6　Cecilia: I don't think any boy dances very well here. You know the first time I danced with a boy, he danced worse than me. I asked him, “Since you can't dance, how dare you invite me to dance?”

Louise: What did he say?

Cecilia: He said, "Because I am sure you dance better than me, so that I want you to teach me."

Louise: Oh, and what happened then?

Cecilia: He's not only my dancing partner but my soul partner, too!

妙语点睛　这里的the first time后面接从句I danced with a boy，表示时间，然后与主句he danced worse than me连用。所以，the first time相当于一个连词，连接主句和从句。

精品译文　赛西丽亚：我觉得这里的男孩子舞跳得都不怎么样！你知道，我第一次跳舞的时候，男舞伴就比我跳得差。我问他：“既然你不会跳舞，你怎么还敢邀请我？”

路易丝：他说什么？

赛西丽亚：他说：“因为我确定你跳得比我好啊，所以我想让你教我。”

路易丝：噢，那后来呢？

赛西丽亚：他不但成了我的舞伴，还成了我的知己！

7　A: Hey, Dan. I hear you're meeting Susan's parents for the first time.

B: Yeah, next weekend. Fortunately her father loves to fish so we'll have something to talk about.

妙语点睛　这里for the first time后面并没有连接句子。

精品译文　A：丹，你好，听说你要见苏姗的父母了，而且还是第一次见。

B：是的，下周末。幸好她爸爸喜欢钓鱼，所以我们到时候能有东西聊了。

8　Queen Elizabeth II's traditional Christmas speech will be available as a podcast for the first time.

妙语点睛　这里for the first time后面并没有连接句子。

精品译文　英国女王伊丽莎白二世的圣诞致词将首次在播客上公开。

讲完英国女王的例子，我们下面再来讲一个有关查尔斯王子的例句。通过这个例句，笔者想说明的是，the first time除了引导时间从句外，还可以接定语从句。请看下面的句子：

9　As for the crocodile expression--I have no idea of its origin. The first time I can actually remember hearing it--in public anyway, was when Prince Charles was leaving Australia by boat. As the ship moved away from the wharf, someone yelled out to him, "See you later Alligator." To everyone's surprise, and the delight of the media, he called back, "In a while, crocodile."

妙语点睛　这里the first time后面连接句子I can actually remember hearing it--in public anyway，此时不能用for the first time。

精品译文　你问到的有关“鳄鱼”的那个表达，其实我也不知道它的来历。我只记得，第一次在公共场合听到这个表达是在查尔斯王子乘船离开澳大利亚时。当时，正当船慢慢离开码头时，突然有人朝他喊道：“See you later Alligator（再见了）！”。让大家很惊讶同时也让媒体高兴的是，他回答道：“In a while, crocodile（再见）。”

顺便提一句，这篇短文出自笔者的澳大利亚朋友给笔者的一封回信，当时笔者向他询问了see you later Alligator这个表达的来历。我们知道，在和好朋友告别时，我们可以很戏谑地说See you later Alligator.下次若有外国朋友这么向你道别，你可以回答In a while, crocodile. 以便押韵。

思维总结

在这一节中，笔者费了不少笔墨来一一讨论各个引导词的用法特点。在本节的一开始，笔者就提醒读者，在学习时间状语从句时，要牢牢把握下面两个核心要点：



注意主句、从句的时态搭配关系。不同时间从句的连词，这种搭配关系是不同的。

注意主句、从句的谓语动词的延续性和短暂性。



学习时间从句的难点在于掌握主从句的时态搭配关系，时态搭配关系不同，句子的意思就有可能不同。

思维训练

Exercise 3.3

1. 选择最佳答案填空。

1. 　　　 she realized it was too late to go home.

A. No sooner it grew dark than

B. Scarcely had it grown dark than

C. Hardly did it grow dark that

D. It was not until dark that

2. I had just started back for the house to change my clothes 　　　 I heard voices.

A. as

B. when

C. after

D. while

3. Not until 　　　 himself seriously ill.

A. he had completed the task did he find

B. had he completed the task did he find

C. he completed the task he had found

D. did he complete the task he had found

4. By the time the firemen arrived, the whole building 　　　.

A. has burned down

B. had burned down

C. will have burned down

D. burned down

5. We heard a loud sound of drums beating 　　　 the parade marched.

A. till

B. while

C. the moment

D. once

6. The policemen went into action 　　　 they heard the alarm.

A. promptly

B. presently

C. quickly

D. directly

7. We held a meeting to sum up our experience 　　　 we finished the work.

A. incidentally

B. while

C. immediately

D. before

8. 　　　 Charles started a job, he did it 　　　 it was finished.

A. Since, where

B. Once, until

C. Each time, once

D. The moment, as

9. I was on the point of going out 　　　 it began to rain heavily.

A. when

B. while

C. as

D. before

10. 　　　 to speak when the audience interrupted him.

