Chapter 3状语从句
3.9 让步状语从句
3.9 让步状语从句
3.9.1 常见连词的用法
常见的引导让步状语从句的连词有：though, although, even though和even if。此时，主句前不可用but，但可用yet/still。
1 Although he tried hard, (yet/still) he failed.
2 Although I didn't know anybody at the party, I had a very good time.
3 The family is the essential presence—the thing that never leaves you, even if you find you have to leave it.
再比如下面这道考题：
4 Although Professor Green's lectures usually ran over【A】 the fifty-minute period, but【B】 none【C】 of his students even objected【D】 as they found his lectures both informative and interesting.
正确答案 B。应该把but去掉。
妙语点睛 这是考研真题。本题考查的就是although和but不能连用这一知识点。
3.9.2 表示让步转折关系的介词
上面讨论了常见的让步状语从句的连词，与此相关的是，在英文中还可以用介词来表示让步转折关系。
这些介词主要有despite, in spite of, for all和notwithstanding。需要注意的是，although和though等是连词，因此后面只接从句（有时是省略形式的从句），而这里的介词只接名词（短语），不能接从句。请比较：
1 1） Though he was inexperienced, he did a very good job.
2） In spite of his inexperience, he did a very good job.
3） In spite of his being inexperienced, he did a very good job.
妙语点睛 在例句1）中，连词though后面接的是从句he was inexperienced。在例句2）中，his inexperience是一个名词短语，所以要用介词，比如这里用了in spite of。在例句3）中，his being inexperienced是一个动名词短语的形式，也属于名词短语，所以这里也需要用介词，如in spite of。
需要提醒注意的是，介词后面除了接名词短语外，还可以接what引导的名词从句。请看例句：
2 ______ what he achieved in medicine, he remained modest.
A. Despite B. Although C.If D.Whereas
正确答案 A。
妙语点睛 本题考查的是状语从句连词的用法。因为这里what=things that，引导的是一个名词性从句，其本质上相当于一个名词短语，故此处仍需用介词。若用连词although，只能说成：Although he achieved a lot in medicine, he remained modest.
3 ______ tired, he wouldn't stop working.
A. Despite B. For all C.Though D.Whereas
正确答案 C。
妙语点睛 本题考查的是状语从句连词的用法。这是一个省略的状语从句，原句相当于“Though he was tired, he wouldn't stop working.”所以要用连词，而不是介词，故C正确。
综上所述，可以总结出规律：表示让步逻辑关系的介词后面可以接名词、名词短语、动名词或what从句；表示让步关系的连词后面可以接完整的陈述句、形容词（相当于省略句）、分词（相当于省略句）等。这一规律在考试中会经常出现，请读者注意掌握。
3.9.3 置于句首的while一般表示“尽管”
while位于句首，一般意为“尽管”，引导让步状语从句。在很多阅读文章中常见到while的这一用法。请看例句：
1 While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.
妙语点睛 while出现在句首，表示让步转折。
2 While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.
妙语点睛 这是考研翻译真题。while出现在句首，表示让步转折。
3 I have excluded him because, while his accomplishments may contribute to the solution of moral problems, he has not been charged with the task of approaching any but the factual aspects of those problems.
妙语点睛 这是考研翻译真题。这里because引导的原因状语从句里面又包含了一个while引导的让步状语从句。另外，要注意的是，如果单看any but，意思是“绝非……”，但这里与前面的not有语义关系，因此要把not...any but联系起来翻译，意思是“只不过是……”。
3.9.4 no matter wh-
在英文中，我们可以用no matter+what, who, when, where, which, how或者whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, whichever, however来引导让步状语从句，表示“无论”。请注意，这几个连词除了however外，一般都是单独使用，而however后面通常要接形容词或副词，不单独使用。请看例句：
1 We have decided to do so, whatever happens.
2 Whoever may trouble you, I will help you to the last.
3 No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know but by WHO WE ARE! You are special—don't ever forget it!
4 But however amazed our descendants may be at how far from Utopia we were, they will look just like us.
妙语点睛 这个句子本来的结构是Our descendants may be amazed at how far from Utopia we were...，现在因为有了however这个连词，所以amazed和however一同提到了句首。
5 When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion, it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at, for, however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today, it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal.
妙语点睛 这个句子有一定的难度。理解它的关键是要知道这里的for是表示原因的连词，引导原因状语从句。而在这个for引导的原因状语从句里面又套有一个however引导的让步状语从句，这个让步状语从句原本的结构是their principles may seem farfetched and unreasonable today，现在因为有了连词however，所以farfetched and unreasonable和however一同提到了句首。
6 “The test of any democratic society,”he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, “lies not in how well it can control expression, but in whether it gives freedom of thought and expression the widest possible latitude, however disputable or irritating the results may sometimes be. We won't retreat in the face of any threats.”
