ｗｈｅｎ，ｗｈｉｌｅ用法辨

呂吉爾

大家都知道，when,while同為連詞，都有“當(dāng)……時(shí)候”的意思，但很多同學(xué)都搞不清楚它們?cè)谟梅ㄉ系牟煌９P者精心總結(jié)了它們的區(qū)別，希望能對(duì)同學(xué)們有所幫助。

1. 引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句時(shí)，when既可表時(shí)間點(diǎn)，也可表時(shí)間段；從句的謂語(yǔ)既可以是短暫性動(dòng)詞，也可以是持續(xù)性動(dòng)詞。而while只表示時(shí)間段，故從句謂語(yǔ)只能是持續(xù)性動(dòng)詞，不能用短暫性動(dòng)詞。

例1The teacher came in while/

when we were chatting.我們正在聊天時(shí)，老師進(jìn)來(lái)了。

例2Sorry, I was out when you called me.對(duì)不起，你打電話時(shí)我剛好外出。

2. when引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句時(shí)，從句中的動(dòng)作既可與主句的動(dòng)作同時(shí)發(fā)生，亦可先后發(fā)生；while引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句時(shí)，主句的動(dòng)作發(fā)生在從句所表示的時(shí)間段之內(nèi)。

例3When you telephoned me, I was drawing a picture.你給我打電話的時(shí)候，我正在畫(huà)畫(huà)。

例4Tom was disappointed that most of the guests had left when he arrived at the party.湯姆掃興的是，當(dāng)他到達(dá)聚會(huì)地時(shí)，大部分客人已經(jīng)走了。

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

3. 表示兩個(gè)動(dòng)作同時(shí)進(jìn)行且兩個(gè)動(dòng)作都為持續(xù)性動(dòng)作時(shí)，多用while，常與進(jìn)行時(shí)連用；當(dāng)兩個(gè)動(dòng)作都為短暫性動(dòng)作時(shí)，多用when，常與一般時(shí)連用。

例6 He fell asleep while (he was) doing his homework.他在做家庭作業(yè)的過(guò)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(shí)，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(shí)，時(shí)間恰好是九點(diǎn)鐘。

4. while可用作并列連詞，意為“而，然而”，表示對(duì)比或轉(zhuǎn)折。when也可作并列連詞，但其后從句的謂語(yǔ)必須是短暫性動(dòng)詞，表示事件發(fā)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(dāng)我們要出發(fā)的時(shí)候，下雨了。

例11He was on the point of leaving when someone knocked at the door.他正要出發(fā)的時(shí)候，有人敲門(mén)。

5. 引導(dǎo)讓步狀語(yǔ)從句時(shí)，when，while可互換，意為“雖然；盡管”。引導(dǎo)條件狀語(yǔ)從句時(shí)，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(rèn)他的優(yōu)點(diǎn),但我也能看到他的缺點(diǎn)。

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

6. when還有“一……就……；無(wú)論何時(shí)；要是；既然；其實(shí)”等意，而while則沒(méi)有。

例14When the wind blows, all the doors rattle.只要風(fēng)一吹，門(mén)就吱嘎作響。

例15When Susan goes to town, she will visit her grandma.蘇珊每次進(jìn)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(tīng)，那我就無(wú)可奉告了。

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

他沒(méi)再嘗試，其實(shí)他再試一次是有可能成功的。

【小結(jié)】

when與while的最根本區(qū)別在于：

when既可以與短暫性動(dòng)詞連用，又可以與持續(xù)性動(dòng)詞連用；而while只能跟持續(xù)性動(dòng)詞連用。

引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句時(shí)，while強(qiáng)調(diào)主句、從句謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)作發(fā)生的同時(shí)性，從句謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞多用進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)；when則強(qiáng)調(diào)“當(dāng)時(shí)；此時(shí)”之意，尤其強(qiáng)調(diào)事件發(fā)生的突然性，從句謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用進(jìn)行時(shí)或一般時(shí)的均有。

此外，兩者又有各自不同的特殊含義和用法，同學(xué)們應(yīng)在學(xué)習(xí)過(guò)程中多加體會(huì)，掌握它們的不同用法。

【練習(xí)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