A. Hardly had he begun

B. No sooner had he begun

C. Not until he began

D. Scarcely did he begin

11. Doing your homework is a sure way to improve your test scores, and this is especially true 　　　 it comes to classroom tests.

A. before

B. as

C. since

D. when

12. On a rainy day I was driving north through Vermont 　　　 I noticed a young man holding up a sign reading "Boston". (2000考研)

A. which

B. where

C. when

D. that

13. I was walking along the road 　　　 suddenly someone patted me on the shoulder from behind. (CET-4)

A. immediately

B. when

C. the moment

D. while

14. You see the lightning 　　　 it happens, but you hear the thunder later. (1997-1 CET-4)

A. the instant

B. for an instant

C. on the instant

D. in an instant

15. In 1929, three years after his flight over the North Pole, the American explorer, R. E. Byrd, successfully flew over the South Pole 　　　.

A. for the first time

B. the first time

C. first time

D. at the first time

2. 翻译下列句子。

16. Until California recently passed a law, American firms did not have to tell anyone, even the victim, when data went astray.





3.4　地点状语从句

地点状语从句通常是由where引导，用来表达主句的动作发生的场所，其结构通常是“where+陈述句”，从句可以在句首或句末。请看例句：

1　Stay where you are.

精品译文　待在原地别动。

2　Generally, air will be heavily polluted where there are factories.

精品译文　一般在有工厂的地方空气污染都会很严重。

3　A driver should slow down where there are schools.

精品译文　在有学校的地方，司机应缓行。

地点状语从句若放在句首，翻译时往往失去“地点”的含义，要灵活处理。请看例句：

4　Where there is a will, there is a way.

精品译文　有志者，事竟成。

5　Where there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!

精品译文　只要有爱，就会有成功和财富！

6　Where there is pain, we wish you peace and mercy.

Where there is self-doubting, we wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through them.

Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, we wish you understanding, patience and renewed strength.

Where there is fear, we wish you love and courage.

精品译文　当你感到痛苦时，祝福你能保持内心的平静安宁并学会宽恕。

当你对自己感到怀疑时，祝福你能重新找回对自己能力的信心并奋力开创新局面。

当你感到身心疲惫，祝福你能理解、忍耐并重新获取力量。

当你感到恐惧，祝福你得到爱和勇气。

另外，也可由wherever, anywhere和everywhere引导地点状语从句。请看例句：

7　Wherever he happens to be, Clint can make himself at home.

精品译文　无论在什么地方，克林特总是无拘无束。

8　Everywhere they appeared, there were ovations.

精品译文　他们在哪里都受到热烈欢迎。

9　Wherever your school is located, the most likely event is that you will be met by the Foreign Affairs Officer, or their representative, at the final point of your journey.

精品译文　无论你的学校在哪里，最有可能的就是，你到达目的地的时候，会有一位外事官员或他们的代表来迎接你。

思维训练

Exercise 3.4

选择最佳答案填空。

1. The picture is not hanging 　　　 it should on the wall.

A. until

B. wherever

C. where

D. when

2. 　　　, work songs often exhibit the song culture of a people in a fundamental form.

A. They occur where they are

B. Occurring where

C. Where they occur

D. Where do they occur

3. I have kept that portrait 　　　 I can see it every day, as it always reminds me of my university days in London.

A. which

B. where

C. whether

D. when





3.5　原因状语从句

3.5.1　常见连词的用法

我们常用because, for, as和since这四个连词来引导原因从句，它们意义和用法不完全相同。在这四个连词中，because的语气最强，只有它才能用来回答why的提问，所引出的原因往往是听话人所不知道的或最感兴趣的，也只有because才能被强调词如only, just或perhaps等来修饰。请看例句：

1　My friends dislike me because I'm handsome and successful.

妙语点睛　一般来说，“我”不被朋友喜欢的原因是听者感兴趣的，所以用because引出这个原因。

精品译文　我的哥们都不喜欢我，因为我长相英俊又事业有成。

2　Perhaps because most of today's cross-cultural marriages occur because of "true love", these couples work hard to overcome their difference.

