xiàn)頻率較高,而且是學(xué)生理解和掌握的一個難點.從不同角度論述這方面內(nèi)容的文章很多,本文試圖別辟蹊徑,簡單明了地歸納講解這一問題.
“疑問詞 + ever ”可分為兩類,“疑問代詞 + ever ”：whatever / whichever / whoever (賓格 whomever )和“疑問副詞 + ever ”：wherever / whenever / however.
不論是“疑問代詞 + ever ”還是“疑問副詞 + ever ”,其意義都是“不管 / 無論 + 該疑問詞的本義”.
1.“疑問代詞 + ever”可引導(dǎo)兩種類型的從句,即讓步狀語從句和名詞性從句(主語從句、賓語從句).
(1)引導(dǎo)讓步狀語從句.此時 whatever / whoever / whichever 分別等于“ no matter + what / who / which”.例如：
Whatever happened,he wouldn't say a word.= No matter what happened,he wouldn't say a word.
Whoever says so,it is wrong.= No matter who says so,it is wrong.
Whichever dictionary you (may) take,you will have to pay at least 20 dollars.= No matter which dictionary you (may) take,you will have to pay at least 20 dollars.
注意：這類從句中應(yīng)用一般現(xiàn)在時表將來,從句中也常用情態(tài)動詞 may / might .
(2)引導(dǎo)名詞性從句.例如：
Whoever smokes here will be punished.(主語從句)
Beggars will eat whatever they are given.(賓語從句)
Whichever he likes will be given to him.(主語從句)
You may invite whoever / whomever you like.(常用 whoever 代替 whomever)
此時它們都不能換成“ no matter + 疑問詞”的形式,但 whoever 等于 anyone who,whatever 等于 anything that.
2.“疑問副詞 +ever ”：wherever / whenever / however 一般只能引導(dǎo)一種類型的從句,即讓步狀語從句,此時它們分別等于“ no matter + where / when / how ”.例如：
Wherever he goes (may go).I'll follow him.= No matter where he goes (may go),I'll follow him.
Whenever I wisited him,he was always busy working.= No matter when I visited him,he was always busy working.
However late he is,his mother will wait for him to have dinner together.= No matter how late he is,his mother will wait for him to have dinner together.
注意：當 however 用作連接副詞時也可引導(dǎo)名詞性從句,而 whenever/ wherever 則不能引導(dǎo)名詞性從句.例如：
I'll give you however much money you need.(賓語從句,此時 however 不能改成 no matter how ).
3.另外,whatever / whichever / whoever 與 whenever / wherever / however 分別可相當于 what / which / who 與 when / where / how 的強調(diào)式,引起的特殊疑問句往往是簡單句,與原疑問詞的意思、用法完全相同,只是表達的語氣更為強烈,翻譯時可加上“到底；究竟”等.例如：
What(ever) are you doing 你(到底)在干什么?
Which(ever) do you want to buy 你(究竟)要買哪一個?
Who(ever) told you such a foolish story?(究竟)是誰講給你這么蠢的事?
When(ever) can I enjoy a long vacation?(究竟)什么時候才能給我放個長假呢?
Where(ever) did you leave your dictionary?你(究竟)把詞典放哪兒了?
How(ever) did you collect so much money?你(到底)是怎樣籌到這么多錢的?