张芸慧 李瑞云
连词是一种虚词,分为并列连词和从属连词,它不能独立充当句子成分,只能起连接词与词、短语与短语以及句与句的作用。一般来说,连词在英语中运用较多,但很容易用错;在汉语中,常把两个或更多的句子连起来而不用连词,这种情况在英语中却比较少见,由于语言的应用差异,所以容易造成使用的混淆。
一、并列连词
1.表示意义转折和对比的并列连词
常见的有but,while,whereas,still,yet,never the-less,likewise,anyway,only等。如:
Our wages have risen, but not in comparison withthe cost of living.
能表示上述转折意义的还有on the contrary,bythis time, all the same, fortunately, on the other hand, inthe mean time等词组。
It wasn't a good thing; on the contrary it was a hugemistake.
2.表示选择的并列连词
常见的有or,whether...or,either...or,otherwise等。如:
It was all or nothing for Susan; either the companyoffered her a pay rise or she would leave.
Heat the water. otherwise it will freeze.
注意:either...or和whether...or表示选择,其意义比单用or要强,但由whether...or构成的并列结构一般只能担任句子的从属成分。either...or和or一样,可以连接两个并列的独立分句,whether...or则不可以。or用于表示否定的条件意义时,有时可与else连用。or连接主语时,动词的数应与它靠近的主语的数相一致。
3.表示因果意义的并列连词
常见的有for,so,therefore,hence,thus,accord-ingly, consequently, on that account等。如:
The fuel must have been finished,for the enginestopped.
It rained, therefore the game was called off
表示原因的并列连词只有for.它所引导的分句只是对前一分句补充说明理由或推断原因。for引导的分句只能置于句末,而且必须用逗号与前一分句隔开。
The day breaks, for the birds are singing.
4.表示联合关系的并列连词
常见的有and,both...and,neither...nor,not only... hut also等。如:
Without both money and talent. he failed.
Neither the students nor the teacher has read the paper.
Not only the students but also the teacher has been there.
從上述例句可以看出,当neither...nor,not only...but also连接主语时,动词的数与靠近它的主语的数相一致。both...and不能连接两个以上的并列成分,也不能连接分句。如:
误:Both Jack planted the tree and Tom watered it.
正:Jack planted the tree and Tom watered it.
5.边际并列连词
常见的有as well as,more than,rather than,noless than等,介于并列连词与从属连词或介词之间的结构。它们有时像并列连词,有时却又像从属连词或介词。
(1)as wellas表示“同,也”。
as well as用作并列连词时,相当于not only...butalso,但侧重点在后一并列成分上,而as well as的侧重点却在前一并列成分上。如:
It is important for you as well as for me.
(2)more than表示“而不是”。如:
The manager,more than the trades union,1s re-sponsible for the present situation.
(3)ratherthan表示“而不是”。如:
It was what he did rather than what he said that mat-tered.
I rather than he am to blame.
(4)noless than表示“同……一样”。如:
He no less than you is my friend.
从上述例句可以看出,当as well as,more than,rather than,no less than连接两个成分作主语时,谓语动词应与第一个成分的数相一致。
注意:
1.and还可在句中表示结果。如:
Five minutes earlier, and we could have caught thelast train.
2.当两个词之间用and连接时,我们通常把较短的词放在前面。如:
big and ugly
cup and saucer
3.有些用and连接的词组是约定俗成的,前后顺序不能颠倒。如:
knife and fork
bread and butter
4.对于有些并列连词(如not only_but also等),我们通常把相同类型的词分别接在not only与butalso后面,以求得结构的平衡。如:
The fumiture should be not only attractive but alsofunctional.
5.并列连词不能与从属连词(如although,thou-gh,slnce,because)搭配使用。如:
Although she joined the company a year ago,she'salready been promoted twice.
二、从属连词
从属连词用来引导名词性从句和各类状语从句。从属连词可分为简单从属连词、复合从属连词和关联从属连词。
1.简单从属连词
常见的有after,although,as,because,before,if,lest,once,since,that,till,unless,until,while等。如:
Unless you have a good idea,I don't see how we'regoing to overcome the difficulty.
2.复合从属连词
由两个或两个以上单词构成的从属连词,如asif,as far as,as soon as,in case,no matter who/how/what/when/where,rather than,for all that,in order that,oncondition that,provided/providing that等。如:
He repairs It as soon as possible no matter who breaks the vase.
3.关联从属连词
由两个关联词构成的从属连词,如no sooner… than,so…as,so…that,such…as,as…as,more(less,-er)… than,the more…the more,whether...or等。如:
No sooner had I reached home than it stopped snow-ing.
使用从属连词时,应该注意:
1.由从属连词引导的状语从句,其位置通常是可变的。如:
I learned a lot of French while I was in Paris.
2.并列连词之前不可以加其他連词,而从属连词之前可以加并列连词或连接副词。如:
She attended music lessons not because she was rich but because she needed knowledge.发光