问英语｜英语常见问题解答

condition¹

in... condition/on... condition/on condition that

问

在中学英语和大学英语教科书里多次出现 in... condition, on... condition 和 on (the) condition (that)。请讲一讲它们之间的区别。

答

in... condition 是指“处于……状态或情况”：

The house is very old, in bad condition. 房子很旧，状况不佳。
His car has been well maintained and is in excellent condition. 他的车子保养得很好,各种机件状况极佳。

on... condition 则是指“按……条件”：

Shylock agreed to lend Antonio the money on one condition. 夏洛克同意借给安东尼钱有一个条件。
I'll let you borrow it on one condition: (that) you lend me your bicycle in return. 我借给你也行,但有个条件,你得把你的自行车借给我。

on(the) condition(that)的意思是:“如果”“假如”:

I will go on condition that you will too. 如果你也去,我才会去。
He can use the bicycle on condition that he returns it tomorrow. 他可以使用那辆自行车, 条件是明天必须归还。

condition²

on condition (that)

问

I'll lend him the money on condition that his business ____ successful in two months. A. turns out B. will turn out C. turn out D. is turned out

《中学英语错解辨析辞典》(上海辞书出版社, p. 113) 对上题作了以下分析:

“[错解]B.

[辨析]错解在于没有弄清词组 on condition that 在句中的作用,误用了一般将来时 will turn out。事实上,词组 on condition that 在句中起连词的作用,引导条件从句,相当于 only if,意思是‘条件是’。在条件从句中应该用一般现在时代替将来时。例如:I'll allow you to go swimming on condition that you don't go too far from the river bank.(我将允许你去游泳,条件是你不能游得离河岸太远。)本句意思是:我会借给他钱的,条件是他的业务在 2 个月内成功。”

读了上述分析,我产生一个问题:选项 B(will turn out) 是绝对错误的吗?

答

从属连词 on condition (that) 与其他引导条件状语的从属连词一样, 通常与一般现在时连用, 表示将来。例如:

You can go out on condition that you wear an overcoat. 你要穿上外衣才能外出。

但是,在 on condition that 从句中使用一般将来时,也并非错误。请看下面的实例:

I'll go on the condition that you'll come too. (WDAE) 只有你去,我才去。
He has agreed to come on condition that there won't be any publicity. (EED) 他同意来，条件是不要做宣传。

condition³

on condition that/if

问

on condition (that) 与 if 都作“如果”解, 它们有区别吗?

答

on condition (that) 与 if 的主要区别是: 前者表示提出条件者要求该条件的必定实现, 相当于 only if:

I agreed to help on condition that I got half the profit. 我同意帮忙,条件是跟你平分利润。
I'll come on condition (that) John is invited too. 如果约翰也被邀请,我就去。