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(A) In case (B) If (C) Perhaps (D) Instead
答案是 (B) If, 为什么不能选 (A) In case? 两者有什么使用上的区別?
引导条件状语从句时,if 表示“如果”,可以指现在、过去或将来;in case表示“如果”、“万一”、“以防”,只能指将来或过去将来时间,谓语动词用一般现在时或一般过去时。在你的句子中,谓语动词intend指现在时间,即“现在一心想”,所以答案应该是 (B) If, 不能选 (A) In case。
下面两个句子最能说明 in case 与 if 的区别:(a) I'm taking an umbrella in case it rains later on. 我现在拿着一把伞,以防一会儿下雨。(b)I'll take an umbrella if it rains later on.要是一会儿下雨,我就拿一把伞。【在句(a)中“我现在拿着一把伞”已经成为事实,而不管是天晴还是下雨。而在句(b)中,我是否拿伞,取决于一会儿是否下雨。】
以下内容摘自《牛津英语用法指南》第三版:
一般说来,in case 和 if 的用法并不相同。
Do A in case B happens 的意思是 Do A (first) because B might happen later(“(先)做 A,因为以后 B 可能会发生”)。
Do A if B happens 的意思是 Do A if B has already happened(“如果 B 已经发生了,那么就做 A”)。
试比较:
- Let's buy a bottle of wine in case Roger comes. (= Let's buy some wine now because Roger might come later.)咱们买一瓶葡萄酒吧,万一罗杰来呢。
Let's buy a bottle of wine if Roger comes. (= We'll wait and see if Roger comes, then we'll buy the wine. If he doesn't we won't.)如果罗杰来了,我们就买一瓶酒。
- I'm taking an umbrella in case it rains .我带上一把伞,以防下雨。
I'll open the umbrella if it rains .如果下雨,我就把伞撑开。(不能说: I'll open the umbrella in case it rains .)
- People insure their houses in case they catch fire. 人们给自己的房屋买保险,以防房屋发生火灾。(不能说:... if they catch fire.)
People telephone the fire brigade if their houses catch fire.如果房子着火,人们就给消防队打电话。(不能说:... telephone ... in case their houses catch fire.)