She thought　50　(what/which/*) he ordered roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know　51　(what/which/that) he would pass away. He always liked to do things early before the time. Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.



She trimmed the stems and placed them in a very special vase and then put the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face. She would sit for hours in her husband's favorite chair, while staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.



A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate. With loneliness and solitude　52　(what/which/that) had become her fate. Then the very hour as on Valentines before, the doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door.



She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock. Then went to get the telephone to call the florist shop. The owner answered and she asked him if he would explain　53　(what/which/that/why) someone would do this to her, causing her such pain.



"I know　54　(what/which/*) your husband passed away more than a year ago," The owner said, "I knew you'd call, and you would want to know." "The flowers　55　(what/which/that) you received today were paid for in advance." "Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."



"There is a standing order　56　(what/which/that) I have on file down here. And he has paid well in advance, you'll get them every year. There also is another thing　57　(what/which/that) I think you should know, he wrote a special little card... he did this years ago."



"Then should ever I find out　58　(what/which/that) he's no longer here, it's the card　59　(what/which/that) should be sent to you the following year." She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers were shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.



Inside the card, she saw　60　(what/which/that) he had written her a note. Then as she stared in total silence, this is　61　(what/which/that) he wrote...

"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone,

I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome."



"I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.

For if it was the other way, I know　62　(what/which/that/how) I would feel.

The love　63　(what/which/that) we shared made everything so beautiful in life.

I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife."



"You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.

I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve.

I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.

That is　64　(what/which/how/why) the roses will be sent to you for years."



"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness,

65　(what/which/that) we had together, and how both of us were blessed.

I have always loved you and I know I always will.

But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."



"Please... try to find happiness, while living out your days.

I know it is not easy, but I hope　66　(what/which/that) you find some ways.

The roses will come every year, and they will only stop,

When your door's not answered, when the florist stops knocking."



"He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.

But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,

To take the roses to the place where I've instructed him,

And place the roses where we are together once again."





Chapter 4

第四章　状语从句



* * *




一般来讲，英语中的状语从句有九大类，分别可表示时间、地点、原因、目的、结果、条件、让步、比较和方式。因此，本章的主要内容安排如下：

4.1　时间状语从句

4.2　地点状语从句

4.3　原因状语从句

4.4　目的状语从句

4.5　结果状语从句

4.6　条件状语从句

4.7　让步状语从句

4.8　比较状语从句

4.9　方式状语从句

本章主要是介绍引导这些状语从句常见的连词的用法。要想全面而深入地掌握状语从句，读者可以参阅《英语语法新思维高级教程——驾驭语法》第三章的内容。



* * *





4.1　时间状语从句

引导时间状语从句的连词较多，主从句时态搭配以及谓语动词的动作时间长短性等用法特点也各异。但本节只是简单地介绍一下when，while和until的用法特点，以及英语中表示“一……就”的结构。因此，本节内容安排如下：

4.1.1　时间连词when的用法特点

4.1.2　时间连词while的用法特点

4.1.3　时间连词until的用法特点

4.1.4　表示“一……就”的结构

需要提醒读者注意的是，更深入而全面的内容，读者可以继续研读《英语语法新思维高级教程——驾驭语法》第三章3.1节的内容。

4.1.1　时间连词when的用法特点

一般来讲，when的意思相当于at that time（在……时刻），因此从句的谓语动词通常是短暂动词，表示某一时刻的动作。不过，when引导的从句也可接延续动词（continuous verb），这时从句往往用过去进行时态，表示某一时间段内发生的动作。有关连词when常见的主从句时态搭配举例说明如下。

时间从句所表达的时间通常是过去和将来。首先，请读者来看when引导从句表示过去动作的四组时态搭配。

一、主句一般过去时＋从句一般过去时

1　I started my dinner when he left. 他走了之后，我才开始吃晚饭。

2　He left when I got there. 我到了以后，他才离开。

从以上例句可以看出，若主从句都用一般过去时，则表示从句动作先发生。所以，从句还可以用过去完成时。于是，就有了下面的第二种时态搭配关系。

二、主句一般过去时＋从句过去完成时

3　I started my dinner when he had left.

4　He left when I had got there.

这两句的从句用了过去完成时，更强调了从句动作先发生，意思与上面两句区别不大。

在表示过去的动作中，when引导的从句还有一个重要的时态搭配，即一般过去时（simple past）与过去进行时（past continuous）搭配。关于这一点，在《英语语法新思维初级教程——走近语法》中已详细讨论过。注意，此时的时态搭配与主句、从句没有关系，而只与动作的长短有关系。短暂动作用一般过去时，延续动作用过去进行时。这一时态配套使用所表示的意义是：在一个延续背景动作的过程中突然发生了一个短暂动作。既然此时的时态搭配与主从句没有关系，因此可以组合成下面两种时态搭配，即“主句过去进行时＋从句一般过去时”，或“主句一般过去时＋从句过去进行时”，即：

1．主句一般过去时＋从句过去进行时

5　The doorbell rang when I was telephoning.

妙语点睛

这里的短暂动作rang用一般过去时，延续动作telephone用过去进行时。

精品译文

门铃响的时候，我正在打电话。

如上所述，这个句子也可以换成“主句过去进行时＋从句一般过去时”这样的时态搭配，即：

2．主句过去进行时＋从句一般过去时

6　I was telephoning when the doorbell rang. 我当时正在打电话，突然门铃响了。

注意：由“主句一般过去时＋when＋从句过去进行时”变成“主句过去进行时＋when＋从句一般过去时”，此时when的意思发生了改变，即由during the time（当……时候）变成了at the time（正在那时）。这时when强调某个短暂动作突然发生，所以可以在when引导的从句中添加suddenly一词。请比较：

7　1) The doorbell rang when suddenly I was telephoning.*

2) I was telephoning when suddenly the doorbell rang.

