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高中英语语法新体验——从经典例句开始
1.19.2.1 1.when,whenever,while,as引导的时间状语从句

1.when,whenever,while,as引导的时间状语从句

(1)when引导时间状语从句,表示“当……的时候”。这个时候when引导的状语从句既可以置于句首,也可以置于句尾。

John was having dinner when I saw him.

我看见约翰的时候,他正在吃晚饭。

Lin Yong loves the feeling he gets when he is getting ready for a ride.(人教大纲版高三第8页)

林勇喜欢他准备要玩滑板时的那种感觉。

When you were learning your mother tongue,you spent all your waking hours communicating with the people around you;in other words,you were studying the language all day long!(人教大纲版高三第67页)

当你学习母语的时候,一睁开眼睛就在同你周围的人进行交流,换句话说,你是整天在学母语!

提示:

有时根据上下文,when还可以表示“在……之后”或“在……之前”。请注意下面三个句子中when的不同意思:

When he came in,I was cooking dinner.当他进来的时候,我正在做晚饭。

When he came in,I had cooked the dinner.(when=before)他进来之前,我做好了晚饭。

When he came in,I cooked the dinner.(when=after)他进来之后,我做了晚饭。

请对比:

The audience claps when she sings.她唱完歌时观众总是鼓掌。

The audience claps when she has sung.她唱完歌后观众总是鼓掌。

(2)when引导的时间状语从句中不可以使用将来时,但可以使用一般现在时、现在进行时和现在完成时表示将来的动作。

When you meet him,do say hello to him for me.(从句使用一般现在时表示将来)

你看见他的时候,一定要代我向他问好。

Take care not to mention this when you're talking to him.(从句使用现在进行时表示将来)

你在跟他交谈的时候,注意不要提起这件事。

When you have finished your experiment,please tidy the lab and put everything back in the cupboards.(95人教版高一上第5页)(从句使用现在完成时表示将来)

做完实验后,请你们整理一下实验室,把所有的实验器材放回柜子里。

When you have read some Chinese poems,you will have seen and heard some of the features that all good poetry shares.(人教大纲版高二上第27页)(从句使用现在完成时表示将来)

读过一些中国诗之后,你就会看到、听到所有好诗具有的共同特色。

提示:

在名词性从句中when是可以跟将来时态的。分析:

I don't know when he will come but when he comes,I'll tell you.

第二个when引导的是状语从句,所以不可以用将来时,而第一个when引导的是名词性从句作宾语,用将来时表示他什么时间到来。

请对比:

I don't know when he will come.我不知道他什么时候到。

I don't know when he comes.我不知道他什么时候到。(通常情况,故用现在时。)

因此下面的句子是有歧义的:

Tell me when he comes.①告诉我他(通常情况下)什么时候到。②他来的时候,请告诉我一下。

(3)when是从属连词还是并列连词。

When有时并不当从属连词引导时间状语从句来修饰前面的主句,倒是前面的主句为when引导的句子提供时间背景,这类when引导的句子,多数语法大家称之为并列句,表示“这时”、“突然”的意思。

One day Chuck is on a flight across the Pacific Ocean when suddenly his plane crashes.(人教大纲版高一上第3页)

一天,查克飞越太平洋时,他的飞机突然因故障而坠毁了。

She had just finished dressing when her guests arrived.

她刚穿戴完毕后,客人们就到了。(突出信息重点。)

when的这种用法,在描述过去一件事情时,并列连词when前面的句子通常提供一个动作发生的背景,这时动词的时态大体分为四种情况:

①用一般过去时。

It was already one in the morning,and my candle was nearly burnt out,when I saw the dull yellow eyes of the creature open.(人教大纲版高二下第15页)

已经是凌晨一点了,我的蜡烛几乎都烧光了,这时候我突然看到那个家伙暗黄色的眼睛睁开了。

②用过去进行时。

I was moving forward over a slope that seemed safe when suddenly without warningmy world dropped out from under my skis.(人教大纲版高一下第31页)

我正在一个似乎安全的斜坡上往前走,突然,滑雪板下的大地毫无预兆地陷下去了。

③用was(were)about to,was(were)going to,was(were)on the point of等。

We were to start when it began to rain.

我们刚要出发,这时下起雨来。

He was just about to say something when Pete turned around.(人教大纲版高一上第83页)

他正想说什么,这时皮特转过身来。

He was going to throw the stone when he saw a passer-by.

他正要扔石头,这时他看见一个行人。

We were on the point of giving up when he captain called all the crew to the deck.