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是：the results may sometimes be disputable or irritating，现在因为有了连词however，所以disputable or irritating和however一同放到了句末。
看完上面的例句，细心的读者一定注意到了，在no matter wh-这样的让步状语从句中，从句的谓语往往会有情态动词may或might，这是用来加强让步语气的，相当于汉语中说“可能会多么的”。请返回参看上述各例句的译文，认真体会。这种谓语的特点常常是出现在however引导的从句中，但不限于however。此外，有时甚至是把may或might省去，只剩下一个动词原形。请看下面的例句：
7 Try as he will, no man breaks wholly loose from his first love, no matter who she be...
妙语点睛 这里no matter who she be就相当于no matter who she might be这种加强语气的形式。此外，该句中的try as he will也是一个让步状语从句的结构。
3.9.5 as引导的倒装句表示让步
as引导的倒装句可表示让步，这一结构有：
一、形容词提置句首
1 There are also desert insects which survive as inactive larvae. In addition, difficult as it is to believe, there are desert fish which can survive through years of drought in the form of inactive eggs.
妙语点睛 这句话是“形容词+as+主谓”的结构，表示让步。
2 Oldest in our workshop as he is, he works hardest.
妙语点睛 请注意，这句话的最高级前不加the。
二、副词提置句首
3 Much as I respect him, I cannot agree with him.
4 Again as he failed in doing this experiment, he didn't lose his heart.
三、分词提置句首
5 Praised as he was, he remained modest.
四、名词提置句首
6 Child as he is, he is knowledgeable.
妙语点睛 请注意，这句话的名词前不带冠词。
7 Lazy a boy as he is, he is kind to help others.
妙语点睛 请注意这里名词短语的语序：lazy a boy。
五、动词原形提置句首
另外，还可以把动词原形置于句首，此时句子的结构为：v.+as+主语+助动词（may, might, will, would, can, could, do, does, did）。
8 Fail as I did, I would never stop trying.
妙语点睛 这里是将动词原形fail提前。原因很简单，因为若是将failed提前，那么句子无法构造——我们无法这么说：Failed as I*。所以，只能将原形动词fail提前，而通过助动词did来标明时态。
9 Try as he will, no man breaks wholly loose from his first love, no matter who she be...
妙语点睛 这里是把动词原形提到句首，形成try as he will这样一个让步状语从句的结构。
若动词是及物动词，则其宾语也要随着动词提前。请看例句：
10 Lose money as I did, I got a lot of experience.
妙语点睛 这里不是把lost提前，而把“动词原形（lose）+宾语（money）”提前，即动词与其宾语同时提到句首。
最后需要提醒注意的是，这里的as可以替换为that或though，尽管较少这样用。另外，不可以用although。
11 Odd though it sounds, cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementary particle physics, and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true.
妙语点睛 这是考研翻译真题。这里作者用了though代替as来表示让步。
3.9.6 “as/so+形容词+as+主谓”结构，放在句首表示让步
这一表示让步的结构，虽然相对来说比较少见，但请读者不妨了解一下，以便在英语阅读中遇到时能正确理解。
1 As much as John hates to do it, he must stay at home and study tonight.
2 As amusing and perceptive as graffiti （涂鸦） may sometimes be, it has by no means won universal approval.
妙语点睛 这里的从句as amusing and perceptive as graffiti may sometimes be是“as+形容词+as+主谓”的结构，表示让步。
下面这段话是美国前总统小布什的妈妈芭芭拉·布什在一次大学毕业典礼上说的，当时她是美国的第一夫人（America's First Lady），在这段话中她谈论到了家庭的重要性：
3 As important as your obligation as a doctor, a lawyer or a business leader will be, you are a human being first, and those human connections with spouses, with children, with friends are the most important investments you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent. Our success as a society depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.
再来看下面这个例句谈的是面试的重要性：
4 As important as qualifications are, and you won't get to an interview without the qualifications, the most important thing in fact is the character and how a person presents himself at interview. I find it very difficult to define exactly the sort of person I am looking for, but when I meet someone I can tell whether they are the sort of person that I would like to appoint or whether they are not.
