when, while, as的用法區(qū)別
三者可表示“當(dāng)……時(shí)候”,區(qū)別如下:
(1) 若主句表示的是一個(gè)短暫性動(dòng)作,從句表示的是一個(gè)持續(xù)性動(dòng)作,三者都可用:
He fell asleep when [while, as] he was reading. 他看書時(shí)睡著了。
【注】as 用于引出一個(gè)持續(xù)性動(dòng)詞表示“在……期間”時(shí),其謂語(yǔ)通常只能是那些含有動(dòng)作(action)和發(fā)展(development) 意味的動(dòng)詞,一般不能是那些不用于進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)的動(dòng)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(dāng)你在郵局時(shí),能幫我買幾張郵票嗎?
(2) 若主、從句表示兩個(gè)同時(shí)進(jìn)行的持續(xù)性動(dòng)作,且強(qiáng)調(diào)主句表示的動(dòng)作延續(xù)到從句所指的整個(gè)時(shí)間,通常要用 while:
Don't talk while you're eating. 吃飯時(shí)不要說(shuō)話。
I kept silent while he was writing. 在他寫的時(shí)候,我默不作聲。
但是,若主從句表示的兩個(gè)同時(shí)進(jìn)行的動(dòng)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。
(3) 若從句是一個(gè)短暫性動(dòng)作,主句是一個(gè)持續(xù)性動(dòng)作,可用 as / when 但不用 while:
It was raining hard when [as] we arrived. 我們到達(dá)時(shí)正下著大雨。
(4) 若主從句表示的是兩個(gè)同時(shí)(或幾乎同時(shí))發(fā)生的短暫性動(dòng)作,用 as / when:
I thought of it just when [as] you opened your mouth. 就在你要說(shuō)的時(shí)候,我也想到了。
(5) 若要表示兩個(gè)正在發(fā)展變化的情況,相當(dāng)于漢語(yǔ)的“隨著”,一般用 as:
Things are getting better and better as time goes on. 隨著時(shí)間的推移,情況越來(lái)越好。
As it grew darker, it became colder. 天色越晚,天氣越冷。
(6) 表示“每當(dāng)…的時(shí)候”(暗示一種規(guī)律性),一般要用 when:
It's cold when it snows. 下雪時(shí)天冷。
He smiles when you praise him. 你夸獎(jiǎng)他時(shí)他總是笑笑。
(7) 若主從句所表示的動(dòng)作不是同時(shí)發(fā)生,而是有先后順序時(shí),一般要用 when:
I will go home when he comes back. 他回來(lái)時(shí),我就回家去。
(8) when 可用作并列連詞,表示“這時(shí)(突然)”;while 也可以用作并列連詞,表示“而”、“卻”(表示對(duì)比);但 as 則沒(méi)有類似用法:
We were about to start when it began to rain. 我們正要出發(fā),這時(shí)天開始下雨了。
He likes coffee, while she likes tea. 他喜歡咖啡,而她卻喜歡茶。
(9) as 后可直接跟一個(gè)名詞,構(gòu)成省略句,但 while, when 很少這樣用:
As [When] a boy, he lived in Japan. 他小時(shí)候在日本。
(10) when 和 while 后可接現(xiàn)在分詞、介詞短語(yǔ)、形容詞等構(gòu)成省略句,但 as 一般不這樣用:
When [While] reading, he fell asleep. 他看書時(shí)睡著了。
When [While] in trouble, ask her for help. 遇到麻煩的時(shí)候你就去找她幫忙。