让步状语——这是一个比较奇怪的名字。所谓让步,简单地说就是降低标准或者说是退一步,相当于汉语的“虽然”“尽管”“即使”等。英语中用于引导让步状语从句的连词不多,主要有although, though, even though, even if等。
1. 用although / though引导:although与though虽然拼写不同,但意思相同,都表示“虽然”,常可互换。如:
Though they are twins, they look entirely different. 他们虽是孪生,但是相貌却完全不同。
Although she didn’t say anything I sensed (that) she didn’t like the idea. 她虽然什么也没说但我已意识到她不喜欢这个主意。
注意,不要按汉语习惯说although…but…。如:
尽管她父亲在公司里,但她那份工作却是靠自己得到的。
误:Although her father is in the firm, but she got the job on her own.
正:Although her father is in the firm, she got the job on her own.
2. 用even though / even if引导:even though和even if意思相同,均表示“即使”,常可互换。如:
Even though you have a lot of money, I won’t love you. 即使你有很多钱,我也不会爱你。
Even if you saw him pick up the money, you can’t be sure he stole it. 就算你看见是他拾起的钱,你也不能肯定钱就是他偷的。
3. 用whether…or引导:whether…or…的意思是“无论……还是……”“不管……还是……”。如:
I’ll do it whether you like it or not. 不管你是否喜欢,我都要做。
Whether we help him or not, he will fail. 不论我们帮助他与否, 他都将失败。
4. 用特殊词引导:除上面提到的最常用的引导让步状语从句的词语外,有时还可用那些以-ever结尾的词语来引导,如whatever, whoever, however, whenever, wherever等,它们的意思与no matter what, no matter who, no matter how, no matter when, no matter where等,意思是“无论什么”“无论是谁”“无论多么”“无论什么时候”“无论什么地方”等。如:
Whatever you say, I believe you. 无论你说什么,我都相信你。
Whoever telephones, tell them I’m out. 不管是谁打电话,都说我出去了。
However much he eats, he never gets fat. 无论他吃多少,他都不发胖。
另外,还有一个大家比较熟悉的词也可引导让步状语从句,那就是while,它除了表示“当……时候”外,还可表示“尽管”“虽然”,此时引导的是让步状语从句。如:
While we don’t agree we continue to be friends. 尽管我们意见不同,我们还是朋友。
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