Nevertheless 然而、不过、仍然
Nevertheless(或是nonetheless)解作「然而、不过、仍然」,但是它并不是动词,而是连接副词(Conjunctive Adverb),主要用在句子开头。
例句:
Nevertheless, many people were injured in the accident. (然而,很多人在意外中受伤。)
We brought along the umbrella, but we got wet nevertheless. (虽然我们带了雨伞,但我们仍然湿透了。)
注意:
Nevertheless 和 Nonetheless 都是「然而、不过」的意思,但普遍而言Nevertheless较为常用,而且Nevertheless于比较主动句(Active Voice)较常见。而Nonetheless则会较多使用在被动句(Passive Voice)。
Nevertheless与However最大的分别是Nevertheless的表达较强烈和正式。
But 然而、但是、不过
「但是」的英文很多人会先想到 But 这个单字,But有很多不同的词性,它可以是连接词(Conjunction)或者副词(Adverb),更可以是介词(Preposition)。不过,But最常见的用法是用作并列连接词 (Coordinating Conjunction),用来连接2个意义相反的单字、短语或是子句。
连接单字:The car is big, but cheap. (这辆车很大,但是很便宜。)
连接短语: She has a beautiful appearance, but a bad temper. (她拥有美丽的外表,然而脾气很坏。)
连接子句: Wendy is sick, but she still comes to my birthday party. (Wendy生病了,但是她还是来了我的生日派对。)
注意:
跟在but后面的子句如果较长的话,需要在它前面加上逗号,用作语句停顿和分隔2个完整句子,避免读者混淆句意。否则,可以省略逗号。例如:The car is big but cheap.
我们不可用however作连接词来取代but。例如:
The car is big but cheap. (✓)
The car is big however cheap. (✘)
Although 虽然、不过
Although(或是though)解作「虽然、不过」也可以用作对比,但是与but不同的是,它们是附属连接词(Subordinating Conjunctions),用以连接主子句和附属子句。 Although可以放在句子开首或是句子中间,若它放在句子中间,它前面不用加上逗号。
Tim is smart although he is just 5 years old. (虽然Tim只有5岁,但是他很聪明。)
Raymond and James are close friends although they are studying in different schools. (虽然Raymond和James读不同的学校,但是他们是很亲近的朋友。)
注意:
Although和Though的意思是一样,只是Although在书写上较常见,而Though则较常在口语或会话上使用。
一般而言,Although在语意上较But正式,
But跟Although的用法不同,因为它们是2种不同的连接词(Conjunction)。 But作为并列连接词 (Coordinating Conjunction)只能连接2个相同语法类型的项目,即是:
单字和单字:The car is big, but cheap.
短语和短语: She has a beautiful appearance, but a bad temper.
子句和子句:Wendy is sick, but she still comes to my birthday party.
使用Although或Though的时候,主子句和附属子句的次序不可掉转。
We all feel happy although we lose the game. (✓)
Although we lose the game, we all feel happy. (✓)
We lose the game, but we all feel happy. (✓)
But we lose the game, we all feel happy. (✘)
我们在中文当中常说「虽然…但是…」但在英文当中,Although和But是不可以放在同一句句子内使用的!
Although we lose the game, but we all feel happy. (✘)
However 然而、可是、不管怎样
However 的中文是「然而、可是、不管怎样」用来表达前后句意义相反的副词(Adverb),用来连接2句独立的句子,意思跟but类似,但But是用来连接2句子句。 However的用法与Nevertheless比较相似,只是没有前者在语气强调上那么强烈。另外However较Nevertheless常用。
例句:
We practice hard for the competition. However, we lose. (我们为比赛很用心地练习,可是输了。)
I must buy this computer however expensive it is. (我一定会买这部电脑,不管它有多昂贵。)
注意:
若把However放在句首使用,后面必须加上逗号。
In Contrast 相反
In Contrast是一个短语(Phrase),中文可解作「相对来看」「与…相反」,它较常在句首出现,In contrast 后面须加上逗号。它亦可以与with或是to使用,即In contrast with或是In contrast to。
In contrast to recession, ABC company earned a lot in the beginning of the year. (与经济衰退相反,ABC公司在年头赚了很多钱。)
ABC company earned a lot in the beginning of the year, in contrast with XYZ company. (与XYZ公司相比,ABC公司在年头赚了很多钱。)
In contrast, Jennie attend classes punctually. (相反,Jennie很准时上课。)