as

这种提法是一种误解。其实，连接原因状语从句的as，也可以处在这个倒置的位置上。请看下面的实例：

1. Tired as they were, they went to bed as soon as they came back. (CGEL) 由于他们很疲劳,所以一回家就上床睡觉了。

2. Michael, fool as he was, completely ruined the dinner. (GCE) 迈克尔傻乎乎的，把这次宴会完全给弄毁了。

(参见 as $^{19}$ )

上题中的 isolated as it was 是一个倒装语序的原因状语从句,形容词 isolated 是从句的表语(形容词或副词要放在从句之首),见 $as^{1}$ ; $as^{19}$ 。

[试译]这幢房子，由于孤零零地位于山腰，非常宁静。

[附注]在我们编写本书的增订版时,查阅了全国大学英语四、六级考试委员会编写的《大学英语四级考试历年实考试卷与详解》(2001年版)(上外教社,p.384),发现它对上题作了完全错误的解答:

“……动词 isolate 作为及物动词,在句中应是过去分词,表示被动的意思,构成分词短语作状语。”

为了对这个问题进行深入的研究,我们又查阅了我们所拥有的其余四本有关大学英语四级考试真题解答的书。结果发现,它们都对此题作了错误的解答。

1. “分词作状语时,它的逻辑主语就是句子的主语。”(《大学英语四级历年考试试题详解》,外文出版社,p.238)

2. “分词作状语时, 它的逻辑主语就是句子的主语……”(《大学英语四级考试全真试题集详解》, 航空工业出版社, p. 142)

3. “逗号之后至句末是分词短语……”（《全国大学英语四级考试题精解》，对外经贸大学出版社，p. 340）

按: isolated 在这里是形容词, 在从句中作表语, 从句的主语是 it。isolated as it was ... 相当于 as it was isolated。这里根本就涉及不到 isolated 的逻辑主语问题, 更涉及不到它作状语的问题。

4. “as 在这里作连词,引导让步状语从句,相当于 although 和 though……”(《大学英语四级全真试题详解》,世界图书出版公司,p.193)

按:该书作者把上面的原因状语从句误解为让步状语从句了。如果按照让步状语从句来翻译,那全句的内容就是很荒谬的了。

上面的试题有重大失误:选项 D 和 A 都是正确的,而且意思相同,见 n times more than, as much as, times $^{1,2}$ 。我们在教学和测试中必须彻底摈弃 more than 不能用于表示倍数的错误观点。

关系代词 as + 过去分词结构放在名词或名词短语之后,用作定语的情形是很常见的,尤其是在科技英语和一般的论说文中。 See the answers as given at the end of this book. 请参阅本书末尾给出的答案。 as observed (as given) 这种结构的完整形式是 as they are observed (as they are given) 或者 as are observed (as are given)。这个结构与用作定语的纯过去分词或过去分词短语虽然在语义上有些区别，但译成汉语时却无法表达出来。例如：

1. the books as listed below （如）下面所列出的书籍
2. Experts in kinetics, in their study of body motion as related to speech, hope to discover new methods of communication. (RC) 人体语言专家在研究与语言有关的身体活动时,希望发现新的交际方法。

这里的 as = for instance, for example. 至于词性, 各家说法不一。WNCD 说它是副词, OED 说它是连词, COD 说它是关系副词。最好建议学生不要去抠 as 的词性, 而要掌握它的含义和用法(参见 like)。

1. Some animals, as dogs and cats, eat meat. 有些动物,例如狗和猫,是食肉动物。
2. Sound waves can travel only through a medium, as air or water. (列举 a medium 的部分内容) 声波只有通过介质, 如空气或水, 才能传播。

绝大部分英语语法著作都比较详尽地谈到了 as 用作关系代词引出非限制性定语从句的问题,在这种非限制性定语从句中,as 一般不代表某个具体的名词或代词,而是代表整个主句或主句的一部分。这种从句可以放在主句之前,也可以放在主句之后,甚至可以放在主句的中间。例如:

1. As has been said above, a magnet produces a magnetic field in the space around itself. 如上所说，磁铁在其周围的空间会产生磁场。

2. In electrical usage the term potential, as will be pointed out later, has a definite quantitative meaning. 在电学上，正如以后将要指出的那样，电位这个术语具有确定的数量意义。

