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标题: 关于OG对whether和if用法的疑惑，请指教 [打印本页]

作者: asupls 时间: 2007-5-7 15:02
标题: 关于OG对whether和if用法的疑惑，请指教

看了CD上面很多关于whether和if的用法比较，但是没能解开我对OG中一段解释的疑惑，请大家指教。

OG 11-94

236. The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

(A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

(B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

(C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

(D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in
helping to find

(E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

对于正确答案没有任何异议，但是看解释的时候，里面有这么一句话"whether is preferred to if when there are only two alternatives" 请问，应该怎么理解这句话呢？当他说只有there are only two alternatives的时候，是不是包含了所以“是否。。。”的从句？谢谢

作者: yejinleaf 时间: 2007-5-7 15:14

看到if表达是否的含义直接毙掉，选whether，别想其他理由，考试没那么多时间。

作者: sodalight 时间: 2012-9-28 07:55
正确答案是A好不好。。。。吓死我了。建议不要急着翻译成是否，因为英文解释里是没有是否这个直白的解释的。牛津里面对if 的解释（仅摘录了同义词是whether的时候的解释）和whether的解释：
if

conjunction

used after ask, know, find out, wonder, etc. to introduce one of two or more possibilities
Synonym: WHETHER
Do you know if he's married? ◆ I wonder if I should wear a coat or not. ◆ He couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying. ◆ Listen to the tune and see if you can remember the words.

whether
conjunction

used to express a doubt or choice between two possibilities: He seemed undecided whether to go or stay. ◆ It remains to be seen whether or not this idea can be put into practice. ◆ I asked him whether he had done it all himself or whether someone had helped him. ◆ I'll see whether she's at home (= or not at home). ◆ It's doubtful whether there'll be any seats left.

IF

GMAT语法避免用词歧义。if 和 whether都可以表示2选1。但是OG说：whether is preferred to if when there are only two alternatives.
于是GMAC告诉我们，当 express a doubt or choice between two possibilities的时候一定要用whether ,这是GMAC的规定。
注意一下if可以表示多选一，但是whether不可以。

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