Chapter 3状语从句
3.5 原因状语从句
3.5 原因状语从句
3.5.1 常见连词的用法
我们常用because, for, as和since这四个连词来引导原因从句，它们的意义和用法不完全相同。在这四个连词中，because的语气最强，只有它才能用来回答why的提问，所引出的原因往往是听话人所不知道的或最感兴趣的，也只有because才能被强调词如only, just或 perhaps等修饰。请看例句：
1 My friends dislike me because I’m handsome and successful.
妙语点睛 一般来说，“我”不被朋友喜欢的原因是听者感兴趣的，所以用because引出这个原因。
2 Perhaps because most of today's cross-cultural marriages occur because of “true love”, these couples work hard to overcome their difference.
妙语点睛 一般不会说perhaps for*或perhaps as*或perhaps since*。
连词since表示人们已知的事实或不需强调的原因，所以常译成“既然”，通常放在句首。请看例句：
3 Since we don't have class tomorrow, why not go out for a picnic?
4 Since you are an English major, I guess you can help me with this sentence.
连词as与since的用法差不多，所引出的理由在说话人看来已经很明显，或已为听话人所熟悉而不需用because加以强调。请看例句：
5 As Monday is a national holiday, all government offices will be closed.
连词for表示推断的理由，是对前面分句的内容加以解释或说明。请看例句：
6 It rained last night, for the ground is wet this morning.
试比较：Because it rained last night, the ground is wet this morning.
3.5.2 用介词表示因果关系
常用的介词有：because of, due to, owing to。因为是介词，所以它们的后面只能接名词而不是从句。请比较：
1） We had an accident because he was careless.
2） We had an accident due to his carelessness.
3） Owing to his carelessness we had an accident.
妙语点睛 在例句1）中，因为he was careless是从句，所以用连词because引导。在例句2）中，因为his carelessness是名词短语，所以用介词连接。此处不能说due to he was careless*。在例句3）中，同样是名词短语his carelessness，所以要用介词连接。一般来说，owing to常置于句首，而due to通常不这么用。
3.5.3 其他复合连词表示原因
在英语中，除了上述常见的连词外，还有其他表示原因的连词。下面一一列举并解释它们的用法。
一、in that
其基本的意思是“原因就在于”，其引导的从句要放在主句后面，而且主句通常是在作比较。请看例句：
1 English has an advantage over most of the other languages in that it has become, so to speak, an international language.
妙语点睛 这里主句English has an advantage over most of the other languages显然是在说英语与其他语言相比的优势，然后接连词in that引导的从句，来说明为什么会有这种优势。
2 E-mail is different from the traditional mail in that it sends and receives mails in a second.
妙语点睛 这里主句e-mail is different from the traditional mail显然是在比较两种不同的通信方式的特点，然后接连词in that引导的从句，来说明二者的差异在哪里。
3 Mercury differs from other industrial metals in that it is a liquid.
妙语点睛 这里主句mercury differs from other industrial metals显然是在比较水银与其他工业用金属的差异，然后接连词in that引导的从句，来具体说明二者有何不同。
二、seeing （that）, now （that）, considering （that）, given （that）
这些连词与since相似，它们都有“鉴于某个事实，考虑到”的意思。
4 Seeing that it's raining hard, we’ll have to stay here for the night.
5 They did the job very well, considering that they had no experience.
6 Given that they are inexperienced, they’ve done a good job.
7 Now that the semester is finished, I’m going to rest a few days and then take a trip.
8 Now that you are eighteen, you can get a driver's license.
三、not that...but that
这个连词的意思是“不是因为……而是因为……”。请看例句：
9 I haven't finished writing the report yet, not that I’m lazy, but that I have no time.
四、inasmuch as, insomuch as, in as much as, in so much as
inasmuch as, insomuch as, in as much as和in so much as也可表原因，但显得文绉绉的，不太常用，通常只用于很正式的书面语或演讲中。请看例句：
10 Inasmuch as the two government leaders could not reach an agreement, the possibilities for peace are still remote.
3.5.4 because的否定转移
在详细解释because的否定转移用法之前，请读者先来看这个例句：
1 You don't love a woman because she is beautiful.
这个句子看似简单，因为既没有任何生词而且结构也不复杂，因此，也许有读者将其直接理解成：
这样理解虽然有违人之常情，但从逻辑上也可以讲得通，比如人们常说“漂亮的女人是祸水”，所以也许是不敢爱，而娶个丑女回家放心。其实这句话还有另外的理解，这就涉及否定转移的问题了。具体来说，这里的don't在形式上是否定谓语love，但实际上是否定原因从句。因此，这句话可以翻译成：
如果再给出一个更完整的上下文，比如：
You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her.
