ｗｈｅｎ，ｗｈｉｌｅ用法辨

呂吉爾

大家都知道，when,while同為連詞，都有“當……時候”的意思，但很多同學都搞不清楚它們在用法上的不同。筆者精心總結了它們的區別，希望能對同學們有所幫助。

1. 引導時間狀語從句時，when既可表時間點，也可表時間段；從句的謂語既可以是短暫性動詞，也可以是持續性動詞。而while只表示時間段，故從句謂語只能是持續性動詞，不能用短暫性動詞。

例1The teacher came in while/

when we were chatting.我們正在聊天時，老師進來了。

例2Sorry, I was out when you called me.對不起，你打電話時我剛好外出。

2. when引導時間狀語從句時，從句中的動作既可與主句的動作同時發生，亦可先后發生；while引導時間狀語從句時，主句的動作發生在從句所表示的時間段之內。

例3When you telephoned me, I was drawing a picture.你給我打電話的時候，我正在畫畫。

例4Tom was disappointed that most of the guests had left when he arrived at the party.湯姆掃興的是，當他到達聚會地時，大部分客人已經走了。

例5The telephone rang while I was having a shower.正當我在淋浴時，電話鈴響了。

3. 表示兩個動作同時進行且兩個動作都為持續性動作時，多用while，常與進行時連用；當兩個動作都為短暫性動作時，多用when，常與一般時連用。

例6 He fell asleep while (he was) doing his homework.他在做家庭作業的過程中睡著了。

例7While John was sitting biting his nails, I was working out a plan to get us home.還在約翰坐著咬指甲時，我就在尋思回家的辦法了。

例8When he arrived home, it was just nine oclock.他到家時，時間恰好是九點鐘。

4. while可用作并列連詞，意為“而，然而”，表示對比或轉折。when也可作并列連詞，但其后從句的謂語必須是短暫性動詞，表示事件發生的突然性，隱含“意想不到”之意。

例9Theres plenty of rain in the southeast, while theres little in the northeast.東南部雨量充足,而西北部則很少下雨。

例10We were about to start when it began to rain.正當我們要出發的時候，下雨了。

例11He was on the point of leaving when someone knocked at the door.他正要出發的時候，有人敲門。

5. 引導讓步狀語從句時，when，while可互換，意為“雖然；盡管”。引導條件狀語從句時，只能用while，意為“只要……就……”。

例12While / When I admit his good points, I can see his shortcomings.雖然我承認他的優點,但我也能看到他的缺點。

例13We can surely overcome these difficulties while we are closely united.只要我們緊密地團結在一起，就一定能克服這些困難。

6. when還有“一……就……；無論何時；要是；既然；其實”等意，而while則沒有。

例14When the wind blows, all the doors rattle.只要風一吹，門就吱嘎作響。

例15When Susan goes to town, she will visit her grandma.蘇珊每次進城都要去看望她奶奶。

例16How can he get good grades when he wont study?要是他不用功，怎么能拿高分呢?

例17I cant tell you anything when you wont listen.既然你不想聽，那我就無可奉告了。

例18He stopped trying, when he might have succeeded next time.

他沒再嘗試，其實他再試一次是有可能成功的。

【小結】

when與while的最根本區別在于：

when既可以與短暫性動詞連用，又可以與持續性動詞連用；而while只能跟持續性動詞連用。

引導時間狀語從句時，while強調主句、從句謂語動作發生的同時性，從句謂語動詞多用進行時態；when則強調“當時；此時”之意，尤其強調事件發生的突然性，從句謂語動詞用進行時或一般時的均有。

此外，兩者又有各自不同的特殊含義和用法，同學們應在學習過程中多加體會，掌握它們的不同用法。

【練習題】

1. —Im going to the post office.

—______ youre there, can you get me some stamps?

A. As B. While

C. Because D. If

2. Why did you use my cell phone

______ you had your own one? To save money?

A. as B. where

C. while D. when

3. Some people say more but do less ______ others do the opposite.

A. once B. while

C. when D. as

4. She is always listening to music ______ doing her homework.

A. as B. when

C. while D. before

5. He was doing his homework

______ the light went out.

A. when B. while

C. before D. until

6. Look! The boy students are

______ football while the girls are

.

A. playing； dance

B. playing； dancing

C. play； dancing

D. play； dance

7. While my mother ______ some washing, I ______ a kite for Jack.

A. did； made

B. was doing； made

C. was doing； was making

D. did； was making

8. When they ______ through the forest, a bear ______ at them.

A. walked； was coming

B. walk； is coming

C. were walking； comes

D. were walking； came

9．When you ______ at the door,

I ______ some washing.

A. knocked； did

B. was knocking； did

C. knocked； was doing

D. knock； am doing

10．Mary ______ on the shoes when she ______ them.

A. tried； bought

B. tried； buys

C. tries； bought

D. tries； buys