从句，即从属子句，是复句中具有分属地位的分句，它是一种绝大部分语言都有的语法结构。

从句体系包括：

第一，名词性从句（主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句、宾语补语从句［常忽略］及同位语从句）

第二，定语从句

第三，状语从句

从句不能单独成句，但它也有主语部分和谓语部分，是一个特殊句子，就像一个句子一样。所不同在于，从句须由一个关联词（connective）引导。

根据从句语法功能的不同可分为：主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句、同位语从句、定语从句和状语从句6类。

前四类由于主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句及同位语从句在句子的功用相当于名词，所以通称名词性从句；

定语从句功能相当于形容词，称为形容词性从句；

而状语从句功能相当于副词，称为副词性从句。状语从句还可以分为条件状语从句、原因状语从句、地点状语从句、目的状语从句、让步状语从句、比较状语从句、方式状语从句、结果状语从句和时间状语从句。

主语从句（Subject Clause）

用作主语的从句叫主语从句。引导主语从句的关联词有从属连词、疑问代词、疑问副词、缩合连接代词、缩合连接副词等。

表语从句（Predicative Clause）

用作表语的从句叫做表语从句。引导表语从句的关联词与引导主语从句的关联词很多都一样。

宾语从句（Object Clause）

在句子中起宾语作用的从句叫做宾语从句.宾语从句分为三类：动词的宾语从句、介词的宾语从句和形容词的宾语从句。

同位语从句

是名词性从句(主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句、同位语从句)中的主要从句之一，从句作同位语表示与之同位的名词(短语)的实际内容，它的作用相当于名词，对前面的名词(短语)加以补充说明或进一步解释，相当于一个表语从句，它们之间的关系就是同位关系，即主表关系。

定语从句

是由关系代词或关系副词引导的从句，其作用是作定语修饰主句的某个名词性成分，相当于形容词，所以又称为形容词性从句，一般紧跟在它所修饰的先行词后面。

状语从句

可分为：

在复合句中充当主语成分的句子叫做主语从句。常规主语从句，即句子在复合句中充当一个主语。主语从句的时态：不受主句的时态影响和限制。

主语从句小结:

注意：当what引导的名词性分句作主语时，主谓一致问题极为复杂。著名学者周海中教授在论文《关于what-分句作主语的主谓一致问题》中就这一问题做了深入研究，并给出了10种的主谓一致关系。这些一致关系值得英语学习者和使用者特别注意。

连接表语从句的连接词有：that, what, who, when, where, which, why, whether, how, whoever, whomever, whichever, whatever等。还有如because, as if, though等。

He has become a teacher.

他已经成为一名教师。

He has become what he wanted to be ten years ago.

他已经成为了他10 年前想成为的职业。

His suggestion is good.

他的建议是好的。

His suggestion is that we should stay calm.

他的建议是，我们应该保持冷静。

The question is confusing.

这个问题令人困惑。

The question is when he can arrive at the hotel.

问题是，他什么时候可以到达酒店。

定义

宾语从句就是一个句子作动词或介词的宾语。宾语从句在复合句中作宾语，位于及物动词后。

Tell him which class you are in.

Do you know what he likes？

宾语从句的分类

A 、作动词的宾语：

e.g．I heard the news.

I (主语) heard (谓语动词) the news.名词作宾语

I (主语) heard (谓语动词) that he would come here later on.一个句子作宾语---宾语从句

B 、作介词的宾语：

e.g．He said nothing about the plan.

He (主语) said (谓语动词) nothing (代词作动词的宾语) about (介词) the plan. 名词作介词的宾语

C、 做有动词意义的形容词的宾语

e.g.I'm afraid that I can't win.

宾语从句必须用陈述语序。

False: He is wondering when can he finish this difficult job.

Right: He is wondering when he can finish this difficult job.

【注】否定前移，及完成反义疑问句；

在think/believe/suppose/guess/imagine/expect等动词后跟宾语从句否定式时，可以转移到主句上去，完成反意疑问句时，应与从句主、谓保持一致。（注： 否定前移的条件是，主句主语是第一人称）

I don't think you are right,are you？

I don't believe they have finished their work yet,have they？

Bad: I think he doesn’t like the English teacher.

Good: I don’t think he likes the English teacher.

False: He wanted to know why he is crying in the corner.

Right: He wanted to know why he was crying in the corner.

