ｗｈｅｎ，ｗｈｉｌｅ用法辨

吕吉尔

大家都知道，when,while同为连词，都有“当……时候”的意思，但很多同学都搞不清楚它们在用法上的不同。笔者精心总结了它们的区别，希望能对同学们有所帮助。

1. 引导时间状语从句时，when既可表时间点，也可表时间段；从句的谓语既可以是短暂性动词，也可以是持续性动词。而while只表示时间段，故从句谓语只能是持续性动词，不能用短暂性动词。

例1The teacher came in while/

when we were chatting.我们正在聊天时，老师进来了。

例2Sorry, I was out when you called me.对不起，你打电话时我刚好外出。

2. when引导时间状语从句时，从句中的动作既可与主句的动作同时发生，亦可先后发生；while引导时间状语从句时，主句的动作发生在从句所表示的时间段之内。

例3When you telephoned me, I was drawing a picture.你给我打电话的时候，我正在画画。

例4Tom was disappointed that most of the guests had left when he arrived at the party.汤姆扫兴的是，当他到达聚会地时，大部分客人已经走了。

例5The telephone rang while I was having a shower.正当我在淋浴时，电话铃响了。

3. 表示两个动作同时进行且两个动作都为持续性动作时，多用while，常与进行时连用；当两个动作都为短暂性动作时，多用when，常与一般时连用。

例6 He fell asleep while (he was) doing his homework.他在做家庭作业的过程中睡着了。

例7While John was sitting biting his nails, I was working out a plan to get us home.还在约翰坐着咬指甲时，我就在寻思回家的办法了。

例8When he arrived home, it was just nine oclock.他到家时，时间恰好是九点钟。

4. while可用作并列连词，意为“而，然而”，表示对比或转折。when也可作并列连词，但其后从句的谓语必须是短暂性动词，表示事件发生的突然性，隐含“意想不到”之意。

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

例10We were about to start when it began to rain.正当我们要出发的时候，下雨了。

例11He was on the point of leaving when someone knocked at the door.他正要出发的时候，有人敲门。

5. 引导让步状语从句时，when，while可互换，意为“虽然；尽管”。引导条件状语从句时，只能用while，意为“只要……就……”。

例12While / When I admit his good points, I can see his shortcomings.虽然我承认他的优点,但我也能看到他的缺点。

例13We can surely overcome these difficulties while we are closely united.只要我们紧密地团结在一起，就一定能克服这些困难。

6. when还有“一……就……；无论何时；要是；既然；其实”等意，而while则没有。

例14When the wind blows, all the doors rattle.只要风一吹，门就吱嘎作响。

例15When Susan goes to town, she will visit her grandma.苏珊每次进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.既然你不想听，那我就无可奉告了。

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

他没再尝试，其实他再试一次是有可能成功的。

【小结】

when与while的最根本区别在于：

when既可以与短暂性动词连用，又可以与持续性动词连用；而while只能跟持续性动词连用。

引导时间状语从句时，while强调主句、从句谓语动作发生的同时性，从句谓语动词多用进行时态；when则强调“当时；此时”之意，尤其强调事件发生的突然性，从句谓语动词用进行时或一般时的均有。

此外，两者又有各自不同的特殊含义和用法，同学们应在学习过程中多加体会，掌握它们的不同用法。

【练习题】

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