when作為連接詞可引導(dǎo)名詞性從句、定語(yǔ)從句和狀語(yǔ)從句。
1. 引導(dǎo)名詞性從句
可引導(dǎo)主語(yǔ)從句、表語(yǔ)從句和賓語(yǔ)從句。其譯法可以保留疑問(wèn)含義,譯為“什么時(shí)候”、“在什么時(shí)候”、“何時(shí)”等。如:
* It is unknown to us when they begin to make transportable transformers.
他們是什么時(shí)候開始制造移動(dòng)式變壓器的我們還不知道。(when引導(dǎo)主語(yǔ)從句)
* A pilot may have crossed so many time zones, and taken so many irregular breaks, that he himself does not know when natural night is.
飛行員可能越過(guò)很多時(shí)區(qū),無(wú)規(guī)律的休息過(guò)許多次,因此連他們自己也不知道什么時(shí) 候是他們的自然夜間。(when引導(dǎo)賓語(yǔ)從句)
* The problem is when the new power station can be put into operation.
問(wèn)題在于新電廠何時(shí)能夠投入運(yùn)行。(when弓|導(dǎo)表語(yǔ)從句)
2. 引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句
when作為關(guān)系副詞引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句,修飾表示時(shí)間的名詞。這時(shí),定語(yǔ)從句多為限制性定語(yǔ)從句,可譯為“的”或“當(dāng)……(時(shí)候)”等。如:
* There are times when it is necessary to differentiate between speed and velocity.
有時(shí)需要區(qū)分"速率"和"速度"這兩個(gè)詞的意義。