【注】在表示建议suggest, advise；要求demand, desire, require, request, propose； 决定 decide; 命令 order, command; 坚决主张 insist; 等动词后跟宾语从句，用（should）+v．（虚拟语气）。

I suggested that you（should）study hard．

He ordered that we should go out at once．

【注】如果宾语从句后有宾语补足语，用it作形式宾语，把宾语从句后置。

You may think it strange that he would live there．

Bad: I thought that he could finish this job in just two hours impossible.

Good: I thought it impossible that he could finish this job in just two hours.

Bad: He left whether we should continue this project to my judgment.

Good: He left it to my judgment whether we should continue this project.

带有宾语从句的复合句就是用连接词把一个主句和一个宾语从句连接在一起。连接词有：that(可省略)，what,who,when,where,why,which,if,whether,how。

1．从句为陈述句，常选择连接词that或将that省略，直接与主句相连。

【注】that常在以下情况下不能省略：

1. 当that作learn, suggest, explain, agree, wonder, prove, mean, state, feel, hold等动词的宾语时；

2．当宾语从句较长时；

3．当主语状语置于主句尾，宾语从句之前时；

4．当主语谓语动词(包括非谓语动词)与宾语从句之间有插入语时；

5．当一个动词带有两个或两个以上宾语从句时，此时第一个that可以省略，第二个that不可以省略；

6．当宾语从句中的主语是this,that或this,that做主语的定语时；

7．当宾语从句是双宾语中的直接宾语时；

8．当宾语从句的主语是非谓语动词或主语从句时；

9．当主语中的谓语动词是固定词组时；

10．当宾语从句有it做其先行词时；

11．在直接引语中，转述分句把宾语从句隔开时。

2．从句为一般疑问句，常选择连接词if或whether。在whether…or not结构中不能用if替换。

【注】if/whether区别

①if和whether在作“是否”解时，引导宾语从句常放在动词know, ask, care, wonder, find out等之后，介词后一般不用if

②少数动词，如：leave,put,discuss,doubt后的宾语从句常用whether.

③whether后可以加or not,但是if不可以。

④在不定式前只能用whether。

如：I can’t decide whether to stay. 我不能决定是否留下。

⑤避免歧异时，我们常用whether而不用if.

3．从句为特殊疑问句，常选择what, when, where, which, why, who, how等的疑问代、副词作连接词。

★当who为主语时，句式为：who+谓语+其他

1．主句是一般现在时，从句时态不变。

He says (that) he will leave a message on my desk.

They know (that) he is working hard.

2．主句是一般过去时，从句为各种相应过去时态。

He answered that he was listening to me.

3．主句是一般将来时，一般从句为一般现在时（“主将从现”）。

4. 当从句所叙述的事实为一个定理或客观存在时，无论主句是什么时态，从句均用一般现在时。但与人有关的均不是定理。

He told me that he was a boy. （虽然性别是客观存在的，但“男”“女”也是人为定义的，故非第4种情况）

Father told me that practice makes perfect. （所叙述的事实为一个定理，用一般现在时）

①从属连词

连接宾语从句的从属连词主要有that，if，whether.that引导表示陈述句的宾语从句，而if和whether引导表示“是否”的宾语从句。

例句：

He told me that he would go to the college next year.

他告诉我他下一年上大学。

I don’t know if there will be a bus any more.

我不知道是否还会有公交车。

Nobody knew whether he could pass the exam.

没人知道他是否会通过考试。

②连接代词

连接代词主要有who,whom,whose,what,whoever,whomever,whosever,whatever,whichever等。

连接代词一般指疑问，但what,whatever除了指疑问外，也可以指陈述。

例句：

Do you know who has won ‘Red Alert’ game？

你知道谁赢了这一局红警游戏吗？

I don’t know whom you should depend on.

我不知道你该依靠谁.

The book will show you what the best CEOs know.

这本书会告诉你最好的执行总裁该了解些什么.

Have you determined whichever you should buy,a Motorola or Nokia cell phone?

你决定好是买诺基亚还是摩托罗拉的电话了吗？

③连接副词

连接副词主要有when,where,why,how,whenever,wherever,however等。

例句：

He didn’t tell me when we should meet again.

他没有告诉我什么时候我们能再见面。

Could you please tell me how you use the new software?

你能给我展示怎么用这个新的软件吗?

