状语从句是在句子中用作状语成分的句子,状语从句可以修饰谓语或整个句子。状语从句的位置灵活,可放在句首、句中或句末,位于句首时,常用逗号隔开,如从句较短且与主句关系密切时,也可不用逗号,如:
As the house was so small he decided to sell it.
由于房子太小,他决定将它卖掉。(从句和主句关系密切)
状语从句位于句末时,其前一般不用逗号。如从句与其前的主句关系不甚密切,其前则用逗号,如:
She is quite considerate,if I may say so.
恕我直言,她非常体贴人。
按用途来分,状语从句可分为九大类:时间、地点、原因、条件、结果、让步、目的、方式、比较等。
1.引导时间状语从句的常见关联词有:when,whenever,while,after,as,before,no sooner...than...,hardly/scarcely...when...,the minute,the moment,the instant等
a)As spring warms the good earth,all flowers begin to bloom.
随着春回大地,百花开始绽放。
b)I hadno sooner arrived homethan it began to rain.
我刚到家,就下起了雨。
c)We will leavethe minute you are ready.
你准备好了我们就走。
2.引导地点状语从句的关联词有:where,wherever,anywhere,everywhere等。若地点状语从句位于句首,一般须用逗号将其和主句隔开
a)Corn flourishes bestwhere the ground is rich.
谷物在土地肥沃的地方生长得最好。
b)There were ovationseverywhere they went.
他们走到哪里都受到热烈欢迎。
c)You are able to gowherever you like.
你想去哪儿就去哪儿。
3.引导原因状语从句的关联词有:because,as,for,since,considering,now that,given that等
a)You should not get angryjust because some people speak ill of you.
你不该仅仅因为有些人说你坏话就生气。
b)As all the seats were full,he stood up.
所有的座位都满了,他只好站着。
4.引导条件状语从句的关联词有:if,unless,providing/provided,as long as,on condition that,in case等
a)If you dream it,you will make it.
如果有梦想,就会获得成功。
b)Providing there is no objection,we will pass the bill.
如果没有反对意见,我们将通过这项决议。
5.引导结果状语从句的关联词有:so...that...,such...that...,to the degree,to the extent,to such a degree,to such an extent等
a)It isso interesting a bookthat everyone wants to get a copy.
这本书很有趣,人人都想得到一本。
b)A computer is intelligentonly to the extent that it can store information.
计算机的功能只限于它能储存信息。
6.引导让步状语从句的关联词有:though,although,even though,even if,此时,主句前不可用but,但可用yet/still,还有whatever,wherever,however,whenever等
a)Even though it was only nine o’clock,there were few people in the street.
尽管才九点钟,街上已没什么人了。
b)You can’t come in,whoever you are.
不管你是谁,都不能进来。
7.引导目的状语从句的关联词有:so that,in order that,so as to,in order to,in the hope that,lest,for fear that,in case等
a)In order that the flowers could bloom again,it was necessary that they should be watered regularly.
为了让这些花再度开放,必须要定期浇水。
b)Take your umbrella with you,lest it should rain.
带上你的伞,以防下雨。
8.引导方式状语从句的关联词有:as,as if,as though,the way等
a)You answeras if you did not know this rule.
你回答问题好像不知道这条规则似的。
b)Do itthe way you were taught.
要照教你的那样去做。
9.引导比较状语从句的关联词有:the more...the more...,as...so...,rather than,other than等
a)The more rural the community is,the more uniform the customs of child upbringing are.
一个社会越原始,教育孩子的方法就越一致。
b)As unselfishness is the real test of strong affection,so unselfishness ought to be the real test of the highest kind of art.
正如无私是钟爱的真正考验,无私也是最高艺术的真正考验。