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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
What does "if" mean?
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An everyday experience with a child confirms it: if we put on a mask in its presence, it is horrified, although it knows that beneath, there is just our familiar face—as if some unspeakable evil pertains to the mask itself. The status of a mask is thus neither imaginary nor symbolic (denoting a symbolic role we are supposed to play), it is strictly real—if, of course, we conceive the real as a “grimace” of reality.
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I"m not sure about the meaning of "If" in if, of course, we conceive the real as a “grimace” of reality. Which is the right meaning of the word "if" in the last sentence of the paragraph above?
1.On the condition or supposition that; in the event that
2.Whenever; every time:
An everyday experience with a child confirms it: if we put on a mask in its presence, it is horrified, although it knows that beneath, there is just our familiar face—as if some unspeakable evil pertains to the mask itself. The status of a mask is thus neither imaginary nor symbolic (denoting a symbolic role we are supposed to play), it is strictly real—if, of course, we conceive the real as a “grimace” of reality.
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I"m not sure about the meaning of "If" in if, of course, we conceive the real as a “grimace” of reality. Which is the right meaning of the word "if" in the last sentence of the paragraph above?
1.On the condition or supposition that; in the event that
2.Whenever; every time:
Top answer
Whenever; every time: Both are applicable. These two meanings of 'if' often overlap. As you can see, 'in the event that' is all but synonymous with 'every time'.
- Whenever; every time: Both are applicable.
- These two meanings of 'if' often overlap.
- As you can see, 'in the event that' is all but synonymous with 'every time'.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousWhich is the right meaning of the word "if" in the last sentence of the paragraph above?1.On the condition or supposition that; in the event that2.Whenever; every time:Both are applicable. These two meanings of 'if' often overlap. As you can see, 'in the event that' is all but synonymous with 'every time'.
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Mister MicawberBoth are applicable. These two meanings of 'if' often overlap. As you can see, 'in the event that' is all but synonymous with 'every time'.I have you to thank for this.
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