妙语点睛　一般不会说perhaps for*或perhaps as*或perhaps since*。

精品译文　可能因为现在大多数跨国婚姻都是基于“真爱”，所以夫妇俩都很努力地克服双方之间的差异。

连词since表示人们已知的事实或不需强调的原因，所以常译成“既然”，通常放在句首。请看例句：

3　Since we don't have class tomorrow, why not go out for a picnic?

精品译文　既然明天没有课，我们出去野营如何？

4　Since you are an English major, I guess you can help me with this sentence.

精品译文　既然你是学英语专业的，我想你能帮我翻译这句话。

连词as与since的用法差不多，所引出的理由在说话人看来已经很明显，或已为听话人所熟悉而不需用because加以强调。请看例句：

5　As Monday is a national holiday, all government offices will be closed.

精品译文　由于星期一是国家的法定假日，因此所有的政府办事机构都将关门休息。

连词for表示推断的理由，是对前面分句的内容加以解释或说明。请看例句：

6　It rained last night, for the ground is wet this morning.

精品译文　昨晚下雨了，因为今天早上地面都是湿的。

试比较：Because it rained last night, the ground is wet this morning.

3.5.2　用介词表示因果关系

常用的介词有：because of, due to, owing to。因为是介词，所以它们的后面只能接名词而不是从句。请比较：

1) We had an accident because he was careless.

2) We had an accident due to his carelessness.

3) Owing to his carelessness we had an accident.

妙语点睛　在例句1）中，因为he was careless是从句，所以用连词because引导。在例句2）中，因为his carelessness是名词短语，所以用介词连接。此处不能说due to he was careless*。在例句3）中，同样是名词短语his carelessness，所以要用介词连接。一般来说，owing to常置于句首，而due to通常不这么用。

精品译文　由于他粗心大意，我们出了车祸。

3.5.3　其他复合连词表示原因

在英语中，除了上述常见的连词外，还有其他表示原因的连词。下面一一列举并解释它们的用法。

一、in that

其基本的意思是“原因就在于”，其引导的从句要放在主句后面，而且主句通常是在作比较。请看例句：

1　English has an advantage over most of the other languages in that it has become, so to speak, an international language.

妙语点睛　这里主句English has an advantage over most of the other languages显然是在比较英语相对于其他语言的优势，然后用接连词in that引导的从句，来说明为什么会有这种优势。

精品译文　英语相对于其他大多数语言来说有一大优势，原因就在于它可以说已经成为一门国际通用语言。

2　E-mail is different from the traditional mail in that it sends and receives mails in a second.

妙语点睛　这里主句e-mail is different from the traditional mail显然是在比较两种不同的通讯方式的特点，然后用接连词in that引导的从句，来说明二者的差异在哪里。

精品译文　电子邮件和传统的邮件是不同的，因为前者收发邮件可以在顷刻之间完成。

3　Mercury differs from other industrial metals in that it is a liquid.

妙语点睛　这里主句mercury differs from other industrial metals显然是在比较两种不同金属的特点，然后接连词in that引导的从句，来说明二者的差异在哪里。

精品译文　水银不同于其他种类的工业用金属，原因就在于它是液态的。

二、seeing (that), now (that), considering (that), given (that)

这些连词与since相似，它们都有“鉴于某个事实，考虑到”的意思。

4　Seeing that it's raining hard, we'll have to stay here for the night.

精品译文　鉴于此刻雨下得正大，我们就待在这过夜。

5　They did the job very well, considering that they had no experience.

精品译文　鉴于他们缺乏经验，这项工作他们就算做得很好了。

6　Given that they are inexperienced, they've done a good job.

精品译文　鉴于他们缺乏经验，这项工作他们做得不错。

7　Now that the semester is finished, I'm going to rest a few days and then take a trip.

精品译文　鉴于这个学期已经结束了，我要休息几天，然后出去旅行。

8　Now that you are sixteen, you can get a driver's license.

精品译文　你已经16岁了，可以取得驾驶执照了。

三、not that...but that

这个连词的意思是“不是因为……而是因为……”。请看例句：

9　I haven't finished writing the report yet, not that I'm lazy, but that I have no time.

精品译文　我还没有写完这个报告，不是因为我懒，而是因为我没时间。

四、inasmuch as, insomuch as, in as much as, in so much as

还有inasmuch as, insomuch as, in as much as和in so much as也可表原因，但显得比较文绉绉的，不太常用，通常只用于很正式的书面语或演讲中。请看例句：

