because, as, for, since这几个词都是表示“原因”的连词,语气由强至弱依次为:because→since→as→for;其中because, since, as均为从属连词,引导原因状语从句;而for 是并列连词,引导并列句.
1. because表示直接原因,它所指的原因通常是听话人所不知道的,其语气最强.常用来回答why的提问,一般放于主句之后,也可以单独存在.例如:
(1)I stayed at home because it rained. 因为下雨我呆在家里.
(2)Because Lingling was ill, she didn”t come to school. 玲玲因病,没有上学.
(3)Why is she absent? 她为什么缺席?
Because she is sick. 因为她病了.
此外,在强调句型中,只能用because.例如:
(4)It was because I missed the early bus that I was late for school. 我上学迟到是因为我没有赶上早班汽车.
2. since侧重主句,从句表示显然的或已为人所知的理由,常译为“因为”、“既然”,语气比because稍弱,通常置于句首,表示一种含有勉强语气的原因.例如:
(1)Since he asks you, you”ll tell him why. 他既然问你,那就告诉他为什么吧.
(2)Since everyone is here, let”s start. 既然大家都到齐了,我们就出发吧!
(3)Since I understood very little Japanese, I couldn”t follow the conversation. 我日语懂得不多,因而听不懂对话.
3. as是常用词,它表示的“原因”是双方已知的事实或显而易见的原因,或者理由不是很重要,含义与since相同,但语气更弱,没有since正式,常译为“由于,鉴于”.从句说明原因,主句说明结果,主从并重.例如:
(1)We all like her as she is kind. 我们都喜欢她,因为她善良.
(2)As I had a cold, I was absent from school. 因为我感冒了,所以没去上课.
(3)As Xiaowang was not ready, we went without him. 由于小王没有准备好,我们只好不带他去了.
4. for用作连词时,与because相似,但它所表示的原因往往提供上文未交待过的情况.for不表示直接原因,表明附加或推断的理由,因此for被看作等立连词,它所引导的分句只能放在句子后部(或单独成为一个句子),并且前后两个分句间的逻辑关系不一定是因果关系,其间用逗号隔开,且for不可置于句首,for的这一用法常用在书面语中,较正式.例如:
(1)The days are short, for it is now December. 白天短了,因为现在已是十二月份.
(2)It must have rained, for the ground is wet. (从“地面潮湿”作出“下过雨”的推测,但地湿并不一定是下雨所致, for不可以换为because.)
(3)The ground is wet because it has rained. (“下雨”是“地上潮湿”的直接原因.)
前后两个分句间有一定的因果关系时(有时很难区分是直接原因,还是推测性原因),for与because可以互换使用.例如:
(4)I could not go, for / because I was ill. 我没能去,是因为我病了.
(5)He felt no fear, for / because he was a brave boy. 他没有害怕,因为他是个勇敢的男孩
because, since, as, for区别如下:
(1) 关于 because:语气最强,表示直接原因,可用于回答 why 提出的问题、引导表语从句、用于强调句等,而其余三者均不行:
“Why didn’t he come?” “Because he was ill.” “他为什么没来?”“因为他病了。”
My stomach hurts because I have eaten too many apples. 我肚子痛,因为苹果吃得太多。
That’s because you can’t appreciate music. 这是因为你不能欣赏音乐。
It is because he is honest that I like him. 是因为他诚实我才喜欢他。
(2) 关于 since 与 as:
a. 两者所表示的原因都是人们已知的,即对已知事实提供理由,而不是表示直接原因。since 比 as 语气稍强,且比 as 略为正式,它们引导的从句通常放在主句之前,有时也放在主句之后:
As you weren’t there, I left a message. 由于你不在那儿,我留了个口信。
Since you are wrong, you should apologize. 你既然错了,就应该道歉。
b. since 可用于省略句,而其他三者不行:
Since so, I have nothing to say. 既然如此,我无话可说。
(3) 关于 for:是并列连词(其余三者为从属连词),它有时可表示因果关系(通常要放在主句之后,且可与 because 换用);有时不表示因果关系,而是对前面分句内容的解释或推断(也要放在主句之后,但不能与because 换用)。比较:
The ground is wet, for (=because) it rained last night. 地面是湿的,因为昨晚下过雨。
It must have rained last night, for the ground is wet this morning. 昨晚一定下过雨,你看今天早上地面是湿的。 (此句不能用 because 代 for)