2013年6月10日 星期一

as, when, while 之間有何差別?


Q: as, when, while 之間有何差別?
Answer in English: http://www.perfectyourenglish.com/usage/as-when-while.htm

Answer in Chinese:

三者可表示“當……時候”,區別如下:

(1) 若主句表示的是一個短暫性動作,從句表示的是一個持續性動作,三者都可用:He fell asleep when [while, as] he was reading. 他看書時睡著了。

【注1】as 用於引出一個持續性動詞表示“在……期間”時,其謂語通常只能是那些含有動作(action)和發展(development) 意味的動詞,一般不能是那些不用於進行時態的動詞(如 be, seem, love, want, agree, see, know, have 等),所以下面一句中的 while 不能換為 as:

A:I’m going to the post office. 我要去郵局。
B:While you’re there, can you get me some stamps? 當你在郵局時,能幫我買幾張郵票嗎?

【注2】as 常用於接「較不重要的訊息」,且其所接的子句,也較常放在「句首」的位置。但何謂「較不重要的訊息」,並未有公認的標準,例:

-As I was writing my homework in the classroom, George was eating his breakfast. 當我在教室裡寫功課的時候,George 正在吃他的早餐。
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(2) 若主、從句表示兩個同時進行的持續性動作,且強調主句表示的動作延續到從句所指的整個時間,通常要用 while:

-Don’t talk while you’re eating. 吃飯時不要說話。
-I kept silent while he was writing. 在他寫的時候,我默不作聲。

【注1】但是,若主從句表示的兩個同時進行的動作含有“一邊…一邊”之意思,通常用 as:She sang as she went along. 她邊走邊唱。

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(3) 若從句是一個短暫性動作,主句是一個持續性動作,可用 as / when 但不用 while:

-It was raining hard when [as] we arrived. 我們到達時正下著大雨。

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(4) 若主從句表示的是兩個同時(或幾乎同時)發生的短暫性動作,用 as / when:

-I thought of it just when [as] you opened your mouth. 就在你要說的時候,我也想到了。

To talk about two short actions or situations that happen/happened at the same time, we usually use as. When is also possible.

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(5) 若要表示兩個正在發展變化的情況,相當於漢語的“隨著”,一般用 as:

-Things are getting better and better as time goes on. 隨著時間的推移,情況越來越好。

-As it grew darker, it became colder. 天色越晚,天氣越冷。

As is used to refer to two situations which develop or change together. We normally use simple tenses.

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(6) 表示“每當…的時候”(暗示一種規律性),一般要用 when:

-It’s cold when it snows. 下雪時天冷。
-He smiles when you praise him. 你誇獎他時他總是笑笑。

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(7) 若主從句所表示的動作不是同時發生,而是有先後順序時,一般要用 when:

-I will go home when he comes back. 他回來時,我就回家去。

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(8) when 可用作並列連詞,表示“這時(突然)”;while 也可以用作並列連詞,表示“而”、“卻”(表示對比);但 as 則沒有類似用法:

-We were about to start when it began to rain. 我們正要出發,這時天開始下雨了。

-He likes coffee, while she likes tea. 他喜歡咖啡,而她卻喜歡茶。

Sources:
http://www.yygrammar.com/Article/200802/154.html
http://210.240.55.2/~t311/moe/engb6/b6grammar/b6when_while_as.htm
http://www.perfectyourenglish.com/usage/as-when-while.htm
http://www.englishpractice.com/improve/as-when-and-while/


From: Eric's English Lounge

2013年6月4日 星期二

2013.6.5

nor   conjunction
1 — used after neither to show something is also not true, possible, allowed, etc. 
 It's neither good nor bad. 
 I neither know nor care what they think. 
 Neither you nor I nor anyone else will tell him. 
 His problems are neither my business nor yours. 
When neither and nor are used to join two subjects, the verb should agree with the subject that is closer to it. 
 Neither my mother nor I am going there today.
 
   neither here nor there : not important or interesting 
 What I think is really neither here nor there. You have to make up your own mind.
2 — used after a negative statement to introduce a related negative word or statement 
 She's not the best student in her class, (but) nor is she the worst. 
 He didn't quit his job, nor was he fired.
 He is not going to the meeting (and) nor am I. 
 (formalI don't know her. Nor do I. [=neither do I; I don't know her either]