连词 while1 有两种意义,因此使用时应小心避免模棱两可。
将 while 当作连词使用时,可以表达一种同时性或对照/对立的意思。虽然往往可以从句子内容判断使用这个单词想要表达的意思,但在以下例句说明的类似情况中,这个单词的预期解释可能模棱两可。
The temperature decreased while the growth rate increased.
这句话有两种可能的解释:一种是温度下降与生长率升高同时发生,另一种则是温度下降与生长率升高被视为对照或相反的两种现象。如果是后者, decreased 与 while 间还要加上一个逗号;不过就算如此,这句话仍会给读者造成混淆。为了清楚地表达原有意思,应用下面的一种方式改写这句话。
同时性:
- The temperature decreased as the growth rate increased.
- The temperature decreased, and simultaneously, the growth rate increased.
- As simultaneous phenomena, the temperature decreased and the growth rate increased.
对照:
- Although the temperature decreased, the growth rate increased.
- The temperature decreased, though the growth rate increased.
- The temperature decreased, but the growth rate increased.
- Whereas the temperature decreased, the growth rate increased.
- The temperature decreased, whereas the growth rate increased.
- Despite the fact that the temperature decreased, the growth rate increased.
1 必须注意的是,在口语中while 还可用于其它许多场合,而且这个单词在每种情况下各有其明显不同的意义。