这就更促使我们要从否定转移的方向来理解此句了。所以不能译成“你不爱一个女人，因为她太漂亮了”，而应该译成：
从以上的例句分析，我们看到，在主句是否定的情况下，because引导的从句可能是按正常情况翻译（此时是否定主句谓语），也可能是按否定转移来翻译（此时是否定从句）。具体如何理解，要看上下文。再比如下面这个例句：
2 Don't cry because it is over, but smile because it happened.
妙语点睛 这句话的前半部分Don't cry because it is over，我们完全可以按正常情况翻译成“不要哭，因为都结束了”。但如果结合下文but smile because it happened，我们就不能这样翻译了。此时，我们要按照否定转移的情况来翻译，也就是说，这句话形式上是否定谓语cry，但实际上是否定原因从句。
以上讨论的两个例句都是可以作两种解释，具体如何理解要看上下文。但是，有些句子只能有一种理解，即只能按正常情况翻译或按否定转移理解。因此，归纳来说，在主句是否定的情况下，because引导的从句的翻译可分为三种情形：
1. 只能按正常情况翻译；
2. 两种翻译都可以，具体如何理解要看上下文；
3. 只能按否定转移来翻译。
比如上面的例句you don't love a woman because she is beautiful就可以有两种理解，但是一旦有了下文but she is beautiful because you love her就只能有一种理解了，即按照否定转移来翻译。我们再来比较下列例句：
3 1） I don't study English just because it is so difficult.
2） I don't study English just because I like to.
妙语点睛 我们看到，两个句子的主句相同，都是I don't study English，但在深层含义上两者是不同的。根据从句的不同意思，我们发现例句1）只能按正常情况翻译，此时否定词don't是否定主句谓语study，我们无法把它按照否定转移来译成“我学英文并不是因为英文太难”，这显然是不符合逻辑的。而例句2）只能按照否定转移来翻译，此时否定词don't是否定从句。我们无法把它按照正常情况理解成“我不学英文，就是因为我喜欢英文”，这显然也是不符合逻辑的。
我们来看一道TOEFL的听力题：
4 He doesn't exercise because he likes to.
A. He likes to exercise by himself. B. He exercises for reasons other than enjoyment.
C. He's glad he doesn't have to exercise. D.He doesn't have enough time to exercise.
正确答案 B。
妙语点睛 这道听力题考的就是否定转移。该句只能按照否定转移来理解，这里doesn't否定的不是exercise，而是because从句，此时likes应该重读。
5 I wouldn't quit my job because maybe I could get a better one. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
妙语点睛 我们无法把这句话按照正常情况理解成“我不愿意辞去现在的工作，就是因为我可能会找到一个更好的工作”，这显然在逻辑上讲不通。该句只能按照否定转移来理解，这里wouldn't不是否定quit，而是否定because引导的从句。尤其是结合下文A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush（一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林），我们更要按否定转移来理解。因此，整句话要表达的意思是：不要因为你可能会找到更好的工作就先把现在的工作辞掉，而应该要一边干着现在的工作，一边再去找其他更好的。这就相当于我们常说的“骑驴找马”，而不是马还没找到，就先把驴杀了。
我们来看下面这个句子如何理解：
6 I didn't attend the meeting because he was present, too.
妙语点睛 这句话可以有两种理解。其一，正常翻译时可以写成“I didn't attend the meeting, because he was present, too.”，即添加一个逗号，来分隔主句和从句。此时表示“因为当时也有他出席，所以我没有去参加这个会议”。说明有“他”在场，“我”就不去。其二，作为否定转移来理解，相当于说“I attended the meeting, not because he was present, too.”。此时表示“我出席这次会议并不是因为有他参加”。说明不是“他去我就去，他不去我也不去”。
我们再来看下面这个句子可以作何理解：
7 I did not marry her because I loved her.
妙语点睛 这句话可以有两种理解。其一，按正常理解翻译时可以表示“因为我爱她，所以我决定不跟她结婚”，比如“我”已知自己患有癌症，所以不结婚是为了她的幸福，很多电影里都是这么演的。其二，作为否定转移来理解，相当于说“I married her, not because I loved her but for some other reasons.”。即表示“我并不是因为爱她才和她结婚，而是因为其他原因或动机”。
再比如下面这个关于希拉里的例句：
8 “I don't think they’re piling on because I’m a woman. I think they’re piling on because I’m winning.”（Hillary Rodham Clinton, on intensifying criticism by rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination on November 2, 2007.）
妙语点睛 这里don't在形式上否定think，但实际上否定because引导的从句。
再比如下面这个对话：
9 Mike: I think music has changed a lot in recent years, all over the world. For example, when I was at university, we didn't like singers because of their looks or how popular their music was. We loved them for being real.
Lili: What do you mean by “real”? Everyone is real. See? Touch my arm. You can feel me, so I’m real.
Mike: That's not what I meant by “real”. I mean really talented, real musicians.
