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Eipjoo Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Meaning of 'what if'
Given the example:
"No... you go..."
"I know what you're thinking about, Harry, that mirror. Don't go back tonight."
"Why not?"
"I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it -- and anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So (1) what if they can't see you? (2) What if they walk into you? (3) What if you knock something over?"
"You sound like Hermione."
"I'm serious, Harry, don't go."
There are three ‘what if’s. If (1)’s ‘what if’ has to get the same meaning as in (2) and (3), I think, the sentence of (1) has to be ‘what if they can see you.’; So I guess the first ‘what if’ has different meaning from (2) and (3). What is the meaning of ‘what if’ in (1).
"No... you go..."
"I know what you're thinking about, Harry, that mirror. Don't go back tonight."
"Why not?"
"I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it -- and anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So (1) what if they can't see you? (2) What if they walk into you? (3) What if you knock something over?"
"You sound like Hermione."
"I'm serious, Harry, don't go."
There are three ‘what if’s. If (1)’s ‘what if’ has to get the same meaning as in (2) and (3), I think, the sentence of (1) has to be ‘what if they can see you.’; So I guess the first ‘what if’ has different meaning from (2) and (3). What is the meaning of ‘what if’ in (1).
Top answer
' It works with both negatives and positives. Consider this simple example. Tom: I'm going to the park.
- ' It works with both negatives and positives.
- Consider this simple example.
- Tom: I'm going to the park.
- Mary: What if it rains?
- Tom: I'll get wet; Mary: What if it doesn't rain?
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6 Answers
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Hi,
'What if means very roughly 'what is the situation if?'
It works with both negatives and positives.
Consider this simple example.
Tom: I'm going to the park.
'What if means very roughly 'what is the situation if?'
It works with both negatives and positives.
Consider this simple example.
Tom: I'm going to the park.
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eipjooSo I guess the first ‘what if’ has different meaning from (2) and (3).No. They are all the same.
What if ...? = Suppose ..... Then what are [we/you/...] going to do?
Suppose they can't see you. Then what are you going to do?
Suppose they walk into you. Then what are you going to do?
Suppose you knock something over. Then
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I just find another meaning of 'what if' in Oxford Dictionary: it says it has this meaning, what does it matter if.' : This is the situation: (1) What does if matter if you can't be seen (in your invisibility cloak), What if (2) and (3): Thank you for your new prospect of the issue.
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CalifJimNo. They are all the same.I recommend to look this dictionary: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/what?q=what+if#what__28
1what would result if ——?:what if nobody shows up?
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eipjooI justfindfound another meaning of 'what if' in Oxford Dictionary: it says it has this meaning, what does it matter if.'
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