有关英语状语从句的若干用法习惯

1. 不可将汉语的“因为…所以…”直译为because…so。如：

因为下雨，所以我们呆在家里。

误：Because it was raining, so we stayed at home.

正：Because it was raining, we stayed at home. / It was raining, so we stayed at home.

2. 不可将汉语的“虽然…但是…”直译为 (al)though…but。如：

虽然很危险，但我要试试。

误：Although it is dangerous, but I will try.

正：Although it is dangerous, I will try. / It is dangerous, but I will try.

注：尽管英语不说although…but，但有时出现but although或but… although却是可能的。如：

(1) But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 但我当时的确不知道此事，尽管后来我还是知道了。

此句既用了并列连词 but，又用了从属连词 although，但它并未造成错误，原因是此句与上面所讨论的情形有所不同，即此句 but 用于 although 之前，but 在此仅起到与上文转折的作用，but 后的 I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later.仍为一个复合句。

(2) I tried doing the accounts, but although I knew some maths I found it very difficult. 我试着算这些账，但尽管我懂点数学，仍感到很困难。

此句将 but 与 although 用在一起，但此句也没有错误。该句从总体来看，它是一个以并列连词 but 连接的并列句，而在该并列句的后面一句又是一个包含让步状语从句 although I knew some maths 的复合句——这种句型就是所谓的并列复合句。此句也可改写为 I tried doing the accounts, but I found it very difficult although I knew some maths.