我们正要放弃,这时船长把所有的人召集到甲板上。

④用过去完成时。

He had not gone far when he entered a very narrow passage between two mountains.(人教大纲版高三第189页)

他还没有走多远,这时他进入了一个两边都是山的狭窄的通道。

The planes had been planting seed for nearly a month when it began to rain.(NCE第二册第62课)

飞机撒播近一个月后,开始下起雨来。

从上述诸例可以看出,由于强调when从句里动作的突然性,因此when引导的并列句的谓语动词必须是瞬间动词,而不可能是持续动词。下面的句子可以进行一步说明这个问题。

Johnny was sleeping when they went in.

约翰尼正在睡觉,这时他们突然进来了。

I was wandering through the streets when I caught sight of a tailor's shop.(81人教版高一第120页)

我正在街上徘徊,这时我突然看到一家服装店。

I had hardly opened the door when he hit me.

我一开门,他就朝我打来。

提示:

下面这个句子是错误的:We were about to start when it rained.此句应改为We were about to start when it started to rain.

(4)whenever引导的时间状语从句与when引导的时间状语从句的区别。

when与whenever都可以当连词用,引导状语从句,但whenever含有“每当”、“每逢”的意思。

When/whenever I make up my mind to do something,I do it immediately.

(每)当我决心做什么事的时候,我就会马上去做。

Whenever we see him we speak to him.

每逢我们见到他,都同他说话。

When也可表示重复性。

When he comes to Beijing,he comes to see me.

每次他来北京,他都来看我。

When you meet a word you know,consult the dictionary.

每当你遇到你不认识的词时就查字典。

由于when既可以表示一次性事件,又可以表示重复性的事件,所以在某些情况下,例如当主句和从句的谓语的动词都用过去时时,它是有歧义的。

When he asked Rose if she loved him,she answered with a little sigh.

①他问罗斯是不是爱她,她吁了一口气。

②每当他问罗斯是不是爱他,她总是吁口气。

(5)while引导的时间状语从句与when引导的时间状语从句的区别。

when和while都可以引导时间状语从句,而且意思相同,但是while从句中的动词必须是持续性(be,stay,wait,live等)而不能是瞬间性(arrive,come,get up,meet等)的,当when从句中的动词是持续性动词时,就可以用while来代替when。

Be careful when/while crossing the street.

过马路时请当心。

They arrived while/when I was sunbathing.

当我正在进行日光浴时,他们到了。

You mustn't smoke while you're walking in the bush either.(95人教版高三第13页)

你在灌木丛步行时也不要抽烟。

We must strike while/when the iron is hot.

我们必须趁热打铁。

(6)while引导的状语从句的时态特点。

①表示现在或将来情况时,从句可以用一般现在时、现在进行时或现在完成时。

I'll pack your books while you're sorting your things upstairs.

你在楼上整理你的东西时,我会给你包好你的书的。

I'll be kind to him while you are away.

你不在的时候,我会对他好的。

Have you been in touch with the market while you've been out of work?

你在这段没有工作的期间有没有联系市场呢?

②表示过去情况时,常常是从句用过去进行时,主句用一般过去时。

While the water was heating,Mr.Mike began sweeping the floor.

在烧水的时候,迈克先生开始扫地。

While the discussion was going on,he came in.

讨论正在进行的时候,他进来了。

也可以主句和状语从句都用过去进行时,表示两个动作同时发生。

While I was having dinner,she was dressing upstairs.

我吃饭的时候,她在楼上穿衣。

While I was waiting I was reading.

我一边等一边看书。

提示:

一个基本原则是:持续时间较长的动词用过去进行时,持续时间较短的动词用一般过去时,而持续时间一样长时,则都用过去进行时。

(7)as引导的时间状语从句与when引导的时间状语从句的区别。

在多数情况下,as可与when交替使用,既可以与延续性动词连用,又可以与瞬间性动词连用,但是as通常不表示将来情况,另外as还常有“随着……”、“一边……一边……”的含义,具体包括以下几种情况:

①某事一发生,另一事立即发生。

He rose as I entered.

我进去的时候,他站了起来。

As I left I remember the key.

我离开的时候,想起了钥匙。

②在某事发生的过程中,另一事发生。

As she slept,she dreamed a dream.

她睡觉的时候做了一个梦。

As he was leaving,Mr.Lee saw her.

提示:

李先生离开的时候看见了她。

③两个动作同时发生。

“I'll call for you at nine,”he said as he left.

“我九点钟约你,”他边走边说。

He was reading the newspaper as he was waiting for the bus.

他一边等公汽,一边看报纸。