核心问题
×While he got up, he felt dizzy.
英语老师告诉我,必须将句中的 while 改为 when,句子才是正确的。但我至今不解。while 和 when 不是都可以引导时间状语从句吗?
词典解答
虽然 while 和 when 都能引导时间状语从句,而且意思相同,但是它们在用法上有一个很重要的区别:while 从句中的动词必须是持续性的(be, stay, wait, live 等等),而不能是瞬时性的(get up, arrive 等等)。当 when 从句中的动词是持续性动词时,就可以用 while 来代替 when:
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Be careful when crossing streets. (CGEL) 过马路时要小心。
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____ crossing the street, he was knocked down by a car.
A. By B. For C. At D. While(Nelson, 300B)
请注意下面 while 从句动词的持续性：
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They arrived while I was sunbathing. 当我正在进行日光浴时,他们来了。
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We must strike while the iron is hot. (Worrall) 我们必须趁热打铁。
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While the discussion was still going on, Gerhardt came in. (Dreiser) 当讨论还在进行的时候, 杰哈特走了进来。
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He wrote his greatest novel while working on a freighter. 他在货轮上工作时写出了他那
部最优秀的小说。