None of us knows where these new parts can be bought.

没人知道这些的新的零件在哪里能买到。

与先行词同位或等同的从句叫作同位语从句。其关联词多为that。

一、在复合句中用作同位语的从句叫同位语从句。它一般跟在某些名词后面，用以说明该名词表示的具体内容，如：

I heard the news that our team had won．

我听到了我们队获胜的消息。

I had no idea that you were here．

我不知道你在这里。

二、可以跟同位语从句的名词通常有news，idea，fact，promise，question，doubt，thought，hope，message，suggestion，words（消息），possibility等。如：

I’ve come from Mr wang with a message that he won’t be able to see you this afternoon．

我从王先生那里来，他让我告诉你他今天下午不能来看你了。

三、英语中引导同位语从句的词中有连词 that，whether，连接副词 how,when,where等。（注：if 不能引导同位语从句。）如：

l have no idea When he will be back．

我不知道他什么时候回来。

He must answer the question whether he agrees to it or not.

他必须回答他是否同意这样一个问题。

四、有时同位语从句可以不紧跟在说明的名词后面，而被别的词隔开。如：

Several years later，word came that Napoleon himself was coming to inspect them．

几年以后，有消息传来说拿破仑要亲自视 察他们。

The thought came to him that maybe the enemy had fled the city．

他突然想起可能敌人已经逃出城了。

五、同位语从句与定语从句的区别。

1．同位语从句与前面的名词是同位关系，即说明它前面名词的内容；而定语从句与前面的名词是修饰与被修饰关系，即限定它前面的名词范围，或补充一些情况。如：

The news that l have passed the exam is true．

我通过了考试这一消息是真的。

（同位语从句，即从句所表达的意思就是前面名词的内容。）

The news that he told me just now is true．

他刚才告诉我的消息是真的。

（定语从句，从句对前面名词起修饰限制作用，即“他告诉我的”那个消息，而不是别的消息。）

2．引导同位语从句的that是连词，在从句中不充当任何成份，而引导定语从句的that是关系代词，除起连接作用外，还在从句中充当主语、宾语或表语等。如：

The idea that computers can recognize human voices surprises many people.

计算机能够识别人的声音的想法使许多人感到惊奇。

（that在从句中不充当任何成份。）

The idea that he gave surprises many people．

他提出的观点令许多人感到吃惊。

（that在从句中作gave的宾语。）

一个名词(或其它形式)对另一个名词或代词进行修饰，限定或说明，这个名词(或其它形式)就是同位语。同位语与被它限定的词的格要一致，并常常紧挨在一起。

1 非独立的同位语：常出现在被限定词前

Bruce Lee (姓名)李小龙

Graf Schmidt (称号，浑名) 施密特伯爵

Doctor Wang (职称，头衔) 王博士

Uncel Liu (亲戚的称呼) 刘叔叔

die Stadt Shanghai (类属名称) 上海市

the Province Hebei (类属名称)河北省

das Jahr 2000 (类属名称) 2000 年

three Kilo tomato (度量名称) 三公斤西红柿

the University Bremen (专有名词) 不来梅大学

国际上另一种分法为关系从句

关系从句 relative clause

关系从句的理解与翻译

人们习惯称由关系代词that，which，who，whom，whose和关系副词when，where等引导的从句为“定语从句”，认为这种从句的功能同汉语定语相当，只不过英语的定语从句后置，汉语的定语前置罢了。但随着对语言认识的不断深入，人们发现很多这样的从句不能用定语来翻译。让我们先看一例：

Kennedy was rushed to a hospital where he died immediately.

若拘泥于“简短的定语从句可译为汉语前置定语”的观点，该句子就可能会被译为：

“肯尼迪被急忙送到一家他很快就死的医院。”

译文听上去荒谬可笑，仿佛送医院的目的是为了“很快就死”，这显然有悖原意。这里“where”起过渡连接的作用，相当于“and there”，在语义上属另一新层次，绝无修饰，更无限制“怎样的医院”之意。从句中“died”这一动作发生于主句中“was rushed”的动作之后，进一步交待了事情发展的结果。可见，这种结构难用“定语从句”来解释。因此有的语言学家主张将这种句子笼统称为“关系从句”。这种正名有利于我们摆脱“定语”的吏缚，深入分析该类从句形形色色的内在关系。所以，例1应译为：

肯尼迪被急忙送到一家医院，在那里他很快就死了。

让我们再多看几个例子：

1． When he was still a little boy,Jack London wrote some compositions which were praised by his teachers.

