[Idiom] if anything
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The best definition I can come up with is "if anything is true, it's this......." It usually serves to then state the opposite of the original statement.
She doesn't need to lose weight. If anything, she needs to gain a few pounds.
The bread isn't fresh. If anything, it's actually a bit stale.
The president isn't opposed to war. If anything, he's encouraging it.
enydia
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Is it formal or informal?
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To be honest, it's neither! It's just a phrase.
enydia
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It seems to be, according to the given example sentences, an emphasis more than an opposite, doesn't it?
:?:
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In all 3 of my examples, the suggested "truth" is the opposite of the verb/adjective used in the original statement (ignoring the negative part):
lose weight vs gain weight
fresh vs stale
opposed to vs encouraging
Yes, the actual "if anything" part could be said to be used for emphasis, as it would be perfectly possible to say:
She thinks she needs to lose weight. I think she needs to gain weight.
You are still expressing a contrary opinion to the original, but it's not as emphatic.
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It doesn't always mean that.
We've accomplished very little today, if anything.
(If we accomplished anything today, it wasn't much. It's possible that we accomplished nothing.)
What, if anything, did you do today? (Did you do anything today? If so, what?)
I haven't achieved much, if anything, during my life so far. (If I have achieved anything in my life so far, it isn't much.)
enydia
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Long time no see, Teacher Yoda. :-D
Hello,
I found this topic while trying to find the grammatical status of the "if anything" phrase. I'm writing a paper on the similar constructions (if any, if anything, if at all, if ever and so on). I wonder if anyone knows, whether these constructions can be considered elliptical or not.
Thanks in advance for your attention!
I found this topic while trying to find the grammatical status of the "if anything" phrase. I'm writing a paper on the similar constructions (if any, if anything, if at all, if ever and so on). I wonder if anyone knows, whether these constructions can be considered elliptical or not.
Thanks in advance for your attention!
Raymott
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Hi. :-D I've been here all along. Maybe our paths just didn't cross.
Raymott
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I don't think so. Ellipsis occurs when a phrase is left out and has to be inferred. If anything, these phrases are inserted, but not necessary - i.e. the opposite of an ellipsis.
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The above answers are in the context of the poster's specific sentences, but they may be of some use to you.Re: How do we use "if any, if anything, if anyone, if ever"
Quote:
Originally Posted by dinghaizi
[FONT=楷]Fill inthe blanks with the following[/FONT]
[FONT=楷]if any, if anything, if anyone, if ever[/FONT]
[FONT=楷]①[/FONT]Her expressions, ______ , do not match the occasion.
[FONT=宋]②[/FONT]We rarely , ______, get the benefit of modern medical technology.
[FONT=宋]③[/FONT]Yet abuses seem to have become, ________, more widespread.
[FONT=楷]④[/FONT]Our voices seldom, _________, were allowed to be heard in the media.
[FONT=楷]⑤[/FONT] They say nothing about who, ___________, is to blame.
Answers are:
[FONT=楷]①[/FONT]if any[FONT=宋]②[/FONT]if ever[FONT=楷]③[/FONT] if anything [FONT=楷]④[/FONT]if ever [FONT=楷]⑤[/FONT]if anyone
Can a dedicated teacher tell me how to distinguish if any, if anything, if anyone and if ever? thanks
Welcome!
Some of the questions are easier than the others.
2 and 4, with "rarely" and "seldom", refer to how often something happens. "if ever" also refers to how often something happens.
'He rarely, if ever, is late for work.' This means that, as far as I know, he is either never late for work or he is rarely late for work.
In 5, "who" refers to a person. And "anyone" is the only choice that clearly refers to a person.
'Who, if anyone, can solve that problem?'
1.. Her expressions, if (she has) any (expressions), do not match the occasion. This means that sometimes she may not have an expression, but when she has an expression it doesn't match the occasion.
3.. "if anything" is often used when there is uncertainty or doubt about something. Sentence 3 means that abuses might not have definitely changed. But if there is a change, it seems the change is to more abuses, not less.
'If anything, we have too much food.'
This sentence means that we might have just the right amount of food. But if it's not exactly the right amount, it's too much food. We don't have too little food.
I hope the above helps.
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