10　Inasmuch as the two government leaders could not reach an agreement, the possibilities for peace are still remote.

精品译文　由于双方政府的领导人无法达成一致，实现和平的可能性依然渺茫。

3.5.4　because的否定转移

在详细解释because的否定转移用法之前，请读者先来看这个例句：

1　You don't love a woman because she is beautiful.

这个句子看似简单，因为既没有任何生词而且结构也不复杂，因此，也许有读者将其直接理解成：

你不爱一个女人，因为她太漂亮了。

这样理解虽然有违人之常情，但从逻辑上也可以讲得通，比如人们常说“漂亮的女人是祸水”，所以也许是不敢爱，而娶个丑女回家放心。其实这句话还有另外的理解，这就涉及否定转移的问题了。具体来说，这里的don't在形式上是否定谓语love，但实际上是否定原因从句。因此，这句话可以翻译成：

你不是因为一个女人的美貌而爱她。

如果再给出一个更完整的上下文，比如：

You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her.

这就更促使我们要从否定转移的方向来理解此句了。所以不能译成“不要去爱一个女人，因为她太美丽”，而应该译成：

你不是因为一个女人的美貌才爱她，而是因为你爱她才觉得她美。

从以上的例句分析，我们看到，在主句是否定的情况下，because引导的从句可能是按正常情况翻译（此时是否定主句谓语），也可能是按否定转移来翻译（此时是否定从句）。具体如何理解，要看上下文。再比如下面这个例句：

2　Don't cry because it is over, but smile because it happened.

妙语点睛　这句话的前半部分Don't cry because it is over，我们完全可以按正常情况翻译成“不要哭，因为都结束了”。但如果结合下文but smile because it happened，我们就不能这样翻译了。此时，我们要按照否定转移的情况来翻译，也就是说，这句话形式上是否定谓语cry，但实际上是否定原因从句。

精品译文　不要因为感情结束而伤心落泪，要因为曾经经历而微笑面对。

以上讨论的两个例句都是可以作两种解释，具体如何理解要看上下文。但是，有些句子只能有一种理解，即只能按正常情况翻译或按否定转移理解。因此，归纳来说，在主句是否定的情况下，because引导的从句的翻译可分为三种情形：



只能按正常情况翻译；

两种翻译都可以，具体如何理解要看上下文；

只能按否定转移来翻译。



比如上面的例句you don't love a woman because she is beautiful就可以有两种理解，但是一旦有了下文but she is beautiful because you love her就只能有一种理解了，即按照否定转移来翻译。我们再来比较下列例句：

3　1) I don't study English just because it is so difficult.

2) I don't study English just because I like to.

妙语点睛　我们看到，两个句子的主句相同，都是I don't study English，但在深层含义上两者是不同的。根据从句的不同意思，我们发现例句1）只能按正常情况翻译，此时否定词don't是否定主句谓语study，我们无法把它按照否定转移来译成“我学英文并不是因为英文太难”，这显然是不符合逻辑的。而例句2）只能按照否定转移来翻译，此时否定词don't是否定从句。我们无法把它按照正常情况理解成“我不学英文，就是因为我喜欢英文”，这显然也是不符合逻辑的。

精品译文　1）我不学英文，因为它太难了。

2）我学英文并不是因为我喜欢英文（而是因为其他原因，比如工作需要）。

我们来看一道旧TOEFL的听力题：

4　He doesn't exercise because he likes to.

A. He likes to exercise by himself.

B. He exercises for reasons other than enjoyment.

C. He's glad he doesn't have to exercise.

D. He doesn't have enough time to exercise.

正确答案　B。

妙语点睛　这道听力题考的就是否定转移。该句只能按照否定转移来理解，这里doesn't否定的不是exercise，而是because从句，此时likes应该重读。

精品译文　他虽然锻炼身体，但并不是因为他喜欢锻炼。

5　I wouldn't quit my job because maybe I could get a better one. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

妙语点睛　这句话我们无法把它按照正常情况理解成“我不愿意辞去现在的工作，就是因为我可能会找到一个更好的工作”，这显然在逻辑上讲不通。该句只能按照否定转移来理解，这里wouldn't不是否定quit，而是否定because引导的从句。尤其是结合下文A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush（一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林），我们更要按否定转移来理解。因此，整句话要表达的意思是：不要因为你可能会找到更好的工作就先把现在的工作辞掉，而应该要一边干着现在的工作，一边再去找其他更好的。这就相当于我们常说的“骑驴找马”，而不是驴都没得骑，就去找马。