____ you look at the notice, you'll see it says 'No Camping'. A. If B. Providing that C. Whether D. In the situation(《新概念英语》,外研社,2,L.74)
书上给的答案是(a)，这我是能理解的。但是，我不能理解为什么不能选(b)。if和providing that不是都作“如果”解吗？例如：I will go providing that you will go. I will go if you go.
许多读者来信向我提出过这个问题。看来,这是一个带有普遍性的问题。providing (that), provided (that) 除了比 if 更正式、更文雅之外, 还有一个更重要的特点: 提出条件者坚持或要求该条件的实现。例如:
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I'll go providing/provided(that) the children can come with me. 要是孩子们能跟我一起去,我就去。
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I'll agree to go provided/providing (that) my expenses are paid. 假如为我负担费用,我就同意去。
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They may swim provided an adult accompanies them. 如果有成年人陪同,他们就可以游泳。
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You can borrow my bike providing/provided you bring it back. 你可以借我的自行车，只要你还给我。
而你提到的《新概念英语》上的 you look at the notice 并不是说话者坚持要求必须实现的条件,所以不能用 providing that。由于 providing (that) 所具有的这一特点,它不能引出说话者所否定或不赞成或不愿其实现的条件:
× He used to get angry providing that our dog went into his garden. (应将 providing that 改为 if) 他常常因我们的狗进入他的花园而大发雷霆。
× I will not help you providing that you do not ask my help. 如果你不向我求助我就不帮助你。
综上所述,可以做出如下结论:在用 providing(that) 的地方可以用 if 来代替,但是,在用 if 的地方并不总是可以用 providing(that) 来代替的。
请做下面的英语试题：
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We'll visit Europe next year ____ we have enough money. A. provided B. unless C. until D. lest(全国四级,99.1-62)
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We should be able to do the job for you quickly, ____ you give us all the necessary information.
A. as if B. or else C. in case D. provided that(全国六级,99.6-55)
- You can arrive in Beijing earlier for the meeting ____ you don't mind taking the night train. A. provided B. unless C. though D. until(全国研考,93-19)