although; though; as
三者均可表示“尽管;虽然”,引导让步状语从句。although用法较正式,语气较强;though较常用;as则主要用于倒装句。它们的用法有如下几点值得注意:
1、状语从句由although, though或as引导,主句之前不可有but, and, so, however等并列连词,但可有yet或still等副词。although与though常可互换。例如:
Although/Though he believes it, yet he will not act. 他虽然相信它,但却不肯有所行动。
2、as表示“尽管;虽然”,只能用于倒装句,即:将表语、状语或谓语动词放在as之前。though也可这么用。例如:
Young as/though he is, he knows a lot. 他虽然年纪不大,却懂得很多。
注意:如果表语是单数名词,要省略a。例如:
Child as/though he is, he can speak two foreign languages. 虽然他是个孩子,但他会说两门外语。
3、though可以放在句末,表示“但是”,although却不能。例如:
They said they would come; they did not, though. 他们说他们会来,可是他们并没有来。
4、although只用来陈述“事实”,不能表示“假设”。因此可以说even though“即使”以及as though“好像(=as if)”,不能说even although或as although。例如:
I believe you are on duty—even though you’re in plain clothes. 尽管你穿着便衣,我相信你是在值勤。