但是，几乎所有的语法著作都只是谈到了主句为肯定句的情形，而很少涉及主句为否定句的情形。所以，许多学生乃至许多翻译工作者对主句为否定句时 as 定语从句的特点不甚了解。例如，在课堂上许多学生不能确切回答上句中 as many people think 里的 as 所代表的内容究竟是 spiders are not insects，还是 spiders are insects。

下面让我们简略地讲一讲主句为否定句时 as 引导的定语从句的修饰范围问题。

A. 当 as 引导的定语从句位于具有否定意义的主句之前时, as 从句所修饰的范围是整个主句的内容, 也就是说, 把否定意义也包括在内。例如:

As has been said above, grammar is not a set of dead rules. 正如前面所说的，语法不是一套死条文。

B. 当 as 引导的定语从句位于具有否定意义的主句之后时, as 从句所修饰的范围不包括否定意义。Spiders are not insects, as many people think. = Spiders are not insects. But many people think they are. 类例:

Greenland was not a continent, as people thought. 格陵兰并不像人们所想象的那样是一个大陆。

C. 当 as 引导的定语从句位于具有否定意义的主句中间时, as 从句所修饰的范围也不包括否定意义。例如:

1. The facts of science are not, as some think, dry and lifeless. They are living things, filling with sweetest poetry the ear that listens to them, and with fadeless harmony of colours the eye that looks upon them. 科学事实并不像有些人所想的那样枯燥无味和没有生命 力。科学事实是活生生的东西。倾听它们，耳中就会充满最美的诗篇，眺望它们，眼中就会充满永不消褪的和谐色彩。

2. She did not, as her friend had feared, open the case. 她没有打开盒子，而她的朋友就是怕她当面打开盒子。

上面的两个译文都歪曲了原意。原因在于没有搞清 as 的用法: 当 as 从句前的主句是否定句时, as 从句所修饰的内容不包括否定意义, 见 $as^{6}$ 。让我们把上面的句子改写一下:

The British are not so familiar with different cultures and other ways of doing things, but people in other countries are (so familiar with different cultures and other ways of doing things).

[试题句意]英国人对于与其不同的文化和行为方式不大熟悉,而在其他国家却往往不是这样。

该书编著者说上两题中的 as 是正确答案, 这无可争议。但是他们说, As is = Just as it is, as 从句相当于一个状语从句, 这就不仅没有说到点子上, 而且会产生误导作用。因为这里的 as 是关系代词, 引导非限制性定语从句, 它既可代表整个主句的内容 (如以上两题中的 as), 又可代表主句的部分内容。as 在定语从句中可以作主语 (如以上两题中的 as), 又可作宾语。这种 as 从句既可位于句首, 又可位于句中或句末 (见 as $^{6}$ )。而在 just as it is 中, as 是连词, 引导的是状语从句。as 引导非限制性定语从句的用法是各类标准化英语考试中的常考题, 必须熟练掌握它的特点。

上面的句子应当译为：……如: the city of Rome, 这并不像 the people of Rome 那样, 是正规的后置修饰语。(参见 as $^{6}$ )

连词 as 在异常的语序中可表示让步, 尽管它在正常的语序中没有此种用法。这里所说的异常语序包括：

A. 形容词或副词 + as + 主语 + 连系动词 be 或实义动词(你提问的句子便属于此种用法, 故应选 D):

1. Angry as he was, he managed to speak calmly. 虽然他很生气，但是他讲话很平静。

2. People like his stories, because simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the readers' surprise. (全国高考) 人们很喜欢他的小说, 因为故事虽然简单, 但结局出奇, 让读者吃惊。

3. Much as I admire his courage, I don't think he acted wisely. 我虽然佩服他的勇气，但我认为他这样做是不聪明的。

4. Hard as he tried, he did not pass the exam. 他虽然很努力,但这次考试没有及格。

B. 名词 + as + 主语 + 连系动词 be(注意句首的名词不带冠词):

1. Child as he is, he knows a lot. 尽管他是个孩子，但懂很多事情。

2. Boy as he was, he was chosen king. 尽管他还是个孩子，但却被立为国王。

C. 实义动词 + as + 主语 + 助动词 [如果没有助动词, 则要加上一个 do (does 或 did)]:

1. Try as he may, he never succeeds. 尽管他很努力，但总是不成功。

2. Change your mind as you will, you will gain no additional support. 即使你改变主意,你

也不会得到另外的支持。

说 simple as the tales were 是让步状语从句是完全正确的。但是，绝不可说它等于 as the tales were simple。因为从属连词 as 只有在异常语序里才能表示“让步”，在正常语序里它是不能表示“让步”的，而只能表示“时间”“原因”等。这是它跟从属连词 though 不同的地方，见 as $^{20}$ 。

