“原因”表達法種種

侯朝霞

英語中表示“原因”的方法較多,常見的有以下幾種:

1. because表示直接原因,語氣最強,常用于回答why引導(dǎo)的特殊疑問句。because引導(dǎo)的從句大多后置,有時也可前置。如:

The swimming pool wont be open today because theyre making repairs. 游泳池今天不開放,因為他們在檢修。

Because I was ill, I didnt go to the meeting. 因為生病,所以我沒有去開會。

—Why cant you do it now? 你為什么現(xiàn)在不能做這件事?

—Because I am too busy. 因為我太忙。

2. as多用來解釋主句的原因,語氣比because弱,多用于日常會話。as引導(dǎo)的從句大多前置,有時也可后置。如:

As youre not ready yet, we will wait. 由于你還沒有準備好,我們就等等吧。

I must stop writing now, as I have a lot of work to do. 我現(xiàn)在得停筆了,因為我有很多工作要做。

3. since表示上下文中已經(jīng)表述得很清楚的或不言自明的原因,語氣比because弱,但比as強。since引導(dǎo)的從句多前置。如:

Since you have finished your work, lets go now. 既然你把工作干完了,咱們現(xiàn)在就走吧。

Since you cant answer these questions, wed better ask someone else. 既然你不能回答這些問題,我們最好還是問問別人。

4. for為并列連詞,表示附加的推測出或判斷出的理由,語氣比as弱。for很少用于口語中,所以連接的分句只能后置,表示補充的原因。如:

He must be ill, for he is absent from class today. 他一定是病了,因為他今天沒來上課。

It is spring now, for the flowers are out. 春天來了,百花開了。

He must be honest, for he is loved by all. 他一定很誠實,因為他受到眾人的愛戴。

5. because of常用于口語中,重在說明某個結(jié)果的“原因”。because of后可接名詞、代詞、動名詞或what從句。如:

She arrived late because of the heavy traffic. (= She arrived late because the traffic was heavy. 因為交通堵塞,她來晚了。

He is here because of you. 他是因為你才來這里的。

The girl felt a little tired because of staying up last night. 因為昨天晚上熬夜,這個女孩覺得有點累。

She became very angry because of what he said. 她因為他說的話變得很生氣。

6. thanks to意為“幸虧;由于”,后面可接人稱代詞或名詞,構(gòu)成介詞短語,在句中作狀語。thanks to有時還可用于強調(diào)句型或引導(dǎo)狀語從句。如:

Thanks to your help, we were successful. 多虧你的幫助,我們成功了。

It was thanks to your stupidity that we lost the game. 正是由于你的愚蠢,我們比賽才輸了。

【專練巴士】

選用because, as, since, for, because of, thanks to填空。

1.______ a sudden rain, we came home with wet clothes.

2. ______ it was late, we had to go home.

3. The letter T is like an island ______ it is in the middle of “Water”.

4. ______ he is busy, I wont trouble him.

5. He didnt come to school yesterday ______ his illness.

6. It is going to rain,______ it is getting dark.

Keys: 1. Thanks to2. As3. because4. Since5. because of6. for