杰克·伦敦还是小孩时，他写的一些作文就受到老师的赞赏。

(不宜译为：……他就写受到老师赞扬的作文。)

2． I met the boatman who then took me across the ferry.

我遇到了那位船夫，他将我渡到对岸。

(不宜译为：我遇到那位将我渡到对岸的船夫。)

3． While they were waiting there,a dog from one of the houses down the road began a wild,hoarse howl that continued until a voice called out and hushed him.

他们正在那儿等时，从路边一幢房屋窜出的一条狗开始狂吠不止，直到有人出来喝住，它才停下来。

(不宜译为：……一条狗开始了直到有人出来喝住才停止的狂吠。)

4． In the torchlight，he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkines,our local grocer.

借着电筒的亮光，他看见一个人影，马上认出是当地杂货商比尔·威尔金斯。

(不宜译为：……他看见马上认出的是当地杂货商比尔·威尔金斯的影子。)

我们知道，汉语由于缺乏关系代词、关系连词等连接手段，通常只有以时间或逻辑为轴线安排句子，对语序的依赖性极大，如果把后发生的事做前置定语就会显得很好笑，如“送到一家很快就死的医院”“写受老师赞扬的作文”。而英语的连接手段相当丰富，构成信息焦点的中心词后面可马上由关系代词引导从句补充信息，从句中需补充信息的名词后又衍生出二度、三度……从句，但仍能使人感到句子层次清楚。如：

5． The snake catches the toad that eats the insect that nibbles the green leaves that grow on the branches.

遇到这种一个从句扣一个从句的句子，汉语只有以简驭繁：断句。译为：

蛇吃癞蛤蟆，癞蛤蟆吃虫子，虫子吃生长在树枝上的绿叶子。

此外，读者也许注意到了：在1、2、3、4、5例中，抛开关系代词等结构不管，我们可明显察觉英语、汉语的语序同事件发生的时间顺序基本一致，这无疑是翻译转换的极好基础，只需在关系代词处断句，省掉关系代词，必要的话重复一下名词，照原文顺序翻译即可。那么如果主、从句中谓语的动作是持续性的，或时序不清楚又怎么样呢？请看例句：

6． He is a professor who gives lectures in several universities this semester.

他是教授，这学期在几所大学兼课。

7 All this time I was living with a young married couple who interested me very much,for they were unlike any people had ever known.

这段时期我一直和一对年轻夫妇同住在一块儿，这对夫妇使我很感兴趣，因为他们同我以前所认识的人都不一样。

以上两例中主句传递了主要信息，从句传递了辅助信息，从另一侧面加以补充描述，或提供某种必要的背景知识，关系代词则起停顿、衔接、过渡的作用，使语义发展顺利进人另一层次，我们似乎察觉不到这些从句跟中心词之间有何限制或修饰关系。

有时关系代词和关系副词还体现了主、从句间的某种逻辑关系，不能简单地视为“代替”某个名词而同时接续从句的词。如：

8． In 1906,however,Pierre,who was crossing a road,was run over and killed. (who… ≈ when he…)

1906年，皮埃尔在横穿马路时被车压死了。

9． Dr. Bethune,who was very tired on his arrival,set to work at once. (who was… ≈ though he was)

白求恩大夫刚到时虽然很累，但他立即便开始工作。

10． We know that a cat,whose eyes can take in many more rays of light than our eyes,can see clearly in the night. (whose eyes… ≈ because its eyes…)

我们知道，由于猫眼能比人眼吸收更多的光线，所以猫在夜里也能看得很清楚。

11． He would be a shortsighted commander who merely manned his fortress and did not look beyond. (who… ≈ if he…)

(谁如果)只守城堡而不往远处看，(那他)就是目光短浅的指挥官。

12． There was something original,independent and heroic about the plan that pleased all of them. (that… ≈ so that the Plan…)

此方案新颖，有独创性，有魄力，(所以)他们都喜欢。

以上五例中，关系代词、副词在特定语境表示了时间、让步、原因、条件、结果等逻辑关系，意义上相当于状语从句，翻译时也当然不能译为定语。另外，11、12两句的汉译中括号里的汉字省掉后意思仍然清楚而且显得更简洁、紧凑，这也是我们在翻译时应该考虑的。