一般来说,as 表示听者已知的原因,因而常常位于句首,而 because 表示听者未知的原因,因而常常位于句尾,成为信息的焦点。因此之故,as 不能回答 why 的问题,也不能在强调句型中作为被强调的成分。而 because 既能回答 why 的问题,也能在强调句型中成为被强调的成分。请与汉语作对比:汉语中可以说“之所以……是因为”,但不可说“之所以……是由于”。从下列实例中可以体会到 as 与 because 的某些区别:

1. As I am leaving tomorrow, I've bought you a present. 因为我明天要走，我给你买了件礼物。

2. As we hadn't any money we couldn't buy anything to eat. 由于我们没有钱,我们不可能买任何吃的东西。

3. As you are here you had better stay. 你既然来这儿啦，你最好还是留下来。

4. I don't want it because it's too big. 我不要它,因为它太大了。

5. “Why shouldn’t I come?”—“Because you’re too busy.” “为什么我不应当去?”——“因为你太忙了。”

《课文注释》中的分析方法虽然来源于葛传桀教授的《英语惯用法词典》（时代出版社，p.64），但是它有一个致命的弱点：如果说第二个as是关系代词，在从句中作主语，那就是说as从句是个定语从句，那么这个定语从句所说明的中心词(先行词)在哪里呢？实在找不出来。如果说它是说明整个句子的，则在内容上是不能成立的。在这方面，它与as happens和 $it^{20}$ 条中讨论的as从句是不同的。

我们倾向于第二种分析方法。as...as 是个比较结构。第二个 as 应看成是连词。

不难看出,上面句子中的 as 从句是状语从句,而不是定语从句。在此状语从句中省略了充当主语的 it 或省略了主语和谓语 it is(参见 if necessary, possible $^{3}$ )。

让我们看看 CGEL 对此类句型的分析：

"The documents will be returned as soon as $\left\{ \begin{array}{ll}completed.\\ signed.\\ required. \end{array} \right.$

Complete your work as soon as possible.

……无动词分句所隐含的主语是 it, 指主句(‘as soon as it is possible’)。”

应当搞清楚，倒装语序的 as 从句既可以表让步，也可以表原因。从句子的内容来看，试题中的从句 Tired as he was，只能是原因状语从句，而不可能是让步状语从句。因为从句对于主句显然是原因关系：由于他很疲劳，我们决定不去打扰他。

请分析下列实例：

1. Tired as they were, they went to bed as soon as they came back. (CGEL) 他们由于很累，一回到家里就上床睡觉了。

2. Experienced as he is in contrast to his colleagues, he can deal with any difficult situation. 由于他跟同事们相比很有经验，所以他能对付任何困难的局面。

3. Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, I beg your indulgence for my few inelegant words. 由于我不习惯于发表演说，有些话讲得不大得体敬请原谅。

只有在让步状语从句里,这种特殊语序中的 as 才是可以用 though 来替换的:

1. Tired as they were( =Tired though they were), Jurgis and Ona sat up late. (Sinclair) 尽管朱尔金斯和奥纳很疲惫, 但是他们很晚才睡。

2. Poor as he was( = Poor though he was), he was honest. (Eckersley) 虽然他很穷,但是很诚实。

(参见 though $^{3}$ )

选 B 和选 D 是同样正确的。让我们先来看看权威语言学家 R. Quirk 等人的论述：“... concessive clauses sometimes have an unusual syntactic orderings when the subordinator is as or though. In a rather formal style, the predication in the concessive clause may be fronted”.（“当从属连词是 as 或 though 时，让步状语从句有时可采用异常的语序。在相当正式的语体里，让步状语从句的谓体可以放在句首”）。

1. Genius though she was, she was quite unassuming. 虽然她是个天才，但是她很谦逊。

2. Fail though I did, I would not abandon my goal. 虽然我失败了,但是我不会放弃我的目标。

下面再来考察一下摘自其他英语原著的例句：

1. Modest though his needs were, he found it hard to get by on his income. (WNCD) 虽然他的需求并不高,但是他发现靠他的收入还是难以度日。

2. Much though I admire her, I cannot excuse her faults. 虽然我非常崇拜她，但我不能原谅她的错误。

如果说 as 与 though 有什么区别的话,那就是 as 采用这种语序是强制性的(即具有让步含义的 as 不能放在句首),而 though 采用这种语序则不是强制性的(即从属连词 though 亦可放在句首)。

