what if, what of和what for
这三个短语的用法和含义各不相同。What if表示“倘若……将会怎样?即使……又有什么关系呢?”;what of 表示“……的情况怎样?……又有什么重要性呢?;what for为何目的?为什么?。例如:


What if it rains while we are out?
倘若我们外出遇上下雨,那怎么办呢?


What of it?那有什么了不起呢?(那又怎么样呢?)


Well, and what of it? (It has no importance.)
嗯,那又怎么样呢?(怎么,那有什么了不起?)


What for did you ask that silly question? Now he’s going to speak for another ten minutes. 你干吗要问那个愚蠢的问题?这一来他又得说上十分钟。


What did you do that for?