妙语点睛

在例句1）中，由于when的意思是during the time，强调的是一个动作持续的过程，所以不能添加suddenly这样的词。在例句2）中，由于when的意思是at the time，强调的是一个短暂动作的发生，所以可以添加suddenly一词。

请比较：

8　1) I was telephoning Harry when she arrived.

2) I telephoned Harry when she arrived.

妙语点睛

我们看到，这两个句子仅主句的态不同。例句1）用了过去进行时态的was telephoning，例句2）用了一般过去时态的telephoned。不同时态表达的意思不同，并且说明主从句的动作发生先后也不同。在例句1）中，telephoning（打电话）先发生，arrived（到达）后发生。在例句2）中，则反过来了，telephoned（打电话）后发生，arrived（到达）先发生。另外，在例句1）中，telephoning（打电话）是一个延续动作，arrived到达）是短暂动作。但在例句2）中，telephoned（打电话）变成了短暂动作，这里只强调动作的开始，而没有强调动作的持续性。

精品译文

1）她到的时候，我正在给哈里打电话。

2）她到了以后，我给哈里打了一个电话。

请再来看下面这两个句子：

9　I was walking along the road when suddenly someone patted me on the shoulder from behind.

妙语点睛

这是“主句过去进行时＋从句一般过去时”的时态搭配，此时when强调短暂动作，所以可以添加suddenly，表示“突然有人拍我”。

精品译文

当时我正在路上走着，突然有人从背后拍我的肩膀。

10　On a rainy day I was driving north through Vermont when suddenly I noticed a young man holding up a sign reading "Boston".

妙语点睛

这是“主句过去进行时＋从句一般过去时”的时态搭配，此时when强调短暂动作，所以可以添加suddenly，表示“我突然注意到”。

精品译文

在一个雨天，我正驾着车往北穿越佛蒙特州，这时我突然看见一个年轻男子，手里举着个牌子，上面写着“波士顿”。

我们下面来看when引导从句表示将来动作的一组时态搭配。

3．主句一般将来时＋从句一般现在时

在表示将来的动作时，主句显然要用一般将来时（simple future），而时间从句要用一般现在时（simple present）表示将来，不能使用将来时态。请看例句：

11　I'll speak to him when he arrives. 等他到了我要和他说话。

12　I'll tell him about it when he comes back. 等他回来我要告诉他这件事。

4.1.2　时间连词while的用法特点

当while用作时间连词时，意思相当于during that time（在……期间），表示某一时间段内发生的动作。因此，从句的谓语动词通常接延续动词。请看例句：

1　The phone rang while I was taking my bath.

妙语点睛

此句中while后面的谓语部分taking my bath是一个持续的动作。

精品译文

电话铃响的时候我正在洗澡。

2　The doorbell rang while we were watching TV.

妙语点睛

此句中while后面的谓语部分watching TV是一个持续的动作。

精品译文

当时我正在看电视，突然门铃响了。

时间连词while和when的含义有差别：while的意思相当于during that time（在……期间），表示某一时间段内发生的动作，因此，从句的谓语动词通常接延续动词。when的意思相当于at that time（在……时刻），从句的谓语动词通常是短暂动词，表示某一时刻的动作（从句也可接延续动词，这时从句往往用过去进行时态）。请比较：

3　A detective（侦探）arrested a criminal and was about to handcuff（给……戴手拷）him when a huge gust（一阵狂风）of wind blew the detective's hat off.

"Shall I go and fetch it?" the criminal asked. "Do you take me for a fool?" asked the detective. "You wait here while I go and get it!"

妙语点睛

此句中的go和get尽管是短暂动词，但两动词连用表示的是在一段期间内的活动，所以用连词while。而when的从句的谓语是blew off，表示“吹落”，显然是一个短暂动作，所以不能用while引导。

精品译文

一个侦探逮着了一名罪犯。他正准备给罪犯戴上手铐，这时刮起了一阵狂风，把侦探的帽子吹落了。罪犯立即说：“需要我去帮你把帽子捡起来吗？”侦探答道：“你把我当傻瓜啊？你在这里等着，我自己去捡！”

我们再来看下面这道考题：

4　I was walking along the road_______suddenly someone patted me on the shoulder from behind.

A．immediately

B．when

C．the moment

D．while

正确答案　B。

妙语点睛

这是一道四级考题。这里从句的动词patted是一个短暂动作，所以不能选D即while。

精品译文

当时我正在路上走着，突然有人从背后拍我的肩膀。

5　The phenomenon provides a way for companies to remain globally competitive_______avoiding market cycles and the growing burdens imposed by employment rules, healthcare costs and pension plans.

A．but

B．while

C．and

D．whereas

正确答案　B。

妙语点睛

这是1997年的考研完形填空第48题。这里的动词avoid表示的相当于一个状态，是延续动词，所以用while。