高频考点――whatever

whatever是高考英语中一个很重要的词,经常在考题中出现。下面请看一道非常典型的高考英语真题:

She is very dear to us. We have been prepared to doit takes to save her life. (2009年湖南卷)

A. whichever B. however C. whatever D. whoever

分析:此题答案为C。考查whatever引导宾语从句的用法。由于动词take缺宾语,所以可排除不宜用作take宾语的B项和D项;再根据句意可排除A项。whatever在此相当于anything that。句意为:她是我们的宝贝,我们已经作好准备不惜一切代价来挽救她的生命。

本文综合近几年各省市高考英语的考题情况,同时结合whatever的用法特点,给同学们谈谈whatever的用法以及备考应试时的几点注意。

一、弄清whatever的用法

whatever主要有三个用法,一是引导名词性从句,二是用于引导让步状语从句,三是用于强调。但从各省的考题情况来看,高考对whatever的考查主要涉及其引导从句的用法,而对其强调用法则考得比较少。

1. 用于引导名词性从句:whatever主要用于引导主语从句、宾语从句和表语从句,一般不用于引导同位语从句。如:

Whatever she did was right. 她做的一切都是对的。

Give them whatever they desire. 他们想要什么就给他们什么。

I'll just say whatever comes into my head. 我想到什么就说什么。

You may do whatever you want to do. 无论你想做什么事,你都可以做。

One should stick to whatever one has begun. 开始了的事就要坚持下去。

Do whatever she tells you and you'll have peace. 她叫你干什么你就干什么,那你就太平了。

2. 用于引导状语从句:whatever用于引导状语从句时,主要用于让步状语从句中,其意为“无论”“不管”。如:

Whatever you do,I won't tell you my secret. 不管你做什么,我都不会把我的秘密告诉你。

Whatever happens,we'll meet here tonight. 不管发生什么事情,我们今晚都在这儿碰头。

Whatever happens,the first important thing is to keep cool. 不管发生什么事,头等重要的是保持冷静。

3. 用于加强语气:whatever用于加强语气时,相当于what ever,what on earth等。如:

Whatever is the matter? 这是怎么回事?

Whatever does he mean? 他到底是什么意思?

二、与no matter what的区别

根据上面的用法可知,whatever既可引导名词性从句,也可引导状语从句,但no matter what则只能引导让步状语从句,不能引导名词性从句。不过,在引导状语从句时,两者可以互换。如:

Whatever you do,don't touch this switch. =No matter what you do,don't touch this switch. 无论怎样,都别碰这个按钮。

Whatever happens I'll stand by you,so don't be afraid. =No matter what happens I'll stand by you,so don't be afraid. 不管发生什么事我都支持你,别怕。

She says she'll follow him whatever he says. =She says she'll follow him no matter what he says. 她说不论他怎么说她都要跟他走。

He will continue the work whatever happens. =He will continue the work no matter what happens. 不管发生什么情况他都要继续这项工作。

三、两个用法上的补充说明

1. 有时本身可用作修饰语:whatever有时可用于名词前作定语。如:

Don't lose heart whatever difficulties you meet. 不管遇到什么困难都不要灰心。

College students are seen doing whatever work they can find. 我们可以看到,只要有工作,大学生们什么都干。

2. 关于省略的问题:whatever从句有时可以省略。如:

Whatever your argument,I shall hold to my decision. 不管你怎样争辩,我还是坚持自己的决定。

此外,有时no matter what引导的从句中动词会被省略。如:

I've decided to leave tomorrow,no matter what (happens). 不管发生什么情况,我已决定明天走。

In our company,everybody is well taken care of,no matter what his position (is). 在我们公司,每个人都得到很好的照顾,不管他地位如何。

顺便说一句,与whatever用法相似的还有whoever,whichever等,限于篇幅,本期没有刊发相关文章,同学们对照whatever的用法可推知whoever,whichever的大致用法。下面请看两道相关的高考真题:

1. Could I speak tois in charge of International Sales please? (2009年全国卷I)

A. who B. what C. whoever D. whatever

2. The how-to book can be of help towants to do the job. (2009年陕西卷)

A. who B. whomever

C. no matter who D. whoever

1. 答案为C。whoever在此引导宾语从句,用作介词to的宾语, whoever同时在宾语从句中用作主语,其意相当于the person who。句意为:请找一下负责国际贸易的人接电话好吗?又如:You're responsible to whoever is in charge of sales. 你要向主管销售的人负责。

2. 答案为D。whoever在此也是引导宾语从句,用作介词to的宾语,它同时也在宾语从句中用作主语,其意相当于anyone who。句意为:这本用法指南对任何想做这项工作的人都有所帮助。又如:Send it to whoever pays the bills. 谁付款,就把这个给谁送去。

【考点过关训练】

1. If you are unable to attend the interview,forreason,you should inform us immediately.

A. however B. whenever

C. whatever D. wherever

2. “What shall we do tonight then?”“It's up to you― you want.”

A. however B. whenever

C. whatever D. whomever

3. Don't, you do,tell Patrick or the world will know!

A. however B. whenever

C. whatever D. wherever

4.the outcome of the war,there will be no winners.

A. However B. Whenever

C. Whatever D. Wherever

5.happens in these elections,things will never be the same again.

A. However B. Whatever

C. Whichever D. Wherever

6. Any business, its size,can benefit from a management training program.

A. whichever B. whatever C. whenever D. wherever

7. In such schools the children were allowed to dothey liked.

A. however B. whenever C. whatever D. whoever

8. He'll be ready to accepthelp he can get.

A. however B. whenever C. whatever D. whichever

9. I am willing to payprice you ask.

A. whosever B. whenever C. whatever D. whichever

10. I eatI want and I still don't seem to put on weight.

A. wherever B. whenever C. whichever D. whatever

11. Doyou want―it won't affect me.

A. however B. whenever C. whatever D. wherever

12. We will be grateful forhelp you can give us.

A. whichever B. whatever C. whoever D. however

13. We will be grateful foramount you can afford.

A. whichever B. whatever C. whoever D. however

14. I don't believe in letting children dothey like.

A. whichever B. whatever

C. whoever D. however

【答案与解析】1―6题答案均选whatever,引导的都是让步状语从句,相当于no matter what。7―14题的答案也均为whatever,引导的都是宾语从句。此时的whatever不仅用作空格前动词的宾语,同时它还在宾语从句中充当一定的句子成分,或作宾语(如第7、10、11、14题),或作定语修饰宾语从句中的宾语(如第8、9、12、13题)。