一、惯用法问题
不要按汉语“虽然……但是……”的表达习惯,在 although 后连用 but。如:
虽然天很冷,但我们还是去了那儿。
正:Although it was cold, we went there.
误:Although it was cold, but we went there.
但是在强调时,although 可与 yet, still 等副词连用。如:
Though he seems happy, yet he is worried. 虽然他看起来很幸福,但他实际上很烦恼。
值得一提的是,在某些特定的语境中,although 与 but 连用的句子是可能的(注:but 引出的句子在 although 从句之前)。如:
But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 但我当时的确不知道此事,尽管后来还是知道了。
He wanted to go abroad, but although he had some money he couldn’t afford it. 他想出国,尽管他有些钱,但还是负担不起。
二、although与though的区别
1. 用作连词,表示“虽然”,两者大致同义,可换用,只是 although 比 though 更为正式。如:
Though [Although] it was raining,we went there. 虽然下着雨,但我们还是去了那儿。
2. although 一般不用作副词,而 though 可用作副词,且一般放在句末(不放在句首),意为“可是”、“不过”。如:
It’s hard work; I enjoy it though. 工作很辛苦,可是我乐意干。
这样用的 though 有时可与 however 换用。如:
We all tried our best. We lost the game, though [however]. 我们都已尽了最大的力量,但我们还是输了。
3. 在 as though(好像,仿佛), even though(即使,纵然) 等固定短语中不能用 although。如:
He talks as though he knew anything. 他夸夸其谈好像无所不知。
4. though 引导的让步状语从句可用部分倒装的形式(注意:倒装后位于句首的名词之前不用冠词),但 although 一般不这样用。如:(from www.yywords.com)
Poor though I am, I can afford it. 我虽穷,但这东西还是买得起的。
Child though he was, he did quite well. 他虽是孩子,但干得很好。