for example I have
make [file] target
file is optional. So can I check whether there is [file] or no? I tried

if test $# -eq 1 
then
path=$1
else path=$2
fi

Expectedargs = 1If [ $# -ne $expectedargs ] 
 Then
         Echo "usage: 'basename "
          Exit 1
Fi

This should fulfill your requirements

#!/bin/sh

if [ "$#" -eq 1 ]; then
	path="$1"
else
	file="$1"
	path="$2"
fi

exit 0

By echo wanted to check...Does not work still...

#!/bin/sh
if [ "$#" -eq 1 ] then
target=$1
echo $target

else makefile='$1'
target=$2
echo $makefile
$target

fi
exit 0

#!/bin/sh
if [ "$#" -eq 1 ] then
    target="$1"
    echo "$target"
else
    makefile="$1"
    target="$2"
    echo "$makefile\n$target"
fi
exit 0

That is missing an important semicolon or line break.

Also, 'echo' does not work that way.

if [ "$#" -eq 1 ]; then
    target="$1"
    echo "$target"
else
    makefile="$1"
    target="$2"
    printf "%s\n" "$makefile" "$target"
fi
exit 0

He is asking Syntax error: "else" unexpected (expecting "then")