传统语法囿于“定语从句”的观念，以关系代词前有无逗号为准，机械地将关系从句分为“限制性定语从句”和“非限制性定语从句”，这是很不全面的。我们应该深入理解原文的深层意思，尊重汉语的习惯，才能翻译出正确、地道的译文。

用作定语的从句叫定语从句。定语从句一般皆放在被它所修饰的名（代）词之后，这种名（代）词就叫作先行词（Antecedent）。引导定语从句的关联词为关系代词（或称引导词、关系词等）。关系代词在定语从句中可用作主语、宾语、定语等；关系副词在定语从句中用作状语。

①引导定语从句的关联词有who,whom,whose,that,when,where,why 和 which. 在非限制定语从句中，只可用which,who,whose,where,when.,如果指代前面整个句子，多用which.

例句：

The dog that/which was lost has been found.　（失踪的狗已经找到了。）

Those who are in favor of the proposal are expected to discuss it in detail after the meeting.　（有人认为那些对这个提案有兴趣的人最好是在会后再具体讨论它。）

There are many organizations whose purpose is to help the homeless.　（存在着许多旨在帮助无家可归者的组织。）

The days when we had to rely on wool,cotton or silk for our clothes have now passed.　（那种必须依赖羊毛，棉花或者蚕丝做衣服的日子已经过去了。）

Air moves from places where the pressure was high to places where the pressure is low.　（空气从压强高的地方流向压强低的地方。）

This is the reason why he refused to help us.　（这就是他拒绝帮助我们的原因。）

He was born in 1976,when an earthquake struck the country.　（他出生于1976年，这一年这个城镇发生了地震。）

They turned a blind eye to the suffering of the people,which enraged all of us.　（他们对受苦人们的漠视激怒了我们。）

② 当引导定语从句的先行词前有all,any,no,little,much,very first等词，或先行词前为形容词最高级所修饰时，或先行词为all,anything,nothing,something,everything时，从句的引导词只能用that.

The only thing that matters to the children is how soon they can have their holiday.　（孩子们唯一关心的是他们什么时候放假？）

These are the very points that puzzle me.　（真正困扰我的是这些观点。）

Is there anything that bothers you?　（有什么事烦着你吗？）

This is the best film that was ever produced by the company.　（这部是那个公司有史以来拍摄得最好的电影。）

③as 可做引导词引导定语从句，多和such,the same 连用. As 引导的定语从句也可修饰整个句子，既可放在先行词后，也可放在句子开头.

例句：

Such people as you describe are rare nowadays.（你描述的那一类人现在很少了。）

The boy was run over by a motor-car,as often happened in pre-liberation Shanghai.（那个男孩被一辆摩托轧过去了，这种事在解放前的上海是不少见的。）

As is often the case,the girl forgot to bring her dictionary.（正如往常一样，这个女孩又忘了带上字典。）

We are opposed to such ideas as are not based upon objective facts.（我们是反对这种毫无事实根据的想法的。）

④介词+which/whom/whose从句

The driver is the man from whose room she had stolen the gold watch.（她就是从那个司机的房间偷了金表的。）

Language is a tool by means of which people communicate ideas with each other.（语言就是人们用来和其他人交流的一种工具。）

Jane spent all evening talking about her latest book,of which none of us had ever heard.（Jane整整一晚上都在谈论着她最近的课本，那些内容我们闻所未闻。）

例题：

Water dissolves a part of nearly everything _______ it comes in contact.

a. where b. that c. with which d. as soon as

⑤代/名+介词+which 从句

He is needing a book,the name of which I don't know.（他需要一本书，但是我不知道书名。）

In factories and in our daily life,there are many waste materials,all of which can be turned into useful things under certain condition.（在工厂里，在我们的日常生活中都有很多垃圾，其实这些垃圾在某种情况下是可以转变为有用的东西的。）

To make an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions,each of which has only one correct answer.（为了能够客观地测试，老师写了一串问题唯一的答案。）

⑥同位语从句和定语从句

The news that he has been admitted by Harvard University is very pleasing.（他被哈佛大学录取的消息非常令人兴奋。）