3.9.7 句首用be的倒装句表示让步
在英语中，由whether或however引导的让步从句可以变成一个句首用be的倒装句，同样表示让步。我们先来看例句：
1 All substances, be they gaseous, liquid or solid, are made up of atoms.
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是“All substances, whether they may be gaseous, liquid or solid, are made up of atoms.”，相当于whether引导的让步状语从句，译成“不论……还是”。把whether省去后，将be动词提到句首。
2 Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是“However humble it may be, there is no place like home.”，相当于however引导的让步状语从句，译成“不论多么”。把however省去后，将be动词提到句首。
综上所述，我们可以总结出这样的规律：
1. be引导的倒装句如果表达的是两种或以上的情况，此时be引导的倒装句可改写成由whether引导的让步状语从句，比如由be they gaseous, liquid or solid改写成whether they may be gaseous, liquid or solid。
2. be引导的倒装句如果只表达一种情况，此时be引导的倒装句可改写成由however引导的让步状语从句，比如由be it ever so humble改写成however humble it may be。
我们再来看更多的例句：
3 As we grow up, we form our own identities because we are individuals, so it feels unfair to have our identities compared with others’, be it our peers, siblings or parents.
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是“...whether it may be our peers, siblings or parents.”，相当于whether引导的让步状语从句，译成“不论……还是”。把whether省去后，将动词be提到句首。
4 Home is home, be it never so homely.
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是“Home is home, however homely it may be.”，相当于however引导的让步状语从句，译成“不论多么”。把however省去后，将动词be提到句首。
再来看下面这道题：
5 ______, I will marry him all the same.
A. Were he rich or poor B. Whether rich or poor
C. Being rich or poor D.Be he rich or poor
正确答案 D。
妙语点睛 这个句子原本的结构是“Whether he may be rich or poor...”，相当于whether引导的让步状语从句，译成“不论……还是”。把whether省去后，将动词be提到句首。
思维总结
让步状语从句的内容比较多，读者要掌握引导让步从句的各种连词以及各类句型结构。比如as 引导的倒装句表示让步；“as/so+形容词+as+主谓”结构放在句首表示让步；句首用be 引导的倒装句表示让步等等，遇到时要能够正确翻译。
思维训练3.9 Key
一、选择最佳答案填空。
1. Getting enough vitamins is essential to life, although the body has no nutritional use for excess vitamins. Many people, ______, believe in being on the “safe side”and thus take extra vitamins.
A. nevertheless B. therefore C.moreover D.meanwhile
2. There are over 100 night schools in the city, making it possible for a professional to be re-educated no matter ______ he does.
A. how B. where C.what D.when
3. ______, he does get annoyed with her sometimes.
A. Although much he likes her B. Much although he likes her
C. As he likes her much D.Much as he likes her
4. The word “church”refers to all religious institutions, ______ they Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jewish, and so on.
A. be B. being C.were D.are
5. The business of each day, ______ selling goods or shipping them, went quite smoothly.
A. it being B. be it C was it D.it was
6. ______ lay eggs, but some give birth to live young.
A. Although most insects B. Most insects C.Despite most insects D.Most insects that
7. Airsickness is produced by a disturbance of the inner car, ______ psychogenic factors, such as fear, also play a part.
A. in spite of B. neither C.nor D.although
8. ______ his physical handicap, he ______ a successful businessman.
A. Despite / has become B. Although / has become C.In spite / became D.Despite of / becomes
9. ______ all our kindness to help her, Sarah refused to listen to us.
A. At B. For C.In D.On
10. ______, the policeman still has good command.
A. Sophisticated as search techniques are B. Sophisticated are search techniques
C. Search techniques are sophisticated D.Sophisticated as search techniques they are
11. ______, I still enjoy driving even after my accident.
A. It may seem strange though B. Strange though it may seem
C. Though strange it may seem D.Strange it may seem though
12. I’ve already told you that I’m going to buy it, ______.
A. however much it costs B. however does it cost much
C. how much does it cost D.no matter how it costs
13. ______, the firemen were unable to quench the fire.
A. Try they would B. As they tried C.What they tried D.Try as they would
14. ______ I admire him as a poet, I do not like him as a man.
A. Much so B. So much C.Much as D.As much
15. The engineers are going through with their project, ______ the expenses have risen.
A. even though B. just because C.now that D.as though
16. Every society, ______ great or small, primitive or civilized, has a culture.
A. if it is B. no matter it is C.if it were D.be it
17. ______, we will set off as we planned.
A. Were it good or bad B. Being good or bad C.Whether good or bad D.Be it good or bad
18. All science students, ______, should have a good foundation in basic sciences.
A. whether they are future physicists and chemists B. they are future physicists or chemists
C. they should be future physicists or chemists D.be they future physicists or chemists
二、辨别改错。
19. Although Mr. Smith studied art【A】 in Paris, but his【B】 writings attracted much【C】 more interest than【D】 his paintings.
20. Despite【A】 fats and oils are nutritionally【B】 important as【C】 energy sources, medical research indicates【D】 that saturated fats may contribute to hardening of the arteries.
21. Much although【A】 I have traveled, I have never seen anyone to equal【B】 her in thoroughness, whatever【C】 the job【D】.