1. 用作連詞,表示“雖然”,兩者大致同義,可換用,只是 although 比 though 更為正式。如:
Though [Although] they’re expensive, people buy them. 雖然它們很昂貴,人們還是買。
2. although 一般不用作副詞,而 though 可用作副詞,表示“可是”“不過”。如:
I expect you’re right—I’ll ask him, though. 我認為你說得對——我去問問他也好。
She promised to phone. I heard nothing, though. 她答應(yīng)要打電話來. 可我沒聽到回信兒。
這樣用的though通常位于句末,但有時位于句首的though也有這樣的意思。如:
他說他要付錢,然而我認為他不會付的。
正:He says he’ll pay, though I don’t think he will.
正:He says he’ll pay; I don’t think he will, though.
3. 在 as though(好像,仿佛),even though(即使,縱然)等固定短語中,不能用 although代替though。如:
She treats me as though I were a stranger. 她待我仿佛我是一個陌生人。
He’s the best teacher even though he has the least experience. 他盡管經(jīng)驗最少,但教得最好。
4. 兩者均可用于省略句,通常見于主句與從句主語相同,且從句謂語含有動詞be的情形。如:
Although [Though] (it was) built before the war, the engine is still in perfect order. 盡管是戰(zhàn)前制造的,這臺發(fā)動機仍然處于良好狀態(tài)。
Although [Though] (he is) still young he is going very grey. 盡管他還年輕他的頭發(fā)卻已變得灰白。
Although [Though] (she was) in pain, she bravely blinked back her tears. 她雖然很疼痛,但還是硬把眼淚抑制住了。
5. 當(dāng)though用于倒裝形式,它不能換成although,但可換成as。
Successful though [as] he is, he is not proud. 他雖然成功,但不驕傲。
Much though [as] I like you, I couldn’t live with you. 我盡管很喜歡你, 卻不能和你在一起生活。
Try though [as] I would, I could not make her change her mind. 不管我多努力,也不能讓她改變主意。
Surrounded though [as] we were by the enemy, we managed to march forward. 雖然我們被敵人包圍著,但我們還是設(shè)法前進了。
Raining hard though [as] it is, I’m going out for a walk. 雖然正在下著大雨,我還是要出去散步。
注意,若倒裝后置于句首的是名詞時,其前習(xí)慣上不用冠詞或其他限定詞。如:
Expert though [as] he was, he failed. 他雖是專家,但還是失敗了。
Big puzzle though [as] it was, it hadn’t got the better of Jim. 雖然是個大難題,但仍沒有難倒吉姆。
6. 不要按漢語“雖然……但是……”的表達習(xí)慣,在 although 后連用 but。如:
雖然他只是個業(yè)余愛好者,但卻是一流的高手。
誤:Although he’s only an amateur, but he’s a first-class player.
正:Although he’s only an amateur, he’s a first-class player.
但是在強調(diào)時,although 可與 yet, still 等副詞連用。如:
Though he seems happy, yet he is worried. 雖然他看起來很幸福,但他實際上很煩惱。
值得一提的是,在某些特定的語境中,although 與 but 連用的句子是可能的(注:but 引出的句子在 although 從句之前)。如:
But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 但我當(dāng)時的確不知道此事,盡管后來還是知道了。
He wanted to go abroad, but although he had some money he couldn’t afford it. 他想出國,盡管他有些錢,但還是負擔(dān)不起。