以上我们讨论的否定转移都是涉及because引导的从句的，其实，否定转移并不局限于because引导的原因从句，还可以否定句中的其他成分。若是在口语中，一般来说，句中什么词重读就否定什么词。请看例句：
10 I didn't come here to scold you.
妙语点睛 该句在读的时候要重读scold，表明didn't是否定scold的，not scold就表示“不是为了批评你”。
我们再来分析下面两道听力考试题，看看这种否定转移如何应用于考试中：
11 He won't go to just any school.
A. He's the only one who won't go with us. B. He just won't go to school.
C. He’ll probably study in several locations. D.He's particular about where he goes to school.
正确答案 D。
妙语点睛 此句中的any要重读，即表明won't是否定any的，not any就说明“他并不是随随便便上一个学校就算了”，而是对上什么学校是很在乎的（particular），所以D正确。
12 I didn't write that memo to the department chair to amuse myself.
A. I wrote a funny letter to the department chair. B. I don't think the department chair will write me a letter.
C. The department chair was amused by my letter. D.I wrote to the department chair about a serious matter.
正确答案 D。
妙语点睛 此句中的amuse要重读，即表明didn't是否定amuse的，not amuse表示“不是开玩笑”，即对应于D选项中的about a serious matter，所以D正确。
综上所述，我们可以对否定转移下个定义，即所谓否定转移，是指形式上否定主句或句子的谓语，但在逻辑语义上是否定句子的其他部分。尤其是在与because引导的从句连用时，往往否定because引导的从句。所以，我们以后遇到一个否定句，如果按照正常情况理解不通，就不妨考虑从否定转移的角度来翻译。也就是说，否定转移为我们理解句子的意思提供了一个新的方向。
思维总结
本节主要讨论了各种表示原因的连词以及相关的介词。要注意的是，连词后面接从句，而介词后面要接名词短语，二者不能混淆。另外，读者要重点理解有关because否定转移的句子，这是本节的一个难点内容。
思维训练3.5 Key
一、选择最佳答案填空。
1. ______ you are leaving tomorrow, we can eat dinner together tonight.
A. For B. Since C.Before D.While
2. ______ the cold weather, we decided not to go out.
A. Because B. Due C.Owing to D.Since
3. Neon is said to be inert ______ does not react with other substances.
A. because of it B. it is because C.because it D.is because it
4. ______ he will not accept the offer, I have to find someone else.
A. Until B. Though C.As soon as D.Seeing that
5. Skimming also differs from scanning ______ it is an effort to get general information rather than specific facts.
A. in which B. for that C.in that D.on that
6. Although many people view conflict as bad, conflict is sometimes useful ______ it forces people to test the relative merits of their attitudes and behaviors.
A. by which B. to which C.in that D.so that
7. Advertising is distinguished from other forms of communication ______ the advertiser pays for the message to be delivered.
A. in that B. which C.whereas D.because of
8. ______ they are adjusting to their new bodies and a whole host of new intellectual and emotional challenges, teenagers are especially self-conscious and need the confidence that comes from achieving success and knowing that their accomplishments are admired by others.
A. If B. Although C.Whereas D.Because
9. Theories centering on the individual suggest that children engage in criminal behavior ______ they were not sufficiently penalized for previous misdeeds or that they have learned criminal behavior through interaction with others.
A. before B. unless C.until D.because
10. Liquids are like solids ______ they have a definite volume.
A. in that B. for that C.with that D.at that
11. Hydrogen is the fundamental element of the universe ______ it provides the building blocks from which the other elements are produced.
A. so that B. but that C.in that D.provided that
12. Vitamins are similar because they are made of the same elements—usually carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes nitrogen.
They are different ______ their elements are arranged differently.
A. in that B. so that C.such that D.except that
二、翻译下列句子。
13. They were not about to change their tastes and habits just because of a change in the law.
14. I didn't spend three hours repairing your vacuum so it could sit in the closet.
15. It has long since been satisfactorily established that a high executive does not have a large vocabulary merely because of the opportunities of his position.
16. Don't be afraid of others because they are bigger than you. The real size could be measured in the wisdom.
17. Certainly I don't teach because teaching is easy for me. Teaching is the most difficult of the various ways I have attempted to earn my living. Nor do I teach because I think I know answers, or because I have knowledge I feel compelled to share.
18. The conference's purpose is to demonstrate that we’re all continuing to focus on the economy as the president promised to do when he came into office and that means not sitting around and patting yourself on the back because of the unemployment and inflation rates being low.
19. In 1600 the earth was not the center of the universe because the majority then supposed it was; nor because she had more readers was Ella Wheeler Wilcox a better poet than Father Hopkins.
20. Britain's press is unusual in that it is divided into two very different types of newspaper: the quality press and the popular press.