The news that you told me was really exciting.（你告诉我的这个消息真的是很激动人心。）

⑦ 难句：

NO.1 He is one of the men who were chosen to represent the group.（他是被选为代表该团队的人中一员。）

NO.2 He is the only one of those boys who is willing to take on another assignment.（他是那些男孩中唯一一个愿意再接受任务的人。）

NO.3 I shall never forget the day when we first met.（我永远也不会忘记我们第一次见面的那一天。）

NO.4 I remember the morning when he first came to school.（我记得早上，当他第一次来到学校的时候。）

NO.4 I shall never forget the days which I spent in the countryside.（我永远不会忘记我在农村度过的日子。）

NO.5 The room where he lived is kept in good repair.（他住的房间保持着良好的状态。）

NO.6 Alva found a place in the cellar where he uses as his first laboratory.（馆长在地窖里找到一个地方使用,作为他第一次实验的实验室。）

NO.7 The way in which/that you answered the questions was admirable.（以何种方式/这就是你回答的他所提出的问题，令人钦佩。）

用作状语的从句叫作状语从句，其关联词是一些从属连词。修饰主句中的动词、形容词和副词，通常由从属连词引导，按其意义和作用可分为时间、地点、 条件、 原因、让步、目的、结果、 方式、比较状语从句等。

(1) 常见连词有after,as,before,once,since,till,（not）until，when,whenever（no matter when），while， as long as,as soon as…

例句：

As you look at yourself in a mirror,you’ll seen an identical image of yourself.

It is a long time before it is possible to test the medicine on human patients.

It was not until…that

Not until…did he…

Not until I received the letter,did I know he had gone to America.

It was not until….

When I got to the airport,I suddenly remembered that I had left the ticket behind.

I was about to leave,when something occurred which attracted my attention.

Whenever we have difficulty,he’ll come to help us.

(2) no sooner…than,hardly(scarcely,barely)…when: 刚做…就….

No sooner had I opened the door than the telephone rang.

She had scarcely news when she fainted.

(3) 还有 immediately,directly,instantly,the moment,the minute,the instant,the second,every time etc

I’ll tell you about it the moment you come.

I got in touch with him immediately I received his letter.

一般用where 或 wherever 引导：

I will stand where I can see the parade clearly.

Wherever they went,they were warmly welcomed.

真实条件从句:if,unless,so long as,provided that,supposing that,on condition that,in the event that,in case that etc

I will not go to her party if she doesn’t invite me.

I will not go to her party unless she invites me.

从属连词有because,as,since,for,now,that,in that,seeing that,considering that(鉴于，由于)

As the school regulations are written quite clearly,there is nothing more to be explained.

Considering that the sweater was hard made,it was not expensive.

Seeing that they are inexperienced,they are doing quite a good job.

引导词分类：

(1): even if,though,even though,while(尽管) no matter what/how/which,however,whatever,whichever,however etc.

He will not give up smoking even though the doctor advises him to.

Whatever the consequence may be,I will be on your side.

However hard she tried to explain,nobody trusted her.

It has been the same result,whichever way you do it.

(2) 由as 引起的让步从句，语气较强烈，被强调的词须放在句首.

Simple as the question may seem,it is not at all common in nature.

Cold as it is,the children play outdoors.

Much as I respect him,I can’t agree with him.

Object as you may,I will go on with my plan.

(3) whether…or,不管…或…

whether you be a student or a teacher,you are required to obey the regulations of the school.

引导词：so that,so…that,such…that

He is so humorous that we’ll never forget him.

She is such a nice girl that everybody likes to make friends with her.

引导词：so that,in order that,for fear that,lest,in case

I checked all the results time and again for fear that there should be any mistakes.

Telephone us in advance in order that we might make the necessary arragements.

引导词：as,(just) as…so…，as if,as though.

（1） as,(just) as…so…引导的方式状语从句

Always do to the others as you would be done by.

你希望人家怎样待你，你就要怎样待人。

As water is to fish,so air is to man.

我们离不开空气，犹如鱼儿离不开水。

Just as we sweep our rooms,so we should sweep backward ideas from our minds.

正如打扫房屋一样，我们也要扫除我们头脑中落后的东西。

（2） as if,as though

两者的意义和用法相同，引出的状语从句谓语多用虚拟语气

They completely ignore these facts as if (as though) they never existed.

他们完全忽略了这些事实，就仿佛它不存在似的。（与事实相反，谓语用虚拟语气。）

He looks as if (as though) he had been hit by lighting.

