張蕓慧 李瑞云
連詞是一種虛詞,分為并列連詞和從屬連詞,它不能獨立充當句子成分,只能起連接詞與詞、短語與短語以及句與句的作用。一般來說,連詞在英語中運用較多,但很容易用錯;在漢語中,常把兩個或更多的句子連起來而不用連詞,這種情況在英語中卻比較少見,由于語言的應用差異,所以容易造成使用的混淆。
一、并列連詞
1.表示意義轉折和對比的并列連詞
常見的有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.
能表示上述轉折意義的還有on the contrary,bythis time, all the same, fortunately, on the other hand, inthe mean time等詞組。
It wasn't a good thing; on the contrary it was a hugemistake.
2.表示選擇的并列連詞
常見的有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表示選擇,其意義比單用or要強,但由whether...or構成的并列結構一般只能擔任句子的從屬成分。either...or和or一樣,可以連接兩個并列的獨立分句,whether...or則不可以。or用于表示否定的條件意義時,有時可與else連用。or連接主語時,動詞的數(shù)應與它靠近的主語的數(shù)相一致。
3.表示因果意義的并列連詞
常見的有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
表示原因的并列連詞只有for.它所引導的分句只是對前一分句補充說明理由或推斷原因。for引導的分句只能置于句末,而且必須用逗號與前一分句隔開。
The day breaks, for the birds are singing.
4.表示聯(lián)合關系的并列連詞
常見的有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,當neither...nor,not only...but also連接主語時,動詞的數(shù)與靠近它的主語的數(shù)相一致。both...and不能連接兩個以上的并列成分,也不能連接分句。如:
誤:Both Jack planted the tree and Tom watered it.
正:Jack planted the tree and Tom watered it.
5.邊際并列連詞
常見的有as well as,more than,rather than,noless than等,介于并列連詞與從屬連詞或介詞之間的結構。它們有時像并列連詞,有時卻又像從屬連詞或介詞。
(1)as wellas表示“同,也”。
as well as用作并列連詞時,相當于not only...butalso,但側重點在后一并列成分上,而as well as的側重點卻在前一并列成分上。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……一樣”。如:
He no less than you is my friend.
從上述例句可以看出,當as well as,more than,rather than,no less than連接兩個成分作主語時,謂語動詞應與第一個成分的數(shù)相一致。
注意:
1.and還可在句中表示結果。如:
Five minutes earlier, and we could have caught thelast train.
2.當兩個詞之間用and連接時,我們通常把較短的詞放在前面。如:
big and ugly
cup and saucer
3.有些用and連接的詞組是約定俗成的,前后順序不能顛倒。如:
knife and fork
bread and butter
4.對于有些并列連詞(如not only_but also等),我們通常把相同類型的詞分別接在not only與butalso后面,以求得結構的平衡。如:
The fumiture should be not only attractive but alsofunctional.
5.并列連詞不能與從屬連詞(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、從屬連詞
從屬連詞用來引導名詞性從句和各類狀語從句。從屬連詞可分為簡單從屬連詞、復合從屬連詞和關聯(lián)從屬連詞。
1.簡單從屬連詞
常見的有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.復合從屬連詞
由兩個或兩個以上單詞構成的從屬連詞,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.關聯(lián)從屬連詞
由兩個關聯(lián)詞構成的從屬連詞,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.
使用從屬連詞時,應該注意:
1.由從屬連詞引導的狀語從句,其位置通常是可變的。如:
I learned a lot of French while I was in Paris.
2.并列連詞之前不可以加其他連詞,而從屬連詞之前可以加并列連詞或連接副詞。如:
She attended music lessons not because she was rich but because she needed knowledge.發(fā)光