见 as $^{20}$ 。

表示比较或方式的 as 从句一般采用正装语序：

1. When at Rome do as the Romans do. (Prov) 入乡随俗。

2. George writes as his father did. (Close) 乔治像他爸爸那样写作。

但是，在正式语体里，as从句有时也采用倒装语序(但不是强制性的，而是选择性的)：

1. She looks forward, as does her secretary, to the completion of the building. (CGEL) 她像她秘书那样盼望工程竣工。

2. Maybe you're misreading its meaning. Remember, the Grail can be deceptive. As could my late husband. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 也许你误解它的含义了。要知道，圣杯也会骗人的，就像我前夫有时也会骗人一样。（《达·芬奇密码》）

3. He believed, as did all his family, that the King was their supreme lord. 他和他全家人一样，都认为国王是他们至高无上的主人。

4. I rooted for the Cubs, as did my family and most folks on our side of town. (Hillary, Living History) 我认真搜集小熊队的消息,家里人和本地居民也是如此。(希拉里,《亲历历史》)

5. The Compass Rose helped travellers navigate, as did Rose Lines, the longitudinal lines on maps. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 罗盘可以为旅客导航，而“玫瑰线”，也就是地图上的经线也可以帮助人们确定方位。（《达·芬奇密码》）

6. She deserved her punishment, as did the idiot Longbottom and the Lovegood oddity! (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) 她应当受到惩罚，还有白痴隆巴顿和那个疯姑娘！(《哈利·波特与死亡圣徒》)

7. Bill's mother was more than happy to do a lot of babysitting, as were my parents when they came to visit. (Hillary, Living History) 比尔的母亲非常爱她，常帮我带孩子，就像我的父母来串门时那样。

上题的选项 B 是同样正确的, 见 $as^{25}$ 。

当修饰句子的非限制性定语从句位于句尾时, as 可以用 which 来替代:

1. I live a long way from work, as(which) you know. (CGEL) 我住得离工作单位很远，这你是知道的。

2. She is extremely popular among students, as(which) is common knowledge. (CGEL) 她在大学生中很受仰慕, 这是众所周知的。 但是, 当 as 从句位于句首或句中时, as 就不能用 which 来替代了:

3. As you will find out, I will never let you down. 你将会发现,我绝不会使你失望的。

4. Taiwan is, as you know, an inseparable part of China. 你们知道,台湾是中国不可分割的一部分。 此外,如果主句为否定句,则位于句末和句中的 as 从句所修饰的范围并不包括主句的否定意义,此时,as 也不能用 which 来替代(见 as $^{6}$ ):

5. Greenland was not a continent, as people thought. 格陵兰并不像人们所想象的那样是一个大陆。

6. Spiders are not insects, as many people think. 许多人认为蜘蛛是昆虫，但蜘蛛并不是昆虫。 请做下面英语试题：

7. ____ is mentioned above, the number of the students in senior high schools is increasing. A. Which B. As C. That D. It(上海高考,99-4)

8. She heard a terrible noise, ____ brought her heart into her mouth. A. it B. which C. this D. that(全国高考,91-24)

as 和 which 在引导修饰句子的非限制性定语从句时,主要有两个区别:1. 语序上有区别,见 as $^{24}$ ;2. 词汇意义有区别,which 只作“这”“这一点”解,而 as 却可作“这”“这一点”“正如”“正像”解。在后一个意义上,它们是不能互换的:

As is known to the world, Mark Twain is a great American writer. 正如全世界所知道的，马克·吐温是美国伟大的作家。

大量实例表明,关系代词 as 是可以与实义动词连用的:

1. As you will find out, I will never let you down. 你将会发现,我绝不会使你失望的。

2. She is very careful, as her work shows. 正像她的工作所表明的，她是非常细心的。

3. All day long he worked at making shoes, as he had done in prison. 他像在监狱里那样，整天专心致志地缝制鞋子。

4. The sun is hot, as everyone knows. (as = a fact that) 太阳是热的, 这是大家都知道的。

5. The electricity went off, as frequently happens in a thunderstorm. 停电了, 这在雷雨天是经常发生的。