他那样子就像被雷击了似的。（与事实相反，谓语用虚拟语气。）

It looks as if the weather may pick up very soon.

看来天气很快就会好起来。（实现的可能性较大，谓语用陈述语气。）

说明：as if / as though也可以引导一个分词短语、不定式短语或无动词短语，例如：

He stared at me as if seeing me for first time.

他目不转睛地看着我，就像第一次看见我似的。

He cleared his throat as if to say something.

他清了清嗓子，像要说什么似的。

The waves dashed on the rocks as if in anger.

波涛冲击着岩石，好像很愤怒。

(1) as…as,not so/as…as

the film was not so exciting as we expected.（这部电影没有我们期待的一样精彩。）

The history of nursing is as old as the history of man.

She likes them almost as much as Paul does.

(2)比较级+than,so much/a lot more than

She looks much younger than she is. （她看上去比她的实际年龄更年轻。）

The universe is a lot more complicated than you think.（宇宙的结构比你想象的更复杂。）

(3) no more…than,not more…than,less…than

Jack is not more frightened than Mike is.（杰克不像马克那么害怕。）

Tom is no more rich than Black。（汤姆并不比布莱克富有。）

(3) the more…the more

The farther north you go,the severer the winter is.

The more I see of him,the less I like him.（我越看他越讨厌。）

It is time +（that）从句

在英语里，“It is time +（that）从句”是一个较为常用的句型，它表示“该做……的时候了”的意思。该句型属于主从复合句的一种；其主句部分为“It is time”，从句部分的连词that可以省略。

一、time前面的修饰语

句型“It is time +（that）从句”通常暗示“有点迟了”，为了强调这一含义，可以在time的前面加形容词high。例如：

It's high time we started.

It is high time that more women ran the arts.

为了使语气得到进一步的加强，还可以在high的前面加certainly， more than等副词或词组：

It is certainly high time that we ordered dinner.

形容词full也可以加在time的前面，用来加强语气。例如：

It's full time you had a nice day.

It is full time that boy went to herding.

time前面还可以加about，这时句型所表达的意思是“早该……”。例如：

It's about time we started.

It's about time I settled down.

上面两例中的about可以用getting来代替，句意不变；这可以视为句型“It is time +（that）从句”的一种变体。

二、从句中的动词形式

在“(that)从句”中，动词形式通常是一般过去时。这是一种奇特而有趣的语言现象，即用假设的过去时来代替实际的将来时。从英语史的角度来看，从句中的动词形式用过去时原是属虚拟语气；但从语言发展的观点来看，目前这种动词形式视为陈述语气比较合适。

著名语言学家夸克（R. Quirk）教授等人在1985年出版的《英语语法大全》一书中认为，“(that)从句”的动词形式一定要用“假设的过去时”。他们举了一例：It's time I was in bed.其实，动词形式除常用过去时外，也可以用其他时态和语态（用何种形式应视情况而定）。正如著名语言学家周海中教授在1988年发表的《探讨“It be time （that）…”句型》一文中所言：在现代英语里，“(that)从句”中的动词形式一般用过去时，这是基本规则；有时也可以用其他的动词形式，但应视为特殊用法。他在其文中列举了大量实例，用于论证和说明。

1．用were型虚拟语气。例如：

It's high time I were hence. (W. Shakespeare)

It's time I were gone. (A. Tennyson)

由于英语的发展，虚拟语气与陈述语气之间的区别正在逐渐消失。基于这种情况，虚拟语气的were也正在逐渐地代替陈述语气的was。

2．用be型虚拟语气。例如：

You reckon I be found anywhere with him, time he start belle ring. (W. Faulkner)

It is time that more of the research dollars now devoted to cure be diverted to finding new and more humane ways of curing that will make a cancer patient's remaining years happier, more comfortable, and more productive. (Science, 1984, Vol. 5, No.7)

动词形式用be型虚拟语气是古英语的用法。目前，这一用法在英国英语中已“日薄西山”，而在美国英语中却有“东山再起”之势，但主要见于正式文体。

3．借助情态动词should。例如：

It's time this heart should be unmoved. (G. Byron)

It may be time that I should meet with some misfortune; but I hope it is not this. (C. Dickens)

上面用法主要见于文学作品，尤其是英国人写的。